Forty One Years in the Making - Creating Ravine Park Lake

The citizens of Huron, South Dakota waited a very long time for their lake.  More than forty-one years, to be exact.

The first documented suggestion about creating this lake came in the fall of 1895.  An idea was put forth to create an artificial lake just north of town, an idea that had already been kicked around "for years."  This lake was to be supplied with clean artesian water, and if banked, would create a lake “some miles” in length.  Surveyors were planning on staking out the embankments that very week and a stock company was to be formed to raise the necessary funds to bring the project to completion.  The work was to begin within ten days. 

The lake area would be beautified with trees and would be stocked with fish.  It would be a pleasurable resort for the citizens of Huron to enjoy.  It's hard to say exactly what happened, but nothing took place.

This idea resurged numerous times over the years, and in early in 1921, some progress actually occurred when a new skating rink was proposed.  While people had been skating on the river and ravine since at least 1894 (and probably earlier), this time, creating the skating rink involved pumping water into the ravine, paving the way for the creation of a lake.  

Initially this plan involved creating a city park there with expanded winter sports opportunities, noting the lay of the land would support many winter sports.  The skating rink would be formed by damming the ravine.  The local chatter finally turned into something tangible in October of 1922 when the Huron Lion's club decided to build a proper skating rink at that location.  That same week Clarence Coop and a team from the city mowed the grass on the bottom of the ravine where the flooding would occur, and other preparations were undertaken. 

"Heine" Pierce took a look at the area and came up with the most optimal location for constructing a dam which would hold the water in the ravine.  On Tuesday, Oct. 12, almost the whole membership of the Lion's Club made a "substantial" dam at the south end of the waterway in what they called "Ravine Park."  The thought was that the autumn rains would flood the area and form the rink.  But it didn't rain.  So they devised and executed "Plan B," which involved pumping water from the river to the ravine, and getting the community involved - both strategies that would eventually be employed to create the lake.   

The Lions Club sought out additional help to put the new plan into action.  F. H. Holtan, manager of the Huron Ice Company and several of his men donated almost a week of their time to build a dam at the mouth of the creek bed.  They installed pumps at the James River and at the dam of the rink and pumped water into the pond for about 3 weeks.  Electricity for the project was donated by the Huron Light and Power Company, as well as providing one of the motors to operate the pumps.  To provide the electricity they needed, poles were set and electrical wire run from the river bridge at 3^rd street all the way to Ravine Park.  Holtan stepped up once again and furnished all of the materials and the Lion's Club members did all the work. 

Later they had to make another dam north of the first one so that water didn't run up the creek bed and spread out from there.  Following completion of this dam the water level rose rapidly - in two weeks the water was running over the south dam. 

A warming house was constructed with money raised from the community.  Here patrons could check their coats, purchase concessions, and have a place to rest and warm up.  At that point, the rink and the warming house were turned over to the city of Huron, where more personnel and better equipment were available to keep the rink free of snow.  It was said that if the city had undertaken this project, it would have cost between $1,500 and $2,000 to build both the skating rink and the warming house. 

In January 1923, Huron Mayor C. A. Kelley officially accepted the gift of the rink and warming house and thanked the Lion's Club. In a letter to the club, he said, "Your club deserves a great deal of credit for your enterprise and your desire to do something for the citizens of Huron, and you certainly have accomplished a great deal in taking charge and pushing to completion the skating rink in Ravine Park."   He assured them that the City Commissioners would do everything in their power to keep the rink in good condition over the winter.  He also acknowledged that the rink was temporary as currently constructed but the city hoped to make it more permanent over the coming summer. 

One of the first champions of creating an actual lake at Ravine Park was William Ritschlag, a pioneer of Huron.  He was a city alderman, a member of the first Huron fire department, and a charter member of the Odd Fellows among other things.  He was Huron's first barber and first taxidermist.  His dream was to see a high dam at the mouth of the ravine and the creation of a lake there.  He died in November of 1923 before this dream became a reality. 

Three years later (1926) the Altrusa Club of Huron realized the need of the community for a place to swim during the hot summer months.  They were considering sites to build a swimming pool.  One was Ravine Park, and the other was an abandoned artificial lake situated at the state fairgrounds, but no decisions had been made.  Despite support from the local Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, the City Commissioners said they were willing to help but the budget for the year had been set and there were no funds available.  What became of this project is unclear.  However, two months after being denied funds from the city, the City Commissioners suggested that the Altrusa Club could be given the warming house at Ravine Park Skating Rink to be either sold or moved to the bathing beach at Jolin's Sand Pit.  While I do not know where Jolin's Sand Pit was or if the Altrusa Club took them up on the offer of the building, one thing seems apparent: the city had given up on the skating rink at Ravine Park. 

