Woolworths, Ben Franklin stores of Huron, South Dakota

The beginning of Woolworth's in Huron starts with the end of the Weir building. The Weir Building was a small frame building just south of the Costain building on Dakota avenue, between 3rd and 4th streets. Like so many others frame buildings of that era, it was being removed to make way for the more “modern” brick buildings.

Above: The Costain building, with Bell Bakery to the north (left) and the Weir building to the south. The Weir building at that time was occupied by Geo. Mills, Grocer.  

The “New Weir building” erected in its place was a two story structure with a basement, and would be rented out to the F. W. Woolworth company for a new 5 and 10 cent general merchandise store. The basement would be used for storage, and the upper floor would have two living quarters.

The red “X” on the side of the building that housed the Woolworth's store. While it is impossible to read the sign on the storefront, Woolworth's would have been located in this building at this time. Bell Bakery, which was 2 buildings north, was moved to make way for the I.O.O.F. Building.

It was April of 1916 when the “old” Weir building was moved and construction began. By August, the new building was complete and Woolworth's was ready to open its doors to the public.  

Above: The Costain building and, to the south (right), what was the “new" Weir building as they are today.

One-half block to the north, on the southeast corner of 3rd and Dakota, sat a large ornate brick building, known as the “Hills Block.” Myer's Cigar Store, among other businesses, was located in this building about 1940.

Above, from left, on corner of 3^rd and Dakota: Hill's Block; Potter shoe store building, Red Arrow building, small one-story building, I.O.O.F. Building (which housed Bell Bakery), Costain building, Woolworth's, several small buildings, Masonic Temple/Little Zee building on corner.

The Hills Block, a large, ornate building on 3^rd and Dakota, had two smaller frame buildings behind it on 3^rd street east – The Palace Barber Shop and the Nu-Way shop. In 1940, a realty firm from Minneapolis purchased the property and went forward with their intention to erect a new building extending over the sites of those small frame buildings. At the same time, M. A. Myers, proprietor of the Myers Cigar Store in the Hills Block, asked the city for permission to move his business and liquor license to the Root Building, one block north at 252 Dakota S.   

The new building was completed, and Woolworth's moved into it the following year. Just about 21 years later, on July 23, 1960, Woolworth's permanently suspended business at the end of the day. According to the manager at the time, William Fogelstrom, the company closed that location because it was not considered adequate for their operation.

But the building did not sit vacant long. On August 1, crews began the process of remodeling the building with the goal opening a Ben Franklin store.  At that time, Ben Franklin was one of the nation's largest retail merchandising businesses, with over 2400 independently owned stores. James Flynn of Redfield announced he would lease the building and operate the store, hiring 7 salesladies and a stock clerk, hoping to fill these positions from former Woolworth's employees.

Many of us have great memories of the Ben Franklin store. I loved to shop with my grandmother there and while she picked up her magnetic photo albums, Dippity-Do, Aqua-Net hairspray and the likes, I got to go to the back of the store to the pet department. Colorful parakeets, fish of all types, and even monkeys were in stock. The big attraction was a parrot sitting on a perch suspended from the ceiling. One of the highlights of my childhood was getting to hold a monkey while its cage was being cleaned. Browsing through the pet department was a thrill I never outgrew.

In October of 1994, it was announced that the store was under new ownership and would be converted to a craft store. While I had since moved from town, I did visit the store one last time during this era. Luckily, it was during a big sale, and I recall packing my trunk full of various craft goodies. For me, this one last thrill from Ben Franklin was a fitting way to say goodbye.  

SOURCES

Google Earth

Huron City Directories: 1918, 1922, 1930, 1932, 1938 and 1940

Huron Daily Huronite, August 07, 1916, pg. 1
Huron Daily Huronite, April 06, 1916, p. 8
Huron Evening Huronite, Oct. 29, 1940, p. 8
Huron Daily Plainsman, July 24, 1960
Huron Daily Plainsman, Feb. 2, 1964
Huron Daily Plainsman, Oct. 17, 1994
Huron Daily Plainsman, Dec. 14, 1994

Sheriff John Boyle - 100% Policeman At all Times

Patrolman John Boyle

Seems like Huron's patrolman John Boyle always got his man.  Well, maybe not always, but he got a lot of them and in his amazing 40-year career in local law enforcement, he kept Huron just a little bit safer. Over the years, he busted bootleggers, transported dangerous criminals, shuffled gypsies out of town, broke up brawls, escorted a US president, found lost children and put out fires.  Literally.  He was on the fire department as well.

