1881 courthouse Museum

1881 courthouse Museum received a $500 grant from Black Hills Area Community Foundation. The Foundation recognizes the Museum for its service to the Custer County community. For more information about Black Hills Area Community Foundation go to www.giveblackhills.org.

PIERRE, S.D. -- As part of the yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of South Dakota’s capitol, the South Dakota State Historical Society will host Capitol Centennial family activities from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the 1881 Courthouse Museum in Custer on Saturday, Aug. 28. The museum is located at 411 Mount Rushmore Road.

Visitors of all ages can put together a cornerstone time capsule and create their own round murals like those found in the capitol rotunda. Historical Society Director Jay D. Vogt will do a presentation on the fight to locate the capital that afternoon at 4 p.m.

In Pierre, the capitol’s cornerstone was laid in June 1908. As a time capsule, the cornerstone had a variety of items sealed inside – newspapers, photographs, coins, and blueprints. For the family activity, visitors are encouraged to bring items to put inside their own three-inch cardboard cornerstones. Notes, photographs, small toys - all would be suitable.

“This is a fun way to commemorate the capitol’s 100th birthday,” said Helen B Louise, Director of The Museum of the South Dakota Historical Society. “We’ll provide the cornerstones and everyone can bring their own treasures to put inside them.”

Another activity will focus on the round murals that adorn the capitol rotunda. The large murals of Greek goddesses symbolize major interests in South Dakota – livestock, industry and mining, motherhood, and agriculture. Visitors can see reproductions of the original murals and use paper plates and crayons to create their own round murals.

Vogt’s presentation will discuss the lively multi-year fight to permanently locate South Dakota’s state capital. Pierre, Huron and Mitchell were the main contenders, but the fight really started in 1883, when the Territorial capital was being wrestled away from Yankton. Once South Dakota became a state, choosing a temporary and then permanent location for the capital did not come easily.

“The capital was a real prize, and towns fought hard and dirty to get it,” said Vogt. “Becoming the seat of government meant money and prestige to a community. If a few votes had to be bought, or a little bribery or other less-than-legal activity engaged in, well, that was a risk worth taking.”

The Capitol Centennial activities have already been held in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Mitchell and Huron. Webster will host the activities on August 22.

For more information about the Capitol Centennial activities, contact Ronette Rumpca, Curator of Interpretation, South Dakota State Historical Society, 605-773-6011, ronette.rumpca@state.sd.us.
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism and State Development and strives to help the state meet the goals of the 2010 Initiative by enhancing history as a tool for economic development and cultural tourism. The society is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.

If you’re looking to celebrate the 4th of July in an old-fashioned way, come to Custer. The 1881 Courthouse Museum is presenting its Old Time Country Fair all day on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th of July. We’ve turned back the clock! Come see lost arts demonstrated, entertainment, meet some of Custer’s historical characters and experience what it’s like to be in a small town on the 4th of July.

The Old Time Country Fair will have arts and crafts / antique exhibitors from four states. Their wares will range from jewelry, quilts, iron works, wooden items / signs, rustic birdhouses, candles, angel pens, knives, wind chimes and much more. The lost art demonstrations will include quilting from the Custer Quilting Guild, and gold panning by Two Dollar Johnny. You will find unique items to take home.

To get everyone into a patriotic spirit, Old Glory will be raised each day at 10:00 a.m. and a salute will be given to our veterans. The flag ceremony will be performed by the the VFW, and Civil Air Patrol. Old flags may be turned in at the fair to be retired by the VFW. The American Legion Flags will be sold on the 4th of July, so people can show their pride in our county.

The North 4th St. stage will have a variety of entertainment, that are performing. On Friday July 2, from 11:00 to 5:00, are Deach Koch, Hank and Mariann Fridell, Steve Linde, Hank and Mariann Fridell, Deach Koch, and Scott Walker. Saturday July 3, from 2:00 to 5:00 are Silver Swing, Scott Walker, Silver Swing, Teen Talent coordinated by Courtney Kuhn, Mark Williams. Sunday July 4 from 2:00 t0 6:00 Robin Prior & Dance Studio, Kid Talent, Courtney Kuhn & Nick Castro, Black Hills in Motion and Ramblin Rangers. Three days of entertainment.

