Fall River County shares stories of its past

Hot Springs history conference to mark 125 years

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff | Wednesday, January 09, 2008

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After a series of interviews and a lottery, Marvin and June Wilkinson moved to a homestead at the base of Angostura Dam in 1953.

The Wilkinsons' 160-acre homestead was the first of 100 farms established along the Angostura Irrigation Project, one of several federal irrigation projects intended to help veterans of World War II, according to June Wilkinson.

"The dam was just being finished at that time," Wilkinson said. "The people that came were the best thing that ever happened to Fall River County."

Wilkinson will share the challenges and rewards of those early years on the project during the Fall River Historical Society's Focus on Fall River History Conference that begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Mueller Center in Hot Springs.

"The Mueller Center holds 400 people," historical society secretary Peggy Sanders said. Although there is plenty of room for everyone, Sanders said, she can't guarantee lunch will be available for late registrants.

The society is concentrating on interesting people and events in the Fall River area for its third history conference; 2008 marks Hot Springs' and Fall River County's 125th anniversaries, Sanders said.

Each of the eight presenters will offer a glimpse of Fall River County and Hot Springs that will intrigue or surprise history buffs.

Dawn Johnson's 20-minute presentation covers water carnivals and horse-race meets held in Hot Springs from 1928 through 1938.

Johnson's great-great-uncle John Aaberg was chairman of the race meets.

In 1930, the two-day event drew more than 1,000 Native Americans who participated in the parade, a beauty pageant just for Native American women and horse races, Johnson said.

The Native Americans also gave dancing exhibitions.

"I have pictures of Indians in the parade in full costume," Johnson said.

The Native queen was billed as the "original Miss America," according to newspaper reports that Johnson found.

The winner of the beauty pageant for Caucasian women, which was held at Larvie Lake, along with swimming and diving contests, was crowned Miss Black Hills and went on to participate in other beauty pageants.

The conference's list of presentations also includes:

* "Calamity Jane in Hot Springs" by Jim McLaird of Mitchell, professor of history emeritus at Dakota Wesleyan University.

* "Teaching at Hot Springs Elementary School" (now the Pioneer Museum) by retired teacher Dorothy Kaiser of Hot Springs

* "Hot Springs Architecture as a Reflection of Community Development" by independent historian Suzanne Julin of Missoula, Mont.

* "The Army Post at the Mouth of Red Canyon" by Annee Cassens, owner and publisher of the Edgemont Herald Tribune.

* "Claude Barr's Wildflowers of the Great Plains, Grasslands and Hills" by John Sides of Smithwick.

Several of the presentations will be augmented with photos, Sanders said.

Each of the two previous conferences drew more than 100 people, and Sanders is optimistic that this year's program will attract an equal number.

J. Edwin Coats grew up in Fall River County and returned after a 50-year absence.

"Last year, I attended the Fall River History Conference out of curiosity," Coates, who majored in history, said. "To my surprise, I found it to be the best scholarly conference I have ever attended. The subject matter was of great interest. The presenters were well informed and, mostly, excellent in their presentations."

If you go:

What: Focus on Fall River History Conference

When: Registration/Sign-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. Program begins at 9:15 a.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 3:15 p.m.

Where: Mueller Center, 801 S. Sixth St.

Cost: $22 for adults, $12 for students.

To pre-register and attend the noon luncheon, e-mail Peggy Sanders at peggy@rapidnet.com or call 424-2795 by noon Thursday, Jan. 10.

Pre-registration is not required for people who do not plan to attend the luncheon.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com