John Boyle was not the only lawman in Huron, but in reading through early Huronites it's John Boyle's name that you see repeatedly.

And although he served as deputy sheriff under the notorious gangster Sheriff Verne Miller, he couldn't have been more different. Said one of the unlucky men John Boyle arrested, "If you drive through Beadle County, for the love of Mike, don't look guilty."   

A hobo by the name of Donald Cook was spotted breaking into the J. C. Oliver house just west of the fairgrounds.  Despite Officer Boyle's prompt response, Cook managed to get away.  But Boyle caught up with him, overtaking him by automobile, and brought the burglar and the stolen goods back to town.

And then there was the case of a stranger in town who made a spectacular getaway from the chief of police.  The chief spotted the man near some box cars just south of the C. & N. W. passenger station.  When asked who he was he claimed to be a switchman standing guard over a boxcar with a dead man in it.  As the chief went to examine the dead man, the stranger ran like a rabbit around the station, then past the pumping plant, "making championship time" to the James River.  He swam across and then was quickly over the hill.  The chief took the train to Cavour in hopes of heading him off, and Patrolman Boyle took off by automobile.  Boyle caught up with him about halfway between Huron and Cavour and hauled him off to jail.  And the "dead man" in the boxcar?  He was actually "dead drunk."

The police force and sheriff's office in Beadle County had a reputation for being suspicious of everyone and everything, particularly during Prohibition.  H. R. Carpenter, who was arrested by Deputy Boyle, complained "Don't carry anything in your car which looks like a bottle, a case, a package or a parcel," he said.  "Drive strait and slow and piously -- look meek and saintly if possible.  If you can't, don't go through Beadle County.  That county sheriff's office is composed of some of the most suspicious men I ever ran up against... Take it from me, they would haul in a man with a sour stomach on a charge of starting fermentation."   Joked the newspaper: "He has reasons for his praise of the efficiencies of the officers in question, especially the efficiency of Deputy Sheriff Boyle."  Incidentally, Carpenter was carrying a box of preserves in his automobile when arrested.

Later on, the chief of police was tipped off to a liquor party in town and with officer Mitchell and Deputy Sheriff Boyle and State Deputy Charles Wright raided the home of E. K. Albert, 1170 Beach Avenue.  Nearly a half-gallon of alcohol was confiscated, but that wasn't the biggest catch of the night.  Newly appointed State Deputy Sheriff L. W. Barnett was also nabbed and arrested for disorderly conduct.  Witnesses said Barnett assured them that due to his position in law enforcement they would be protected.  He even went so far as to pin his badge on the dress of one of the women at the party.  However, no one got protection and he was dismissed from his new position by the State Sheriff despite his claims of a "frame-up." 

During this period of time the jail was overcrowded; the Evening Huronite tells of 17 prisoners in a jail with capacity for 14, but that didn't slow the arrests.  Three more prisoners who were being held elsewhere were about to be brought in.  "Omaha Joe," a bootlegger, had escaped a federal raid in Huron just a few days later after bringing a carload of liquor into town.  Omaha officials had caught up with him and Deputy Boyle was enroute to get him, after bringing in the writer of a bad check from south of Virgil.

Gypsies also kept Boyle busy.  On one particular occasion then Chief of Police Boyle had his hands full.  As the Daily Huronite told it:

"Four wagon loads of gipsies [sic] arrived in the city this morning and stopped for a short time, but only for a short time, being instructed by the police to move on.  One of the dusky beauties of the party was availing herself of the opportunity given by the stop to circulate about town and tell fortunes, but one of her young men clients claimed she has picked his pocket of a dollar and raised a cry for the police.  John Boyle [chief of police] took her in charge and to the police station, where one of the men of the party made good the dollar, and she was given her liberty.  After returning to the vicinity of the wagons she hunted up her pipe and after smoking up in good shape began to tell the world in general what she thought of Huron and its police force.  Quite a crowd had by that time assembled, and her remarks would undoubtedly have been of great interest if anyone had been able to understand them.

While this was going on a fire started in the sorting room of the laundry, in front of which the teams were stopping, but it was quickly extinguished..."