In September of that year a report was made to the City Commissioners by a consulting firm of engineers engaged to make recommendations on a variety of concerns.  One of the items mentioned was the construction of a municipal swimming pool.  Ravine Park was suggested as the best site for this pool.  They recommended a pool of 50 x 110 feet made of cement and concrete with showers and dressing rooms.  A reinforced concrete dam at the river was also recommended. 

But still, in April of 1928, nearly two years later, nothing had been done.  Ravine Park was being improved and trees planted, and it was well-used by the community.  To commemorate Arbor Day, trees and shrubs were planted, the Huron Municipal Band played, and a city-wide picnic was held.  Following the picnic a program was presented concerning further park development including the possibility of developing a lake there.  Mitchell's Superintendent of Parks, Walter Webb, talked about how their city developed a lake along Firesteel Creek just north of town.  

But still, no real lake was created at Ravine Park.   By 1930 work had begun on a new skating rink at the park and there were hopes of a toboggan slide there as well.  But no lake. 

It wasn't until August of 1932 that tangible things started happening.  Six unemployment relief projects were being initiated in town; one of them would be digging out rocks which could then be used to construct a dam at Ravine Park if the project was deemed feasible.  The City Commissioners asked the City Engineer to complete a survey of the dam site and give an estimate of the cost.  

A local "booster" committee, chaired by John P. Walsh, stepped in and were able to address concerns regarding cost of the dam.  They were able to secure a promise from the state game and fish commission that they'd furnish materials for the construction of this dam.  Beadle county commissioners had already agreed to pay for the labor, providing the city would pay for materials and supervise the project.  All that was left to do was to secure the easements on the properties that would be flooded.  Four of nine property owners had refused and negotiations with them were ongoing.

Finally the resolution to proceed with the project passed with unanimous support.  The artificial lake would be two miles long.  The City Commissioner proactively warned residents of neighboring communities not to come to Huron looking for work on the Ravine Park dam or any other relief project.  It'll be hard enough, he said, to stretch out the work among the unemployed residents of Beadle county. 

Bridge over Highway 14, taken from where the swimming area would be, looking north. 
Photo courtesy of Sheila Crown Arth.

A foreman was named to organize the workforce, and work was to commence in a day or two.  A tax levy increase of just over $11,000 was made and about half ($6,500) was added to the park board's appropriations for the Ravine Park dam.  More money would be needed to settle the remaining easements and to rebuild the bridge on North Fourth street, which would need to be raised about 8 feet. 

The issue of the unresolved easements was finally settled in a board of City Commissioners meeting on Oct. 3, 1932.  The commissioners voted unanimously to begin condemnation procedures against the properties involved for which the city was not able to procure easements.  The last of the hurdles had been successfully jumped, at least for the city. 

1932 had been an eventful year.  One last major development occurred in December when Mrs. C. N. McIlvaine and J. Augustine donated land located on the west side of the new Ravine Park Lake, located between 11th and 15th streets NE.  This land was to be used as a parkway and a new park. 

In September of the following year (1933) the City Commission approved plans for a Ravine Park project, costing about $14,000.  The plan included:

                1) A bridge 135 ft. long, 6 ft wide, guard rail 3 ft high, from the mainland across the "Ravine Park Creek" to the island in the creek.
               2) Channeling Ravine Park Creek
                3) Graveling and sanding the beach
                4) Constructing a park building with toilets, showers, drains, plumbing and lockers.  Sewer also needed.
                5) Main road construction, grading and constructing a parkway and graveling the paths.
                6) Galvanized iron pipe and water system installed at the park.

 The plan passed unanimously and at long last, the dam was completed in the spring of 1934.   Disappointingly, Ravine Park Lake was still dry months later when the island was christened "Izaak Walton Island."   A very heavy rainfall finally put 2-3 feet of water into the lake basin and shortly thereafter a raft carrying neighborhood boys was spotted on the lake. 

July 12, 1934 Evening Huronite, Caption: “Here is what nearly an inch of rain did to the Ravine park lake last week.  The picture was taken from the south end of the lake the morning of July 6 after the heaviest rainfall fell the night before.  The water was from 2 to 3 feet deep in the basin which was created by the construction of a dam with relief labor.  The level of the water has been maintained fairly well.  An observation today revealed that the water was 12 inches below the high mark of July 6.”

Ravine Lake after the dam was constructed, but before
filling.  Photo courtesy of Sheila Crown Arth.