Children can experience many things from the past. On the 4th of July children will decorate bikes, wagons, and themselves and participate in the 4th of July Kids Parade. The parade will start at 1:00 p.m. At the Custer Chamber Office then go down Mt Rushmore Rd. and finish on North 4th Street. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded for the best decorated units in three categories - Patriotic, Original, and Judges Choice. All children will receive a participate ribbon. A decorating session is scheduled before the parade starts for the children to put finishing touches on their entrées and have their faces painted at the Chamber parking lot.

The children’s area will be open from 1:00 to 3:00 all three days. Children can enjoy old-fashioned activities such as traditional games such as horse shoes, darts, bean bag toss, sponge throw and there will be a fishing and a duck pond. Kids can have their face painted in different patriotic designs all day. Smokey the Bear, Fred and Barney from Flintstones will visit with the children. These activities will give a child a feel for what it was like to be at an old time country fair.

There will be three food vendors for this year's fair. Sliver Creek Food Production will be serving hamburgers, hot dog and other things. The Museum will offer Schwan's ice cream and beverage products. On Saturday for the fourth year in a row Clayton Sander is presenting a Chuck wagon Dinner cooked over a wood fire from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. The menu will be steaks, Cowboy baked beans, fried potatoes and peach cobbler. Dinner prices are $12 for adults, $6 for children 4 to 10 and children 3 and under are free. The dinner will be a taste of the west.

A worship service will be held at the fair grounds on Sunday July 4h at 9:00am. By Vineyard Black Hills Christian Fellowship. The worship service will be held outside.

Two Dollar Johnny will be demonstrating gold panning and share the history of placer mining with visitors. He will tell of how gold helped to establish the town of Custer. There will be other characters visiting with fair goers and who will spin yarns about their past in Custer.

This year the Museum is holding its 7th annual fund raiser, the Silent Box Auction at the Fair, all three days. In keeping with the theme, the silent auction is a variation of the old-fashioned Box Social where gentleman would bid on decorated boxes containing a meal for two prepared by the ladies. This was used as a fund raising event in days gone by, and the museum’s variation has proven successful today as well. Each day there will be a silent auction and the highest bid will be announced at 4:30 pm. The fair thanks the businesses for their donations. Silent Box Auction businesses, Allure Spa, A Walk in the Woods, Black Hills Rustic Pine, Carson Drug, Curves, Custer County Candy Shop, Heads West, Espresso & More, Express Wireless / Bee connected, The Flintstones, Fort Welikit Camp Ground, Gold Camp, Grizzly Gulch Adventure Golf, Heads West, Jenny's Floral, Misty’s Cuts and Curls, Museum of Woodcarving, The Quilt Shop, Sage Creek Grill, Scott's Rock Shop and Wildcat Computers Come and bid on your favorite box and go home with a great gift.

Pack up the car and come to the 1881 Courthouse Museum Old Time Country Fair on July 2, 3 and 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Museum at 411 Mt. Rushmore Rd. in Custer City. For more information, call (605) 673-2443.

The 4th of July would not be complete without Sixth Annual Patriotic Kids Parade. The fair is offering a 4th of July Parade on Sunday July 4 at 1:00 pm. . Children can decorate their bikes, wagons and anything else in a patriotic theme. The parade judges will award ribbons and prizes for three categories: Patriotic, Original, and Judges Choice. Some of the parade's special guests are Gen Custer, Smokey the Bear and Flintstone's Fred & Barney. A decorating session is scheduled before the parade starts for the children to put finishing touches on their entrées at the Chamber parking lot. The parade route will start at The Custer Area Chamber Office parking lot on 6th St, then west on Mt Rushmore Rd to the 1881 Courthouse Museum Old Time Country Fair on North 4th St. Come and celebrate an old-fashioned traditional event by rooting the children on to victory.

