SPEARFISH YESTERYEAR

Army aircraft above Spearfish in 1943

An Army Piper L-4 aircraft flying in a westerly direction over the Queen City. Aviatrix/Historian Norma Kraemer notes that the plane was based on Piper's J-3 Cub model, but it included an extended glass area for better observation. (Photo courtesy of Terry Neil King)

Lieutenant and Mrs. Neil King - July 2, 1944.

Joan Sunderland and 1st Lieutenant Neil L. King were married at All Saints Church in Spearfish, South Dakota. (Courtesy of Terry Neil King)

This attractive and informative display was prepared for the Spearfish 125th anniversary celebration and was exhibited in a downtown shop. This is one you'll definitely want to see up close, so click on the photo shown here and select a larger sized image from the choices listed at the top of the page.

This photograph from the Spearfish Area Historical Society captures what has been described as the laying of the cornerstone for the new high school building in Spearfish. No date is on the photo, but the specific date should be easily determined. A note on the back of the photograph says members of the school board are standing beside the corner of the building facing the crowd.

SY - Railroad flatcar carrying folks on an excursion. Undated.

SY - Bank of Spearfish. Undated.

Evans. This is Mr. and Mrs. Robert Evans, prominent early citizens of Spearfish, South Dakota. Undated.

Hall Welding in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Post Office under construction. Perhaps about 1940. It replaced a frame home that stood at the location. It is now the site of Great Western Bank. The old two-story Spearfish Hotel at right is now the site of Heisler's Ace Hardware. Undated photograph. Spearfish, South Dakota.

Richards had several photos of Spearfish Falls with railroad cars clearly visible immediately above the falls.

Army Jeeps go just about anywhere!

Army 1st Lieutenant Neil L. King, Adjutant for the 93rd College Training Detachment at BHTC is behind the wheel of this Army jeep, navigating it's way down the steps of Woodburn Hall in 1943. King's son, Terry Neil King, believes that the man in the civilian hat at right is Dr. Russell Jonas, president of BHTC at the time.(Courtesy of Terry Neil King)

Thanks to the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce for sharing this old Black Hills Studios photograph of the Matthews Opera House stage. Undated.

The Golden Valley Girls parade down Main Street Spearfish in 1935. This is one of numerous photographs contained in a collection of historic items from the Lawrence County Extension Office. Thanks to Dorothy Honadel for sharing this one with us.

This undated photograph from the Spearfish Area Historical Society is believed to show "The Last Civil War Veterans of Spearfish - The War of 1861." With the able assistance of Dorothy Honadel, we've identified these gentleman as follows: standing (left-to-right) are Wilson Williams and William Crist. Seated are Thomas McEveny, Giles Fish, and James Manwaring.

This is an undated drawing of Spearfish, probably as it may have looked in the 1880's. Since the caption identifies it as located in "Black Hills, Dakota," we presume it was done prior to statehood in 1889. Janette Foreman advises us that the Bank of Spearfish (Stebbins, Fox & Co. building that is inset at the top right) was incorporated at this location in 1887, so it's likely that this image hearkens to those years between 1883, when the building was constructed, and 1887. This is one of those images you'll certainly want to see close up. Click on the photo in order to select a larger size to view.

Black Hills Airport in the early days. Undated.

SY - Gorham Blacksmith Shop evolved into "Gorham Welding," operated for many years by Jay Gorham. Ca 1960. - Terry Gorham

SY - Spearfish businessman. Undated.

Round-up scenes on Belle Fourche in 1887 Cowboys and cattle on range. Grabill Collection Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540

Spearfish Falls. Black Hills, Dakota Territory Man standing below two waterfalls. 1889. Grabill Collection Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540

Staff for the 93rd College Training Detachment at BHTC-Spearfish

Headquarters staff of the 93rd College Training Detachment at Black Hills Teachers College in 1943-44. Front Row (l-to-r): 2nd Lt. Neil King, 1st Lt. Charles Gerlach, 1st Lt. Homer Lewis (Commanding Officer), William Anderson, 2nd Lt. Robert Lee, and 2nd Lt. Donald Ballard; Middle Row: Sgt. M.S. Retinger, Sgt. G.N. Kaufman, S/Sgt. Paul Loebig, T/Sgt. A.E. Rowe, and S/Sgt. Clyde Karkalits; Back Row: S/Sgt. W.T. Mollinax, S/Sgt. P.N. Glover, S/Sgt. J.L. O'Brien, Sgt. Wesley Leach, Cpl. E.E. Lee, and Cpl. Hugh Rowell. (Courtesy of Terry Neil King)

Undated photograph of the Ralph Toomey American Legion Post Drum and Bugle Corps in front of the Spearfish High School. City of Spearfish photo.