Boyle's duties didn't always deal with crime.  In 1911 President William Taft visited Huron and was taken through the business section of town.  A very poor picture was printed, identifying "the officer with the old-fashioned helmet" with the President as John Boyle, who at the time was a patrolman.

And then, there are the pennies.  Many of us have joked about paying a bill or a ticket that we weren't happy about with pennies.  Well, it happened to Sheriff Boyle.  The Evening Huronite reported, "Sheriff John Boyle, who has never collected coins, today is the possessor of an aggregation of pennies that would make the eye of many a devoted collector pop.  He has 700 Indian Head pennies.  G. F. Babcock brought them to his office as payment for taxes owed to the county."

The Weekly State Spirit, in 1917, published an annual report of the city's police department.  1,003 arrests were made, $2,142 in fines were collected, and the police department expenses were $5,627.  As far as the types of crimes the police force dealt with, "drunks" accounted for most of them.  Disorderly conduct, vagrancy, prostitution, thievery, gambling, speeding, and people using "profane language" were also common.  Less common were "wife beaters" and beggars.

John Boyle's career in law enforcement lasted nearly 40 years, from 1904 to 1943, with the exception of one year he farmed.  Boyle was a patrolman, Chief of Police, Deputy Sheriff, and Sheriff.  He was deputy under 5 different sheriffs, and it was only death that ended his career as a civil servant.  He died of pneumonia after surgery.  His appendix had ruptured, and he had felt ill for several days, but the night before his emergency surgery he was fighting a fire downtown at the Sauer building.  Oh, and he was 72 years old.  The Huronite editor summed it up:  Boyle was "100 per cent policeman at all times."  

Then and Now, Farmers Market

 Then and Now, the building at 800 Dakota Avenue, North in Huron (SD)

Caption of newspaper photo, from the Huronite and Daily Plainsman of July 22, 1956:

"Opening in Huron this week was the new Jack and Jill Supermarket shown above, located at 800 Dakota Avenue, North.  The Jack and Jill Supermarket franchise is held in Huron by the new store's owners, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Seveland.  The new store has four departments -- groceries, meats, frozen foods and produce -- and features Our Family Foods and Armour Star meats.  The new structure is 50 x 80 feet and includes a large parking area for automobiles."

Herb and Mary Seveland owned and operated Jack & Jill Farmer's Market until they sold the business in 1975 to Don Eden and Verlyn Ellis.

I get a little apprehensive when I see this building; living on the other end of town, I was only in this building once in my life, when it was Farmers Market.  I was about 16 years old and was called upon to take my grandmother potato shopping.  She made and sold lefse and was extremely particular about the potatoes she used so potato shopping was a lengthy and sometimes an embarrassing ordeal.  I was in the store with her while she went through bag after bag of potatoes.  She had the clerk call the manager and she proceeded to chew him out in no uncertain terms for the poor quality spuds they stocked.  I recall slinking off to the car and trying to hide all the way there.  Funny, all these years later I still get that feeling when looking at that building.

Sources:

Google Earth

Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, Aug. 08, 1956

Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, July 22, 1956

Huron Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, June 15, 1980

Huron, South Dakota City Direcgtory, 1958

Huron, South Dakota City Directory, 1960

Then and Now - Apartments on Lincoln Ave.

 

Top photo from Google Earth, Dec. 2021; bottom photo from the Huron Daily Plainsman of Dec. 31, 1961, 50 years apart.

Caption reads: New Apartment Under Construction:  Huron enjoyed a substantial construction year in 1961, including many new homes and multiple-unit structures.  One of the latter, an eight-unit apartment, is shown above under construction on Lincoln Avenue, immediately west of the State Fairgrounds.  The apartment building is one of three planned by a recently formed Huron corporation.

Highway 14 Through Huron, South Dakota

 I grew up knowing this road as part of my Saturday morning "Flip the Loop" routine - see map below - over and over, all the while looking for other people we knew who were doing the same thing.  This was usually done with a carload of people.  Being the only one of my crowd with a car, my friends were all more than happy to give me $1 each to pay for gas.  Thanks to the cheap gas prices of 1975, it turned out to be a little bit of a money maker as well.  But with all the miles I drove on that road, I never once wondered how it came to be.

