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Custer County Historical Society Mission Statement:
To collect, preserve, exhibit and publish material for the study of
history, particularly the history of Custer County, and the
adjacent Black Hills area; to arrange for preservation of documents, letters,
reports, newspapers, books, pictures, and relics
pertaining to the said area, and obtain narratives of pioneers; to promote
museums of said county and to promote the study of history of the County and
State in all schools.
In 1961 a meeting was held to see
if there would be sufficient interest in Custer County to form an historical
society.
In 1969 the Custer
County Historical Society was incorporated.
The purpose of this organization was to collect, preserve, exhibit
and publish material for the study of history, particularly the history of
Custer County and the adjacent Black Hills area; to arrange for the
preservation of documents, letters, reports, newspapers, books, pictures,
and relics pertaining to the said area, and obtain narratives of pioneers;
to promote museums of said county, and to promote the study of history of
the county and State in all schools.
The Society has been responsible
for erecting many signs pointing out historic places of interest throughout
the County.
The Society worked
to save the Custer County Courthouse when it was set for demolition in the
early 1970’s and established it as a museum.
Since its inception, the 1881 Courthouse Museum has been worthy of
high praise from residents and guests alike.
The Custer County Historical
Society has sponsored an annual historic tour featuring historic homes and
buildings as well as activities and industries of the past for years now.
The Fall Historic Tour is the main fundraiser of the Society.
The Society lately has been busy preserving the oral history of some
early residents.
Eight times a
year the Society puts on programs dealing with historic events or people
that are both interesting and illuminating featuring acclaimed speakers from
far and near.
These speakers are
also recorded.
The Custer County Historical
Society would welcome those who care about preserving the history of this
area to join us.
Join the Custer County Historical Society:
Membership Form
2012 PROGRAM SCHEDULE: Historical Society
for the 1881 Custer County Courthouse Museum...
at the Pine Room in the Custer County Courthouse Annex
(adjacent to county library)...
most first Saturdays @ 2:00 p.m.
2012
March 3... “John Brazeau: His
Origin in St. Louis and Exploits on the Upper Missouri”...Lilah Pengra
of Buffalo Gap will share her research on this African/American
adventurer, both a “spy” for General Harney and the violinist at the
first “legal” marriage (1859) in Dakota Territory (Union County) . (SD
Humanities Speaker)
March 31 (no April meeting)...
“Battle of Greasy Grass”...Historian Harry Burk of Hermosa will discuss
the Native American perspective of the famous “Custer’s Last Stand.”
Married to a direct descendent of Chief Red Cloud, Burk has spent a
lifetime studying Indian history in the American West.
May 5... “Stoneville
School”...Connie Mickelson, a teacher in Meade County, will return to
Custer for her third dramatization of another character from West River
history.
June 2... “The Great Indian
Chiefs”..Ed McGaa of the Hill City/Custer area will speak. With
world-wide speaking engagements, he spends his summers at Crazy Horse
Memorial and will have a display of his books at the Custer meeting.
October 6... “Well-Behaved Women
Seldom Make History”...Teachers Deb Carpenter (Bushnell, NE) and Lynn
Messersmith (Alliance, NE) will discuss colorful female characters such
as Baby Doe Tabor, Pearl Hart, the Underground Railroad “quilt
messengers. This will be their second presentation for the Custer
Historical Society. (SD Humanities)
November 3... “Feels Like Far:
Ranching and Writing on the Great Plains”... Linda Hasselstrom, a
regional writer and rancher from Hermosa, will present readings from
Feels Like Far, discussing the challenges of both vocations. (SD
Humanities)
Custer County Historical Society
Board of Directors:
Bruce Larsen – President
Andy Kelford – Vice President
Rachel Nepper – Secretary
Kathy Larsen – Treasurer
Don Mitchinson
Wilma Loken
Gladys Reed
Carmen Keupp
Bruce Doughty
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