Meetings of the Spearfish Area Historical Society are the first Tuesday of every month, September through May, at the Spearfish Senior Citizens Center. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.

December 2009 Program
THE BARNS OF LAWRENCE COUNTY As you can see in this photograph, we had a wonderful turnout for this meeting, despite freezing temperatures! Think you recognize the back of someone's head? Click on the photograph to see a larger image.

Leo Orme is a long-time resident of Spearfish, arriving here in 1969. He grew up as a west Colorado country boy and went to school at Colorado State University. Upon his arrival in Lawrence County, he led a U.S. Fish and Wildlife project at the McNenny Fish Hatchery west of Spearfish. He later served as the Lawrence County agent for the SDSU Extension program. He was a long-time 4-H leader as well, so he has deep roots in South Dakota agriculture!

Commuters on Colorado Boulevard in south Spearfish -- and I-90 travelers, too -- can catch a glimpse of this historic barn just off to the west of those roads.

The Miller Ranch barn is something of a landmark. It's located between the Spearfish Country Club and the Perkins Restaurant.

One of the truly delightful aspects of the monthly meetings of the Spearfish Area Historical Society is the opportunity for attendees to visit one-on-one with presenteres. That's exactly what long-time resident Joe Jorgensen (left) is doing here with speaker Leo Orme. Like many of the folks attending the December meeting, Jorgensen shared some personal stories and insight about barns in Lawrence County with Orme.

The barn shown here belongs to Paul Baker and is located east of Spearfish on the east side of U.S. 85 just south of the I-90 exit. It is one of the dozens of barns featured in the program. Click on the photograph to see a larger image.

Did we mention snacks! Another bonus for meeting participants is camaraderie, enhanced by some might fine treats. Verla May Weaver was largely responsible for treats at the December meeting. Others helped, too, and there's always an opportunity for other members to provide snacks at future meetings!

Among the many familiar faces at the monthly historical society meetings are these fellows. Left to right are Joe Picasso, Ray Telkamp, and Don Matthesen.

Darlene Telkamp and Verla Weaver in a post-meeting conversation.

Spearfish Area Historical Society president Rand Williams (left) joined speaker Leo Orme for this photograph as the post-meeting conversation was beginning to wane. To continue reviewing photos and information from previous Spearfish Area Historical Society meetings, you can scroll down for additional pages of this gallery.

Or, you can return to Black Hills Journal.