This 1937 picture of Second and Main Streets shows two interesting additions on the roof of the building at 200 N. Main St. (the N.E. corner of Second and Main). In those days, it was called the Essex Building and was owned by the Logan family. When Nelson Logan built the Roxy Theatre on Lawler Street, he was competing with the Paramount and Time theatres both located on Main Street. To give the Roxy a Main Street presence, Logan built the roof sign spelling ROXY in neon letters with a neon arrow pointing towards the Roxy. The sign went up in the mid-thirties and stayed until the mid-1960’s when the wood framework became weak with age.
The glass structure was an announcing booth for a public address system to announce the show at the Roxy to the crowds on Main Street and lure them to the Roxy. This was especially effective during Corn Palace Week when thousands of people crowded the midway each day.
Joe Martin was a high school age usher working at the Roxy. Logan put him in the booth one Corn Palace Week to do the announcing. Joe Martin always credited this as his first announcing job. He went on to work for WNAX Radio in Yankton where he became known as Jolly Joe Martin. His radio career continued well into the 1980’s in Omaha. Martin also appeared in the television mini-series “Amerika.” Roxy assistant manager and sign painter Cliff “Bubby” Knoll would also announce in the booth doing an impression of national radio commentator Walter Winchell.
The booth was damaged by a windstorm and came down a few years after this picture was taken. The P.A. system on the building was revived in the early 1960’s with the announcer sitting in the second floor offices. It was replaced by a larger system of 6 stadium speakers on a 50’ tower on the top of the Roxy building. Today the top of the building appears clean of all speakers.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the October 16th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Sunshine Haulage Company circa 1930 in Letcher, SD - Submitted to the Carnegie Resource Center with permission to print by Gregory Rowe
Hans Hassel was my great-grandfather and Sophus was my grandfather. They immigrated to Omaha from Denmark c1890. Couldn't find anything about the company other than an Argus Leader article regarding the $25 fine. The bulk of the content was related to me by my Mother and her sister.
Hans Hassel started the Sunshine Haulage Co. after moving from Omaha to Letcher, SD sometime after 1920. Sophus Hassel and his brother-in-law, Batis Wecker, bought Hans out after he retired. They went to the warehouses in Mitchell and picked up groceries to deliver to small towns such as Woonsocket, Lane, Forestburg, Cuthbert and Loomis. People in Letcher would ride to Mitchell in the back of the truck for a free ride. They would leave Letcher in the morning and return at noon. Children would ride to Mitchell for Corn Palace. Everyone would meet the truck at a certain time on the last stop called the Snowflake Bakery (200 E 3rd Ave). In May 1928, Sunshine Haulage was fined $25 and costs for hauling freight without a permit to Wessington Springs. In 1933 the Sunshine Haulage Co. went out of business.
Published in the December 25th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
From the Carnegie Archives.
South Dakota Traveling Men’s Association Convention (an organization for traveling salesmen) is the event happening on the West side of Second and Main - Mitchell, SD.
This is the L.O. Gale building - built in 1881 and extended to the alley in 1891. A clothing store that sat on the ground floor of the L.O. Gale building (201 N. Main) either belonged to Indra Leopold or William Metcalf. The sign on the side of the building is for Hart, Schaffner and Marx, a men’s clothing line founded in 1887. Ownership of the store changed hands in 1907 from Leopold to Metcalf.
When Gale built the building, he operated a drug store and pharmacy on the north side of the store with the south side devoted to books, toys, silverware and musical instruments. Down the center of the store he had jewelry and more expensive items for sale. Gale also had a area for jewelry repair.
Incomplete History of the Gale building ground floor:
Snow’s Ice Cream 1953-1955, Army & Navy Store 1957
Schiff’s Shoe Store 1960-1967, Worthing’s Western Wear 1967-1998
Janitor’s Express 2005-2008 (Fire), Outdoor garden for Dr. Lucky’s Bar & Grill 2017-2020
Form the Archives of the Carnegie Resource Center.