A group of Homestake Gold Mining officials assembled in front of Hydroelectric Plant No. 1 in Spearfish on April 11, 1952 for this photograph. Assembled were (kneeling): G.R. Harris, N.G. Jerde, C.L. Gust; (standing): Bennie Carlson, Emil Hermanson, Robert Parker, George Gibson, Fred Langhoff, Ole Swanson, Rex Tario, and U. E. Danielson. Inset is a photo of the plant under construction in 1911. By 1952 th plant "generates 33,000 volts, carrying electricity to the Spearfish Sawmill and to the Kirk Power Plan near Lead for distribution to other operations." Thanks to the City of Spearfish Power Plant staff for sharing this photo.

SY - Spearfish Railroad Depot. Undated

"Water Facilities: Not Good" noted the information on this 1885 Sanborn map of early Spearfish. The population was just 600 people, and the street grids were alphabetized and numbered. Fortunately, it's an easy task to decipher the location of the "Spearfish Hotel" at Sixth and "H" street, the site at Main (6th St.) and Hudson (H St.) that is now home to Ace Hardware. Click on the image and choose X3Large to get a closer look at the details on the map. (Spearfish Historic Preservation Commission)

SY - 1926 BHTC Cheryl Miller

SY - Ellis Fenn Gorham Blacksmith Shop in Spearfish - Terry Gorham ca 1929 - Left-to-right: Cliff Jensen, Ike Allison, a man named Anderson, Ellis Gorham, and Barney Schleking. The man in the far right background is unidentified.

SY - Matthews building, downtown Spearfish, South Dakota. Ca 1910 Postcard - Cheryl Miller

Schoolhouse in Spearfish, South Dakota. Undated. This brick structure would become known at the "Little Red Schoolhouse."

SY - Spearfish Hotel, Spearfish, South Dakota. Undated. The hotel was a well-known landmark in downtown Spearfish for almost 100 years. The original wooden structure is believed to have been built by Jimmy Rogers in 1877. It burned down in 1880. The hotel was rebuilt with a brick façade but suffered another fire in 1884. Again, it was rebuilt. It was the largest hotel in Spearfish. There was a lobby, restaurant and bar on the first floor as well as other retail spaces. In the 1940’s the hotel was purchased by Bud and Margaret Kelley and eventually became known as Kelley’s Motor Inn. During the middle of the night in October of 1975 it burned to the ground. After burning for the third time, the hotel was never rebuilt.

Aerial view of Spearfish, 1943.

The old Spearfish Hotel can be seen at upper left, while the Black Hills Passion Play is at upper right. (Courtesy of Terry Neil King)

SY - Believe this is the flour mill in south Spearfish - undated - Cheryl Miller

Thanks to John Sullivan of Spearfish for sharing this photograph of the Sullivan Building that once housed the Spearfish Public Library (entrance was on the west side of the building -- on the right above). John's father ran an insurance and real estate business from this location -- 5th and Hudson Street. The building sat where the Wells Fargo Bank Drive-Through is now located. The Sullivan family lived upstairs.

Thanks to Cheryl Miller of Spearfish for sharing this undated photograph. The caption reads: "Loading two cars of feeder pigs at Spearfish, SD for a feeder at Laurens, Iowa. Lawrence County Farm Bureau Marketing Association.

Faculty members at Spearfish Normal School pose for this circa 1888 photograph. Best determination of identities: Standing (l-r) - Margaret A. Thompson, Carrie Williams, Anna Fockins, and Miss (?) Gowdy; Seated - Katherine Bingham, Fayette L. Cook, and Ida Clemens. Thanks to the Case Library at BHSU for sharing this photo.

Bridal Veil Falls. Undated. Grabill Collection.

Gorham Blacksmith Shop in Spearfish, South Dakota. Undated. Business was owned by Ellis Gorham. (Courtesy of Terry Gorham)

SY - Spearfish Band group photo. Undated.

Cadets and staff march down Main Street Spearfish, ca. 1943

Members of the 93rd College Training Detachment at BHTC marching in a parade. John Sunderland can be seen in the white coat standing in the doorway of his meat market, Sunderland & Co. Meats. (Courtesy of Terry Neil King)

SY - Undated - Deadwood Coach - Grabill

In January of 2012, Jim Furrow donated a 1955 scrapbook of the Spearfish JayCees to the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce. Within the scrapbook was this undated photo showing Josef Meier as Christ. We're not sure who the gents are who portrayed the soldiers in this image, but we believe one of them is Joe Picasso. If you can help identify them, please send us an E-Mail. Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for sharing this photo during the Spearfish anniversary celebration. We have a few more similar photos in our Passion Play gallery.

SY - Railroad Engine. Undated. This steam engine appears to be returning from a tour -- likely up Spearfish Canyon.

SY -1943 photograph of summer school students at Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish. Photo is courtesy of Jerry Bryant of Deadwood.

Carbonate Camp, Lawrence County, SD. Ca. 1885.

Green Cafe, Spearfish, South Dakota. Undated photograph. Photos courtesy of Carol Jane Johnson.

Pioneer Day, October 23, 1925, Spearfish, South Dakota. Photo courtesy of Carol Jane Johnson.

Spearfish Canyon rail photo. 1890. Grabill Collection - Repository: Library of Congress / Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540