7/26/2023 0 Comments Ghost Towns....Keyapaha, SD On top of the hill, like a haunted mansion from a scary book stood the Gooby house (also known to the Keyapaha Kids as the Ghost House). However, before Keyapaha, Gooby was, and still is, listed on early maps of South Dakota. At one time the Gooby family had a store, post office and home in that old crumbling building standing on the hill. It was locked up tighter than a drum and guarded by skunks living in the basement which deterred adventurous little explorers.
Located nine miles north of the Nebraska-South Dakota border and approximately three miles east of the Tripp-Todd County line in southwestern Tripp County, South Dakota, Keyapaha is still shown as a “dot” on many of the old South Dakota maps. Keyapaha was located thirty-two miles from the Chicago Northwestern Railroad which ended at Winner, South Dakota. Later the railroad was extended west to Wood, South Dakota. (This is the correct spelling for Keyapaha, South Dakota, as one word. In Nebraska, Keya Paha County and the Keya Paha River are two words.) In the Sioux language Keyapaha translates to “Turtle Butte '' or Turtle Hill ''. By Marita Placek Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081
0 Comments
7/26/2023 0 Comments Return of the Bald Eagle The majestic bald eagle has captured imaginations and inspired reverence for millennia, and so since time immemorial, bald eagles have been honored in [1] legend, song, story, and symbol—from Native American traditions, to the Seal of the President of the United States, to the lyrics of the Steve Miller Band. And the Nebraska-South Dakota border is one of the best places in the world, outside of Alaska, to experience these birds in person. But that hasn’t always been the case—for nearly a century and a half, bald eagles in this area were on the verge of extinction. From this low point, thanks to a variety of conservation efforts in the second half of the last century, bald eagle populations soared again, and the people of Nebraska and South Dakota are still able to admire these legendary creatures.
All eagles, including bald eagles, are classified as “raptors”—birds of prey. There are over 60 extant species of eagles across the globe, and these species are further classified based on habitat and food source (like, for example, the snake-eagles). Bald eagles are classified as “sea-eagles,” because even though many bald eagles live along rivers and lakes quite far from any ocean, bald eagles usually nest near the seashore, lakefronts, or riverbanks, and they usually eat fish as their primary food source. By Lindsay Hindman Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments The Purple Onion...Oakland, NE It may not have been Woodstock, Oakland's (Nebraska) Purple Onion packed 'em in during the summer months for almost five years, beginning in the mid-1960s.. Teenagers stood in line, waiting for their chance to enter a refurbished 4H building on the Burt County fairgrounds and dance to Top 40 songs performed by bands with names such as Touracos, The Fenmen, The Others, Rumbles, and The Dead Lip.
From 1966 through 1971, the Purple Onion was the epicenter of the music scene for young people from northeast Nebraska towns, such as West Point, Scribner, Decatur, and even as far away as Ponca. Once word got out about the weeknight concerts, up to 800 people would flock to Oakland, lay down a couple of bucks, and rock the night away. By Tim Trudell Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments The Falls at Sioux Falls If you find yourself in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with the urge to enjoy the scenic outdoors, Falls Park is the place to go. The walking paths, the benches, the green grass, the outcroppings of rocks and boulders all lend themselves to a very picturesque and tranquil romp with Mother Nature. Just don’t expect to find yourself there alone. It’s an ideal location for taking a stroll with the family, walking your dog, enjoying a picnic with your family or hiding out behind a tree to steal a kiss with your love interest. If you have a fishing pole, you’re sure to find a shady spot along the river bank just a short distance down from the falls to cast a line. Want to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature? You can find a bench or a tree to sit under in the shade and read a book while you enjoy the gentle breeze blowing across the land. One warning, if you’re close to the falls it’s going to be noisy as the water rushes over the rocks and through the chutes.
I enjoyed a beautiful early September afternoon. The perfect day for families to take selfies while enjoying time with their children. I saw a man fishing down the stream with his son, people walking their dogs, and friends laughing and enjoying the afternoon together. When it’s sunny and 75 out in early September, Falls Park is a beautiful place to be. By Carol Rempp Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 Self-reliance is necessary for ranchers living miles away from mechanics, electricians, plumbers and medical personnel needed for critters with feathers, fur and hair: four legs and two.
Many of these ranchers are women serving essential roles, working year-round in all types of weather conditions to ensure that their agricultural enterprise is successful. These credentials clearly identify Yvonne Hollenbeck, wife and ranching partner of her husband, Glen. This duo lives just north of the Nebraska border near Clearfield, South Dakota on ranchland Glen’s family acquired eighty-three years ago. My summer visit with the Hollenbecks began during a delicious meal of baked steak, sweet potatoes and salad. When Glen excused himself to work with his horse, Yvonne and I continued our conversation over cups of coffee. By Marci Broyhill Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments DO-SI-DO......Jerry Junck This writer’s earliest memory of a square dance is from about the age of eight, when my parents took the family to the nearby town of Allen one Saturday night, circa 1962. At the top of main street, in the town square, were a number of people milling about on sawdust that had been spread over the street surface. The men were in jackets and Bolo ties, and the ladies colorfully dressed in crinolines and petticoats. I remember watching with awe as they danced their choregraphed way through what appeared to be intricate patterns. A strong memory is that every participant had wide smiles on their faces and obviously were enjoying themselves.