 

Interest in the lake was high; several hundred children had been to the lake since the rainfall, averaging about 100 per day.  There was still enough water for swimming, but more rain was needed and unless that happened, lifeguards were going to be pulled.  As the situation persisted, the water was described as "shallow and muddy."   The usefulness of the lake depended wholly on rainfall, and 1934 was a hot, dry year.

 In 1934, Huron's water supply was from two artesian wells, but with two new wells west of town, the Chamber of Commerce discussed using water from the old artesian wells for Ravine Lake.  The idea was well received, however, a newspaper article from two years later notes that the city discontinued use of the "west" wells in favor of using the James River for its water supply and tapping the west wells as needed for deficits.   Water was also being pumped from the river into Ravine Lake.  Dow I. Sears, the head of the Parks Department, said that the "new" Ravine Park Lake is half filled and may be ready for use in a few days.  The lake at that point was already filled to 3 feet with 3.5 million gallons of water being pumped into the lake per day with a goal of 6' depth.  He stressed that this project would not jeopardize the city's water supply and it would only reduce the river's water level by less than a quarter of an inch.  He also addressed the "new" dam being built near 3rd street, which would also conserve a lot of water currently leaking through the existing dam. 

Young swimmers enjoying Ravine Park Lake, photo courtesy of Dave Martin.

The beach was being improved as well, with the Huron CCC camp hauling gravel and coarse sand to the east side of the lake.  The beach would be 200 feet long and extend 100 feet into the lake.  The lake would be roped off at various points to address safety concerns.  Water would be treated with copper sulfate and chlorine.  An additional dam would be constructed under the North Fourth street bridge which would restrict the swimming area to south of the bridge and cutting off access to the large north part of the lake.

The lake was nearly called "Lake Devore" by the Huron City Commissioners.  The motion was to honor T. J. Devore, who died in 1932 while working at the dam at Ravine Park.  After a split vote, it was decided to stick with tradition and call the lake "Ravine Park Lake."  The motion then passed unanimously.

Four cousins at the Ravine Lake bathhouse.  Photo courtesy of Roxanna Williams.

 The dream of a lake at Ravine Park was finally realized on July 9, 1936.  The lake officially opened then (although due to a recent heat wave swimming had been permitting a few weeks prior), and a dedication program was held.  About 3,500 people turned out for the event and about 700 automobiles passed by the area on that day.  Clowns (Forrest Nelson, Virgil Olson, Lloyd Miller) entertained, as did the Huron Municipal Band.  Safety guidelines were introduced - children were urged to swim in groups and stick to "supervised" hours, and vehicles were asked to watch their speed.  Fourteen lifeguards had been hired.  In the following couple of years, additional WPA projects were planned, including raising the lake dam to help with the water level in the spring, improving roads in the park, working on the shoreline, and other general improvements.  The bath house was constructed in 1938, also as a WPA project.  An open house was held on August 4, offering tours, a Huron Municipal Band concert, tap dancing, and swimming and diving exhibitions and contests.   Ravine Park Lake, as had been envisioned for so many years, was finally a reality. 

 

 

Sources

Stan Phillippi
Sheila Crown Arth
Dave Martin
Roxanna Williams 

Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, August 4, 1938
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, August 24, 1939
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 12, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, April 22, 1935
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, April 26, 1928
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, August 21, 1933
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, August 30, 1932
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, December 03, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, December 06, 1932
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, December 27, 1922
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, January 03, 1923
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, January 07, 1921
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 07, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 08, 1926
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 10, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 10, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 14, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 16, 1943
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 17, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 21, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 24, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 29, 1933
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, June 18, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, June 23, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, June 26, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, March 22, 1937
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, May 12, 1926
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, May 13, 1920
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, May 21, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, November 03, 1932
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, November 03, 1933
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, November 09, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, November 11, 1930
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, November 19, 1923
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, November 30, 1923
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, October 08, 1936
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 07, 1932
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 08, 1932
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 09, 1926
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 13, 1933
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 23, 1933
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 24, 1934
Evening Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, September 27, 1932

Huron Weekly State Spirit, Huron, South Dakota, March 17, 1910

Daily Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, October 26, 1895
Daily Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, January 10, 1933
Dakota Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, December 06, 1894
Dakota Huronite, Huron, South Dakota, July 06, 1899 

Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, January 26, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, February 09, 1972
Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, February 24, 1974
Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, July 29, 1979

 National Weather Service Quick Reference Climatic Information for Sioux City, IA and Huron, SD, https://www.weather.gov/fsd/suxhonref