Published in the February 10th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Pictured is the east side of the north 100 block of Mitchell’s Main Street, circa 1953. At 100 N. Main was Kress Drug, operated by Wayne Shanholtz. 102 was J. & P. Furniture Store, operated by W. F. Prouty. 104 - the State Employment Service and the Vets Information Office. 106 –Eagle Bar, with apartments above it, operated by Earl McAtee. 108 –Nelson’s Recreation Billiards owned by David Nelson. 110- Ryberg’s Café, operated by Willard C.L. and J. Wilford Ryberg. 112 – Saml Saxe Clothing Store. 114- Cox’s Bakery operated by Nels Kessler. 116 –Bon Ton Liquor Store operated by A. H. Wiblemo. 116½- Tom’s Café operated by Thos Ramos. 118- Frisco Café operated by Geo Georgopoulos. 122- Susan’s Kladezee Shop operated by Mrs. Rosetta Hildebrandt and Harold Dufloth. The sign that can be seen above 200 N. Main pointed the way to the Roxy Theatre.
From the Carnegie Archives
Published in the September 25th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Back in Time 2021
Gutzon Borglum along with his son, Lincoln, supervised the construction of the memorial from 1927 to 1941. According to the website, “The four presidents were chosen to represent the nation’s birth, growth, development and preservation. The memorial park cover 1, 278 acres and the actual mountain has an elevation of 5, 725 feet above sea level.” Normally, Mt. Rushmore attracts nearly three million visitors a year. Covid 19 restriction are posted on the Mt. Rushmore website.
Photo from an undated postcard, Carnegie Resource Center.
Published in the April 10th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
The Mitchell Capital ad - November 20, 1912. Photo identified as Thune’s Hardware, Betts, SD – photographer and those in the picture are unknown.
Brothers Nick and Matt Thune and Matt’s wife Sena were true pioneers of business. They ventured into a general merchandise store in the “new town” of Betts which they operated for several years. Matt, living in Mitchell, entered the hardware business in 1911 as an associate of the Peterson Hardware Company. After the disposal of the Betts store, Nick joined Matt in the Peterson Hardware Company. When Peterson Hardware dissolved, Superior Hardware was formed. Matt and Nick were partners in Superior and operated it until 1937 when the corporation dissolved. At this time, Matt started Thune’s Hardware Store with his son Sid. Gordon joined his dad and brother in 1945. Matt Thune passed away in 1961 at which time Sid and Gordon held the store.
In August of 1979 Spencer and Kathy Gross purchased Thune’s True Value Hardware from Gordon and Sid Thune. Mitchell is so fortunate to have a family-owned business still in operation. They are located at 1400 North Main.
Betts, Beulah Township, Davison County, SD was situated about half-way between Mt. Vernon and Mitchell and named after Andrew H. Betts, a Civil War veteran and state senator. The original intent was to have a place for shippers ¼ mile off paved Highway 16 (now 254th Street) . According to a Daily Republic article dated 12/2/1910 the new town, on land owned by W.L. Porter, included such businesses as Robert Burns Lumber Co. and Fullerton Lumber Co. Betts elevator was going up at this time also. In addition, Betts eventually was home to a one-room schoolhouse, general store, post office, stockyard, blacksmith shop and train depot. According to the 1921 and 1923 city directories the population of Betts was 20 people. Fire, tornadoes, and changes in economic practices all lead to the demise of Betts.
From the Carnegie Resource Center.
Published in the December 4th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
This is an article from the Mitchell Daily Republic found in our files. We are looking for a date concerning this incident. Please contact The Mitchell Area Historical Society housed in the Carnegie Resource Center at 119 West 3rd Avenue with any information that we could add to our files. Phone 605-996-3209. Thanks in advance for any information to help us.
From the Carnegie Resource Center.
Published in the March 17th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
The Evening Republican dated 11/18/1929 states, “These were the days when the ‘headers’ were popular. The cumbersome, awkward looking high wheelers were called ‘headers’ because their riders often fell headfirst to the ground. But the young men of Mitchell were not behind the times and when everyone was riding ‘headers’, ‘headers’ were ridden in Mitchell too.”
The men shown are the first bicycle club in Mitchell. From left to right they are: W.H. Healy, brother-in-law of J.O. Walrath and winner of the most club race events; H.R. Kibbee; F.A. Bidwell; J.E. Gilbert; Ed Winnegar; William Layton; Dr. W.E. Crane; Frank Baughman; R.N. Kratz.
Published in the June 26th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Photographer Unknown.
