CELEBRATING
RURAL LIFE IN MINER COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Painting by John C. Green
Main Street circa 1930, Howard, South Dakota
Used with permission of the artist
Main Street circa 1930, Howard, South Dakota
Used with permission of the artist
Miner County Historical Society
The Miner County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Together with the Miner County Rural Life Museum, MCHS focuses on the history of Howard, South Dakota and adjacent areas in Miner County. It is particularly interested in acquiring documents, letters, reports, newspapers, books, pictures, and relics pertaining to the narratives of pioneers in the county.
Keeping in mind that history is an ever-changing subject and that the events of today are the history of tomorrow, MCHS works to obtain and safeguard a gallery of portraiture and a record of the events of the past as well as a record of current events.
Keeping in mind that history is an ever-changing subject and that the events of today are the history of tomorrow, MCHS works to obtain and safeguard a gallery of portraiture and a record of the events of the past as well as a record of current events.
Rural Life Museum
The Miner County Rural Life Museum, operated by the Miner County Historical Society, houses a collection of primary documents with historical significance to Miner County and the communities within the county. Exhibits in the museum include the military history of Miner County; retail establishments and related memorabilia; medical history, including the initial presence of doctors, nurses and dentists in the region; agricultural life and family farming; the religious history of the area; memorabilia from youth organizations; collections of Native American arrowheads and artifacts; and a library filled with historical documents including yearbooks, newspapers going back to the turn of the century, family genealogy books, sports memorabilia and scrapbooks that document local history through the years.
Together with the Miner County Historical Society, the museum publishes a monthly column in the Miner County Pioneer newspaper.
We are in the process of relocating the museum from its former location at 127 South Main to its new location at 217 South Main Street. As part of that relocation, we've undertaken an extensive energy efficiency project -- new furnace, new lighting, new spray foam insulation -- plus new flooring. As a consequence, the museum's spring opening will be delayed while we complete work on the old Rivers Edge Bank building (new home of the museum).
2021 Summer Programs: Our 2021 summer program schedule included presentations by Leif and Jan Andol from Huron, provided two separate programs in July. Leif, who grew up in Norway, was just a boy when the Nazis invaded Norway. His wife, Jan, plays the saw using a violin bow. In September, Charlene Schmit (a local Master Gardener) shared her secrets for putting a garden to bed for the winter. She brought her favorite tools (a great hoe and a gizmo for digging holes for planting bulbs!) and some of her favorite organic garden aids, including Neem Oil and Diatomaceous Earth. In October, we hosted a wine-glass painting class. We finished the year with a book discussion of South Dakota One Book, "The Children's Blizzard," by Melanie Benjamin. The discussion was led by Jan Enright, a humanities scholar and executive director of the Karl Mundt Library at Dakota State University in Madison.
Move-In Update: We are making progress! We just completed the energy efficiency project, when not one but two derechos moved through Howard this summer. The first one knocked about 2 dozen of the double-slant coping tiles off the parapet wall. The second pushed the rain gutter under the rubber roof bladder and pulled the bladder loose from the roof. The bladder repair has been completed and the parapet tiles should be replaced sometime next week. When that repair is complete, the roof will be water-tight again and we can start opening boxes and putting up displays.
Right now, we're planning an open house this fall, perhaps in conjunction with our annual meeting on November 20 or in conjunction with South Dakota Day of Giving on Tuesday, November 29th.
Stay tuned!
Together with the Miner County Historical Society, the museum publishes a monthly column in the Miner County Pioneer newspaper.
We are in the process of relocating the museum from its former location at 127 South Main to its new location at 217 South Main Street. As part of that relocation, we've undertaken an extensive energy efficiency project -- new furnace, new lighting, new spray foam insulation -- plus new flooring. As a consequence, the museum's spring opening will be delayed while we complete work on the old Rivers Edge Bank building (new home of the museum).
2021 Summer Programs: Our 2021 summer program schedule included presentations by Leif and Jan Andol from Huron, provided two separate programs in July. Leif, who grew up in Norway, was just a boy when the Nazis invaded Norway. His wife, Jan, plays the saw using a violin bow. In September, Charlene Schmit (a local Master Gardener) shared her secrets for putting a garden to bed for the winter. She brought her favorite tools (a great hoe and a gizmo for digging holes for planting bulbs!) and some of her favorite organic garden aids, including Neem Oil and Diatomaceous Earth. In October, we hosted a wine-glass painting class. We finished the year with a book discussion of South Dakota One Book, "The Children's Blizzard," by Melanie Benjamin. The discussion was led by Jan Enright, a humanities scholar and executive director of the Karl Mundt Library at Dakota State University in Madison.
Move-In Update: We are making progress! We just completed the energy efficiency project, when not one but two derechos moved through Howard this summer. The first one knocked about 2 dozen of the double-slant coping tiles off the parapet wall. The second pushed the rain gutter under the rubber roof bladder and pulled the bladder loose from the roof. The bladder repair has been completed and the parapet tiles should be replaced sometime next week. When that repair is complete, the roof will be water-tight again and we can start opening boxes and putting up displays.
Right now, we're planning an open house this fall, perhaps in conjunction with our annual meeting on November 20 or in conjunction with South Dakota Day of Giving on Tuesday, November 29th.
Stay tuned!
Donations to Rural Life Museum: To donate an item to our collection, please send an email to us at MinerCountyHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or contact one of our board members (listed below). We ask that a Donation / Disposition Form accompany donations. The downloadable form is available below.
| Rural Life Museum Donation Form (Word) |
| Rural Life Museum Donation Form (.pdf) |
Do You Recognize Anyone??
We recently combed through a box of donations from the Sid Davison family and found this very interesting photo. We assume it was a play, provided in the old Legion Hall, but we don't know anything about the play or the cast. Does anyone look familiar to you? We'd really like to know more. If you can help, please send us a note at minercountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