Children’s Activities will be held in Museum courtyard. This year’s activities are Face painting, traditional games such as horse shoes, darts, bean bag toss, sponge throw and there will be a fishing pond and a duck pond for kids to try their skills at catching a prize.

Smokey the Bear, Fred and Barney from Flintstone’s will be on hand to greet the children and have their photos taken. So bring the kids and have a great time at the 1881 Courthouse Museum Old Time Country Fair.

The Old time Country Fair is a very children friendly event. The fair offers children activities filled with fun, including the 4th of July Kids Parade, on Sunday July 4th. Children will enjoy what the fair has to offer and provide their own patriotic memories.

This year the 1881 Courthouse Museum is holding its 8h annual fund raiser, the Silent Box Auction at the Old Time Country Fair, on July 2, 3,and 4, 2010. In keeping with the theme, the silent auction is a variation of the old-fashioned Box Social where gentlemen would bid on decorated boxes containing a meal for two prepared by the ladies. This was used as a fund raising event in days gone by, and the museum’s variation has proven successful today as well. Businesses that participate are making a valuable tax deductible donation to the Museum and increasing their potential business at the same time.

The Museum volunteers will be bringing Silent Auction boxes to businesses in the next week. The business can decorate the box to represent their business, or the 4th of July. Suggested items to put in the box include promotional items, gift certificates, or discount coupons for the bidders to redeem at the business. This is a win win situation, sponsoring a box will bring people to your business while helping the Museum.

Bidders might find some excellent items in their boxes. In the past some businesses have sponsored two boxes such as Carson Drug, Diana Carson says they love doing the boxes and that the Fair brings business into their store. The Captain’s Table box had a generous gift certificate for dinner. There are great finds in the Silent Auction boxes and a wonderful way to get to know the local merchants.

In the last three years, the Silent Box Auction has had over 54 Custer businesses participate to raise $1100 to $1300 each year for the operational budget of the Museum. This event has been a great community activity. Both local residents and visitors enjoy bidding on the boxes, so we hope to have many sponsors again this year. For more information please call Sandy Ackman at the Museum, 673-2443. Hope to see you at the Old Time Country Fair.

The 1881 Courthouse Museum Halloween events committee is planning a fund raising activity, Mystery Tombstones. Thought out June you will see grave diggers placing Tombstones in unsuspecting yards, all around town. High school and Middle school Students have designed a fun fund raising event to raise money for the Haunting and Halloween Carnival at the end of October. The students are asking for a donation to have the Tombstones removed, or to find out who sent them to you and they are offering a two year insurance policy that you can pay so you will not have the tombstones for 2 years. For more information please call the Museum 673-2443.

Another fund raising event the students will be selling Little Caesar's pizzas in September. All orders need to be in by September 26 for delivery on October 1.

The students are hoping to improve their events byraising money for equipment and prizes. The Haunting and Halloween Carnival will be on October 30, 2010.

Wanted for Custer’s Old Time Country Fair Exhibitors, Demonstrators and Entertainers Press Release

The 1881 Courthouse Museum in Custer, SD is looking for arts & crafts / antiques exhibitors, demonstrators and entertainers for the 4th of July annual Old Time County Fair. Exhibitors will be a major part of the fair that includes living history demonstrations, entertainment, children activities and special events to relive the excitement of yesteryear. These events will be like stepping back in time to an old-fashioned country fair held at an historical site in a small town in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The fair will be on July 2, 3, and 4, 2010 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the grounds of the 1881 Courthouse Museum located at 411 Mt. Rushmore Rd. in Custer.
The 4th of July weekend fair will have a patriotic theme with many special events that you would have seen in celebrations of the past. A wide array of entertainment will be performing though-out the three days of the fair. Following the fair, the Custer fire department will present one of the largest fireworks displays in the Black Hills.

For more information please call the 1881 Courthouse Museum at (605) 673-2443 or e-mail: events@1881courthousemuseum.com

Working on one of the Museum's computer are Tim Tennyson, 7th grade and
Tate Kavanaugh, 6th grade are making name badges for the Museum Jr Docents .