:
1911 Ole Leeland photo of the east side of the 300 block of North Main in Mitchell, SD. Brown’s Shoe Fit building is not shown.
Businesses currently occupying this space: 320 N. Main now former Pin Cushion site; 318 N. Main now Hard Drive Central; 316 N. Main now former site of The Framer; 314 N. Main now former site of Little Red Hen; 312 N. Main now elixir roasterie; 310 N. Main now former site of Dakota Hearing; 302-308 N. Main now Alvine Weidenaar-300 N. Main, Mechandise Outlet - 302 N. Main, vacant - 304 N. Main, Harve’s Pro Prints 308 N. Main.
The Alexander Mitchell Hotel named after the President of the Milwaukee Railroad burned in 1913. The Commercial Bank building site now houses a park area beside The Diamond Store.
Published in the June 5th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Carnegie Archives.
Lee Anderson of Spearfish, SD donated this photo of the delivery vehicles for Anderson Ice Company located at 119 East 11th Avenue in Mitchell - circa 1920’s. Anderson Ice Company was started by William Anderson about 1917 and was later run and owned by his son’s John, Joseph and Charles. They hauled ice to towns in the area, supplied the needs of Mitchell residents and businesses and provided ice for the many railroad cars stopping at Mitchell where ice was the refrigeration system.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the September 15th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Rathbun Grocery delivery wagon, circa 1912, delivers groceries to a customer at 700 East 2nd (now 700 East Hanson Avenue.) This photo shows the west side of the house. The house is still standing and at the time belonged to Gottlieb Scheurenbrand. Rathbun Grocery was located at 315 North Main Street and was owned and operated by C. G. Rathbun.
Photo donated by Roberta McEntee.
Published in the October 23rd, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
A&W Drive Inn
Earl and Hilda Erickson purchased the Mitchell A&W Drive Inn from Alex Sobotta on August 1, 1951. Note in the first picture (circa 1950’s) the building is very close to Havens Street, what was then U. S. Highway 16, a two-lane highway, and you would have to practically back out onto the highway. To the west of the Drive Inn, in the brick building was the Old Home Bread Warehouse, which is now Alignment Experts (300 W. Havens). Earl and his son Roger built a carport onto the building in 1966. Roger leased the Drive Inn from Earl and Hilda in 1966 and purchased it in 1972. Earl and Hilda continued to work for Roger following the sale. Roger started construction on a new building in 1975 and opened it for business in the spring of 1976, selling their famous A&W root beer and broasted chicken. The old building was sold to John Bruce and moved out to the Jack Thurman farm west of Mitchell. The new lot and building had 32 speakers so that patrons could order from their cars while car hops delivered their order to the customers. The Carnegie Resource Center has a working speaker menu on display along with other memorabilia from the A & W Drive-in. The building has housed several other businesses since closing in March of 1994.
Photo from the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the August 7th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Bicycle Party to Salem and Back, a distance of 66 miles. circa 1929
Cyclists left to right: Lee Kreidler (Fulton), Mrs. L.E. Stair, C.C. Brass, Julia Rogers, Mae Rogers, May Krom or Krum
Photo taken in front of L.E. Stairs business at 113 S. Main. The awning says, “Cycles and Repairing.” Mrs. Stair was an avid cyclist and was one of the original six, along with Mr. Kreidler, who finished the ride. The others dropped out at difficult places on the return.
Published in the June 19th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Carnegie Archive Photo.
Dakota Central Telephone Company Plant on December 3, 1938 – Telephone Operators
The first telephone operator in Mitchell, SD was Millie Mayo, sister of Fred B. Elce who started the Mitchell Telephone Company in 1898 with 75 customers. The original company was sold to Dakota Central Telephone Company in 1904 with 424 town and 11 rural customers. Growth forced the company to relocate in 1911 to 115 East Third. The front of this building still has the “TELEPHONE” nameplate over the door. In 1929 the Tri-State Company of St. Paul, MN purchased the company and both companies became subsidiaries of Northwestern that ultimately merged with Northwestern Bell in 1942.
Carnegie Resource Center Archives Photo.