It began early in 1956, when the State Highway Department began planning a six-lane re-routing of Highway 14 through Huron (two lanes eastbound, two lanes westbound, and a two-lane service road).  A new 3 1/2 mile stretch of road would connect the "present" US 14 near Brewery Hill with the highway west of town at the fairgrounds without routing traffic through town.  At that time, westbound Highway 14 followed the river to 3rd street, then continued to Lincoln ave., then north to "Old Highway 14."  The new road would follow 4th St. NE. 

 The graphic below shows the old route and the proposed route on top, and the current Google Earth map of the highway.

The estimated cost of this project was $1.2 million, with Huron paying about $40,000, half the cost of acquiring the rights of way.  The other half would be paid b the Bureau of Public Roads.  The remainder of the cost would be paid by the state and federal governments. 

The original route was creating a great deal of traffic congestion along 3rd street; Market Road was initially considered to play at role but due to limitations Fourth Street N. was concluded to be a better option.

Businesses that were impacted by this construction were the Oasis Bar (368 Dakota N.), Durmy's Taxidermy (362 Dakota N.), an unnamed filling station, and Rosebud Oil Company (359 Illinois NW).  Several houses also needed to be moved.  Northside Memorial Park would be reduced in size "considerably."

Work commenced in April of 1958 and the west portion was open to traffic in October of that year.  Work on the other side would start in 1959.  The project was completed in 1961, with 5 miles of 4 lane highway.  Total cost of the work was $2.25 million.

Sources:

1955 Huron, South Dakota City Directory
1957 Huron, South Dakota City Directory
Google Earth
Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, March 01, 1956
Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, April 4, 1956
Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, April 8, 1956
Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, May 15, 1957
Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, June 25, 1958
Huronite and Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, Oct. 9, 1958
Huron Daily Plainsman, Sept. 4, 1960
Huron Daily Plainsman, Dec. 31, 1961
Apple Maps

Crown Park

 On Feb. 9, 1972, the City of Huron officially accepted a gift of land from the Crown Family that would become the city's smallest park, Crown Park, at 1.5 acres.

Photo courtesy of Google Earth

Despite the small size, Crown Park is a scenic, peaceful piece of land at the east end of Fifth Street N.E., adjoining the north part of Ravine Lake.  It has a playground, picnic shelter, restrooms, benches, and a dock.  

The restrooms were donated by the Huron High School Class of 1960 (and friends), the Crown family, and L. D. and Mary Beadles, dedicated to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Crown, their son Chuck Crown, and Fred and Dorothy Beadles.

The swing set was donated by the Pheasant Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Memorial benches also offer a peaceful place to sit, and are dedicated to the memories of Shirley Reineke, Lurean "Hap" Lynde, Heath Styer, Carolyn Styer, Charles E. Crown, and Chip and Doris Mahoney, 

The owners of the land, Albert and Minnie (Stenvik) Crown, lived at 529 5th St. N.E. and the land that would become Crown Park is just down the road at 557 5th St. N. E.  The Crowns were both natives of Minnesota, having married there in 1926.  Mrs. Crown had been a nurse, and her husband worked with his brother doing road construction.  They moved to Huron in 1928 and spent the remainder of their lives there.  Mr. Crown worked as a butter maker at Swift's Creamery, and then as a custodian at American Lutheran Church after his retirement.

Mrs. Crown passed away on Dec. 31, 1970, and her husband died about 3 weeks later.  The Huron City Commissioners discussed that their heirs had approached the city expressing an interest in dedicating a piece of land to the city to be designated as Crown Park.  The gift was officially accepted at their meeting two weeks later.

Two years later, the Huron Daily Plainsman discussed the progress made on the "new" Crown Park.  A picnic shelter and picnic tables, two grills, and a water fountain were to be included, and at that point in time the shelter and some of the landscaping were already done.

The Crown family has left a beautiful haven for the citizens of Huron to enjoy, and it is a lasting legacy to their family and generosity.

Sources:

Photos courtesy of Stan Phillippi
Huron Daily Plainsman, Jan. 01, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Jan. 20, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Jan. 26, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Feb. 09, 1972
Huron Daily Plainsman, Feb. 24, 1974
Huron Daily Plainsman, July 29, 1979
1940 Federal Census, Huron, Beadle co., South Dakota
1950 Federal Census, Huron, Beadle co., South Dakota
Huron Recreation and Entertainment webpage at https://www.huronsd.com/visiting-huron/recreation-entertainment/parks-trails
Google Earth

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 

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