The name square dance comes from eight people dancing patterns all within a square. Square Dance roots come from many countries and cultures dating back as far as the sixteenth century, yet still it is uniquely American. Jerry Junck of Wayne, Nebraska is a distinctive part of the presentation. As a square dance “caller”, Junck has traveled forty-four states and three Canadian provinces leading dances for over fifty-five years. A talented “caller” needs to be many things; a storyteller, comedian, possess the cadence of an auctioneer and even be a singer. Listening to Junck sing a credible rendition of the Everly Brothers hit song “Bye, Bye Love” while simultaneously calling out instructions to the dancers is enjoyable to hear. By Brad Kellogg Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments Ghost Towns......Bonesteel, SD In the early days, the small village that became Bonesteel, South Dakota, produced one of the most exciting and dramatic sagas in the history of the Rosebud Country and the State of South Dakota. It evolved from the native Indian hunting grounds to become known as the “Underworld Capitol of the West” in the span of twelve frontier years. It seems like only yesterday that the whole drama was enacted, but in truth it has been well over a hundred years ago. The pulse of Bonesteel's sudden rise to 'fame and fortune' was rapid, hostile, and abrupt.
Situated on a plateau over the lonesome prairie was a small village near the clear sparkling waters of Huston Springs. Before Dakota Territory was admitted to the union as the states of North and South Dakota in 1889, fur traders, wood hawks, their wives, and soldiers stationed at Fort Randall were some of the first humans to spent time in the village and enjoy the cooling waters of Huston Springs. It is possible the village was called Huston because of the Springs. By Marita Placek Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments In the HeART of Valentine David Dorsey, an award-winning artist, maintains his home and studio in Valentine, Nebraska. David’s main body of work reflects the western agrarian lifestyle: past and present. He values the unique landscape of Nebraska, its wildlife, rural commerce, the people and their lifestyle. His family’s heritage has given him a strong foundation for inspiration.
David descends from a long line of pioneers with strong roots in South Dakota and Nebraska. His great-grandmother, Hattie Elizabeth Shaddock, from his mother’s side of his family tree, was a single, determined, adventurous woman who took a land claim near Platte, South Dakota. Though few facts of her life are known, David indicated that Hattie married Clancy T. Malone in 1914. The Malones eventually made the decision to trade Hattie’s land claim for a house in Crookston, Nebraska, located 11 miles west of Valentine. By Marci Broyhill Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments Washington High--Sioux Falls, SD For over a century, the campus on the 300 block of South Main Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls has been a hub of learning. What was once Washington High School was one of the many architecturally magnificent central high schools constructed in the downtowns of cities small and large throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including many cities and towns in South Dakota and Nebraska. Today, however, few of those buildings still serve as functioning public high schools. Their respective fates varied widely—some have been torn down, others have been repurposed as apartment complexes or charter schools, and far too many sit empty, crumbling and gathering dust. But what is now the Washington Pavilion is a shining example of how a historic school building can, in its second century and even long after the last school bell has rung, continue to serve as a center of learning and culture for its community.
The story of the Washington Pavilion begins in 1879, with the construction of the first school in Sioux Falls—Central School. Located near South Main Avenue and West 12th Street, Central School housed students from first through twelfth grades. But as Sioux Falls boomed, its student population quickly outgrew the space then available at old Central, and so planning began for what would become Washington High School. By Lindsay Hindman Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 7/26/2023 0 Comments Cloisters on the Platte As Joe Ricketts built a financial empire, he felt something missing from his life. A graduate of Jesuit schools, including Creighton University in Omaha, he didn’t feel the same commitment to his faith as he previously had.
“My spiritual life is very important to me,” Ricketts said. “I’ve gone to grade school, high school and college that was religious, and I became enamored with my spiritual life. It was built into me. And after I got out school and got on with my career and family, I didn’t feel like I had that touch anymore.” A friend, who also happened to serve as a priest, encouraged Ricketts to attend a religious retreat in Minnesota. The founder of TD Ameritrade, an online trading broker that is now part of Charles Schwab, was initially reluctant before agreeing to attend a retreat in 1987 at Demontreville, a Jesuit sanctuary near St. Paul. After participating in his first retreat, which ran Thursday night through Sunday, Ricketts attended several others there. By Tim Trudell Read the entire story in the latest edition of Living Here magazine. Order yours today! 888-673-1081 |