Published in the March 24th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Hersey Photo Studio captured this 1915 celebration on 2nd and Main in Mitchell, SD. This is the first municipal Christmas tree put up by the city. Businesses that were located along the street at the time on the west side included Metcalf Clothing and Furniture at 201 Main, Diehl Drug at 209 Main, and the recognizable white columns of the Mitchell National Bank at 217-219 Main. Among others, the east side of the street housed Becker’s Clothing at 208-210 Main where the Becker logo can still be seen in the brickwork at the top of the building. The Corn Palace sits in the distance at 5th and Main.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the November 27th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
“In 1904, a racing organization was formed known as the Mitchell Driving Park Association located at the present Hitchcock Park with racetrack, barns, stables and other racetrack buildings. The one-half mile racetrack was built before 1886 as there are records of horse racing at that time and it was used at least until 1931. The grandstand and amphitheater were in use by 1887. The grandstand-amphitheater stood for 35 years until it burned down July 5, 1922.” From Hitchcock Park by Garvin Bertsch
Undated photo by Leland of the Mitchell Driving Park
Published in the June 12th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
This photo was taken by Olie Leeland, who owned Leeland Art Studio. Leeland’s Art Studio produced and sold a souvenir book in 1911 in which this photo was included. The Maynard Theatre (shown on the right) opened May 23, 1910. It was located in the north side of the Champeny Building and was named for the owner’s, (Mr. Tournier) son, Maynard. The Maynard featured moving picture shows and seated 350 people. Next door to the Maynard was the Mitchell Candy Kitchen, which was a veritable Palace Parlor of sweet things. Across 3rd Ave to the south was the Western Bank building (formerly Ben Franklin Store, The Crafty Fox, and currently the building is being renovated) with the bank in the north half and Gillis Shoe Store on the south half. The building with the white pillars was the Mitchell National Bank. The Champeny Building was torn down due to safety issues.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the October 30th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
The East Side School pictured was built in 1884, near the middle of the block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, where the present day Cathedral Squares Apartments are located. The school’s name was later changed to Lincoln School. It was decided in 1907 to build a new High School, so Lincoln School was moved to the northwest corner of the block and some rooms were used to house some of the Senior High programs. On August 11, 1933 it was voted that the Lincoln School be abandoned for the coming year and the teachers transferred to other schools. In 1934 the Lincoln building was remodeled into offices for the superintendent and clerk. The administration was on the north side of the first floor and High School students would enter the south entrance to enter where the band practiced on the south side of the first floor. Shorthand and typing classes were held on the second floor and journalism was in the basement. The old Lincoln School building was razed in 1963 and the Administrative Offices were moved to the old Post Office building at Fourth Avenue and Lawler Street then later to the Mitchell Middle School. The offices are currently at the Second Chance Alternative School building located at 821 N. Capital Street.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the February 24th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Same view June, 2021
Candy for the Corn Palace – These ink blotter ads were tempting the user to buy “Corn Palace Brand Candies” with such enticing names as Mexican Girl Chocolates and Crocus Chocolates. The Frick-Wittmann Company was a confectionery wholesaler located on the north side of the street at 114 East 1st Avenue. The building was constructed circa 1913 and is the second building to the east of the alley. It was owned by H.E. Frick and Louis Wittmann. By 1921 the business had evolved into the Lorraine Chocolate Company, a candy manufacturer, whose officers were H. E. Frick, C. E. Vermilyea, and C. A. Roddy.
Today this building has a large ad for Pheasants Forever – Chapter #872 in the front window and appears to have been modified with a partitioned hallway. The 114 East 1st Avenue address is still on the mailbox.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the August 21st, 2021 Mitchell Republic,
What to get for Christmas? This question pops up every year when it comes time to buy gifts. One local store owner is hoping to make those decisions easier for the buyer. Gosche’s Hardware had many gift items as seen in this December 17, 1913, ad from The Evening Republican. Something for everyone in the family from skates and sleds to safety razors and electric washing machines. Gosche’s Hardware was located at 101 Main Street in Mitchell, SD. It occupied a space previously held by L.W. Adams, who opened the first hardware store in Mitchell.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the December 18th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
The Lawler Hotel (1940-1992)
This building started as a one story that housed a company called the Face-a-Lite Manufacturing Company owned by George Logan in 1920; it made a shield to block sun and lights before visors were part of the car (currently on display at the Carnegie Resource Center). Walter Dixon purchased the building in 1939, added a story by raising the roof with jacks and adding bricks employing Peter Kuipers and Sons to do the construction. The Lawler Hotel opened in 1941 with eight rooms on the first floor. A second floor added in 1950 added 17 rooms and a third-floor addition in 1952 brought the capacity to 84 rooms. The Blue Room Bar and the Lawler Café added to the completeness of a stay at the hotel. Corn Palace entertainers stayed at the hotel from 1947 to 1972 and ate at the café which brought locals in to get a look at the celebrities. The Lawler Cafe was a family restaurant where residents could enjoy a happy outing year round.
The building was sold several times and ended up becoming offices and government supported apartments until it burned on March 6, 1992.
Published in the May 29th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Carnegie Archives.
Shown is the second Corn Palace (1905) during the decorating process. The increasing yearly attendance to the Corn Belt Exposition drove the need for a bigger Corn Palace to be located on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Main Street. The original on Fourth Avenue and Main was torn down in June, 1905. No contractor would bid the job to build the second Palace. Dr. B. F. Dundas, a relative newcomer to Mitchell, took personal charge hiring who he could as day laborers. The new 125 by 145 foot structure was completed in 55 days after the laying of the cornerstone. With the new Palace came the new name for the festival – the Corn Belt Exposition became the Corn Palace Festival. Governor S.H. Elrod delivered the dedicatory address. An Italian band, Sorrentino’s Banda Rossa was the entertainment for the week, while the free acts outside consisted mainly of acrobatic acts.
The Carnegie Resource Center has an eglomise of this fully decorated Corn Palace hanging in the Corn Place Room. This type of painting is done as a mirror image on the glass so that it will appear correctly when it is turned over. There is not one piece of glass, but rather three in the frame. The front panel has the image of the Corn Palace and surrounding structures in the brown tones; the second contains the foliage color. The third piece, with some paint blotches on it, has nothing to do with the painting and is thought to have been included just to fill out the depth of the frame.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the August 28th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Mitchell High School at 410 East 5th – 1909
Built in 1894 Central High School located on Sanborn Street between Second and Third streets was too small. In February 1908 Mitchell voted to build a new high school at 410 E 5th Ave. A grade school, Lincoln School, sat in the spot for the new High School. It was moved to the northwest corner of the block. The new Senior High School held classes the second semester of the year 1909-10, and in 1913-14 the third floor was finished for classrooms. The Senior High School at East 5th eventually became too crowded, and a new High School was built in 1962 at 900 North Capital. This modern structure included the first cafeteria in the Mitchell School System and an auditorium seating about 600. Additions were made to the school on Capital in 1982, because of over-crowding. The old High School on East 5th Street was sold to the Holy Family Catholic Church in 1963 for $67,000 and served Notre Dame High School until 1970. Cathedral Square Apartments now occupy the location.
From the Carnegie Archives
Published in the March 10th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Kernel Korn was a popular children’s character on the Mitchell TV Station – KORN. George Blum was an engineer/announcer for KORN radio before he helped to build the KORN TV Station in Mitchell. He developed and was “Kernel Korn” as Mitchell’s version of “Captain 11.” KORN TV was founded by Ray Eppel in 1960. In 1972 the station was sold to Buford Television, Inc. of Tyler, Texas and the call letters were changed to KXON. KORN’s offices and first tower was located south of Mitchell on Highway 37. The Carnegie Resource Center has the Kernel Korn uniform in its collection.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the October 9th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
This Stair photo from August 25, 1915, captures the moment when Postmaster Thomas J. Ball drove the first spike on the northern end of the street railway system being built by O.E. Cassem and his associates. Following the driving of the spike by Mr. Ball, O.E. Cassem, Jr. drove the second spike on the other end of the tie. This trolley car system transported passengers between the Milwaukee Railroad and the Omaha Railroad Depots along Rowley Street. The trolley car system only lasted around 2 ½ years. The Omaha Railroad station sat at 801 N. Main and the Milwaukee at S. Main and Railroad St.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the January 16th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Pictured from left to right are: Back row – Tom J. Ball, Joe Morrow, Al Hammer and J.K. Smith
Front Row – Dr. W.E. Crane, A.J. Waterhouse, George Johnston, John Walrath and Frank Hammer
In the village of Firesteel, Dakota Territory a group of young men became friends. Upon the promise of the railroad coming to a site two miles to the north, Firesteel businesses and residents began moving to this new site called Mitchell in October 1879. A group of young men would meet around the drug store’s old stove to conserve the small amount of fuel and have companionship daily during the winter of 1879. Amidst the desolate prairie, blizzards and an uncertain future a group of sixteen young bachelors from the old stove gatherings formed a society to “the continuance of that friendship which engendered in Mitchell amid the ‘blizzards’ and hardships of the winter of 1879-1880” so says their constitution. They had a president and secretary and would hold a reunion and banquet each year upon the arrival of the first blizzard. The first reunion was held Friday, October 15, 1880. The last reunion of this group of old friends was held on Thursday, November 18, 1915, with nine of the original sixteen members still living in attendance. For more information on this pioneer group come to the Carnegie Resource Center and investigate this unique piece of Mitchell history. This Hoyt Cox photograph captures the club known as the “Mitchell Comrades of ’79” in their older days.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the February 17th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Mitchell Kernels - 1950
Back Row (from left): Manager Maynard Ingalls, Bill Benson, Hans Hanson, Keith Cooper, Bruce Canatsy, Jim Iverson, Wayne Stone and Bart Venezia
Front Row: Lloyd Evers, Jerry Parkinson, Lou Davis, Dale Rezac, Giff Cunningham, Darrell Cadwell, and Batboy Del Black
Hot Dogs, Cracker Jacks & Peanuts – Come to the Ballgame!
Structured baseball has been part of the Mitchell back drop for many years. Mitchell had organized baseball teams in 1920 as part of the South Dakota League, followed by the Dakota League from 1921-1922. From 1936 - 1937 they were part of the Nebraska State League, the Western League from 1939-1940. When the Basin League, a collegiate minor league, was organized in 1953, the Mitchell Kernels were one of the charter members and remained in that league until 1973. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jim Bottomley played for the 1920 Kernels.
Hitchcock Park housed the Kernels during the 1920–1923 seasons. Kernel Park, located between East 9th Ave. and East 11th Ave. (included part of the parking lot of the old Mitchell Technical) next to Joe Quintal Field (built in 1941), accommodated the minor league team starting in 1936. Around 1970 the stadium and Kernel Park were torn down and the field was used by Mitchell High School as part of their complex at Quintal Field. The Kernels moved to the new Cadwell complex in 1972.
Photographer Unknown, Linda Oster photo editor
Published in the July 24th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Taplin's Service Station
Built in 1953 at the southeast corner of First Avenue and Main Street, former site of the Widmann Hotel that burned down in 1950, Taplin’s Service Station was owned and operated by Elmer Taplin. Taplin can be seen here opening the hood of the car on the right. Taplin sold the station to Richard Robertson in 1985, who had worked for Taplin for 14 years starting in 1975. Robertson closed the station on September 30, 1999, to build an Ampride Convenience Store in its place. Now the site of a Casey’s Convenience Store and Gas Station.
Photo from the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the November 13, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
One of five original paintings by Elsa Hertel on display at the Carnegie Resource Center that depict scenes around Mitchell. Elsa taught two college art classes and a class in creative art for children at DWU in the winter of 1934 and continued to be part of the community until 1936. Painted in 1936 this scene is the Cattle Shipping Station that sat on South Foster Street straight south of Hitchcock Park. The area was rebuilt eliminating the underpass. Please come down and enjoy Elsa’s paintings of Mitchell in the late 1930’s.
Photo by Linda Oster
Published in the July 10th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
South Dakota was honored to provide America’s Holiday Christmas tree to Washington, D.C. in 1997. On November 19, the semi rolled through Main Street with the 60-foot white spruce cut on November 14 in the Black Hills National Forest. At the cutting of the 75 year old tree it stood 64 feet tall. When the branches were unfurled, the estimated diameter of the tree was 30 feet. On December 10 President Clinton lit the 10,000 lights on the west lawn of the Capitol. Along with other ornaments, about 2,200 handmade ornaments from South Dakotans also decorated the tree. Mitchell celebrated the voyage to Washington D.C. with a parade which included a fire engine, National Guard color guard, ambulance, military equipment, Mitchell High School marching band playing Christmas music and a VFW pickup. An estimated 750 people came to the parade to show their pride and enthusiasm. This tree made several stops including Kimball and Sioux Falls where it was observed and celebrated by many South Dakotans.
There was a large statewide fund-raising effort to pay the cost of transporting the tree. Maynard Konechne of Kimball was part of the committee in this huge effort. He stated that by the time all permits etc. were paid it would cost $75,000 to get the tree placed in Washington, D.C. Most of the money was raised selling postcards and prints of the tree.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the December 11th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
The Mitchell Steam Laundry on East Second and Lawler was in the process of construction in 1910. J.K. Fox, owner, is standing in the doorway with the white hat. A harness company occupied the top floor. Currently the 2nd and Lawler Co. featuring candy, toys, old fashioned soda, flavored popcorn and some menu items etc. occupies the building.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the February 3rd, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Built in 1894 the South Side School in Mitchell, SD sat on Havens Street. Students in this part of town had attended school in a Lutheran Church for awhile until this building was established. After 1894 several improvements were made to the building: 1906 a furnace was installed, and rooms were completed for the 5th and 6th graders who had previously attended Central; 1908 toilet rooms and drinking fountains; 1909 7th and 8th graders were added; 1912 paper towels and liquid soap along with ONE pencil sharpener. By 1919 the building became overcrowded and needed many repairs. The idea of a new building was brought up and it was decided to build two new elementary schools – one on North Main and one on the south side. This school was first called South Side and then Eugene Field by 1907. According to an Evening News article of January 6, 1922, this building was salvaged and moved to 620 South Sanborn where it was remodeled and turned into four apartments. It served hundreds of Mitchell students in its 25 years. The school building opened in 1922 on the same spot operated until 1994 when a new school was built south of the DWU campus and was then named L.B. Williams after a former mayor.
From the Carnegie Archives
Published in the May 1st, 2021 Mitchell Republic
This ad came from the Daily Republic dated October 15, 1912, featuring a coal burning heating stove that boasts, “Any stove can burn up coal, but mighty few send the heat into the room. Most of them send it up the chimney. … The reason why is the Garland Three Flues.”
M.H. Gosche owned a hardware store located at 101 Main Street in Mitchell, SD. The site had previously been occupied by L.W. Adams who opened the first hardware store in Mitchell.
From the Carnegie Archives.
Published in the March 3rd, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
In honor of the 100th Anniversary of the construction of our current Corn Palace in 1921.
Pictured is the newly constructed 1921 Corn Palace during Corn Palace Festival Week, with the free street show on the south side of the building. The Flying Lavans lead the free street shows provided for the Corn Palace week-long Festival. The Lavans, considered one of the top two aerial acts in the country at the time, was made up of five men and one woman and used a 52 by 40 foot net rigging. Karl King and his band were the main attraction for the festival in 1921. Notice the fire escape ladder on the side of the building.
A Hersey Photo from the Carnegie Archives.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF HARVEST Found in the archives of the Carnegie Resource Center an article published in the Mitchell Daily Republic tells the story of efforts to save crops from the infestation of grasshoppers. Grasshopper plagues of considerable note date from 1874, 1930’s and 1986-1988. These invasions cost millions of dollars, damage the land, crops, animals, and anything that could be consumed. Some stories state that the hoppers even ate the wool from live sheep, wooden handles from tools, tree bark and clothes .
Published in the November 6th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.
Type your paragraph here.
This is the last known photo of the 1st Corn Palace built in 1892 on the NE corner of Fourth and Main Street. Notice the harp sitting on the stage along with a couple of chairs and assorted furnishings. The Corn Belt Committee in 1904 to help Mitchell in their bid for the State Capital went all out with Navajo motif decorations. This is the stage on which John Philip Sousa and his band performed for $7,000 a day for six days in 1904. The new Palace was built on the NE corner of Fifth and Main in only 55 days and was ready for the Corn Palace Exposition of 1905. The Beckwith house sits directly behind in the background with the dome of the Court House showing.
Photo by F. Elton Hill – June 1905
Carnegie Archives.
Published in the May 15th, 2021 Mitchell Republic.