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| The Golden Valley Girls parade down Main in 1935. Extension Club photo - Courtesy of Dorothy Honadel |
by Larry Miller
Sharing Spearfish history through photography was front and center Tuesday evening (9/3/13) as the Spearfish Area Historical Society launched a new season of monthly programs at the Senior Citizen's Center.
Sharing Spearfish history through photography was front and center Tuesday evening (9/3/13) as the Spearfish Area Historical Society launched a new season of monthly programs at the Senior Citizen's Center.
Member Larry Miller shared a short video containing some 90 historic photos. Dubbed Spearfish Yesteryear, the video gave a sampling of photographs that a group of volunteers helped identify and select for viewing as Spearfish moves closer to celebrating 125 years since obtaining its city charter. Other photos will be on display in coming weeks at the Spearfish Art Center, the Chamber of Commerce, and City Hall. The video may be viewed frequently at the Matthews Opera House during the 125th celebration, which reaches a crescendo during the weekend of September 13-15.
You'll also find a number of historic Spearfish photographs in our Spearfish Yesteryear gallery.
Most of the photographs shared came from the Case Library at Black Hills State University and the Fassbender Photographic Collection, which is housed at the Homestake Adams Research Center in Deadwood. Bobbi Sago from BHSU exhibited a number of still photos and a display board telling about the holdings of Case Library.
Richard Carlson, who oversees the scanning and cataloging of the massive Fassbender Photographic Collection, was on hand to society members an update on the collection. He noted that through a grant, the Fassbender photos are going "on the road" with a video projector in an effort to accelerate the process of identifying photographs.
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| Toomey Mill in south Spearfish just before it was leveled in 1930. Courtesy of Case Library at BHSU. |
"So far, we've digitized more than 1,200 images, and many of them need more thorough identification and information," Carlson said.
"Volunteers interested in working on the Fassbender Photographic Collection are invited to come to Hudson Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, September 18 and 19 to help identify historic pictures." Carlson said they'll be set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, displaying both projected and printed images.
"We were granted $750 from the South Dakota Historical Society Records Advisory Board to purchase a projected specifically for displaying the collection across the region. This project will make the images more widely accessible to area residents."
The society conducted a bit of business, too, electing Cheryl Miller to serve on the Board of Directors.
Following the meeting, tasty treats were provided by Alma Chesnut and Mary Ann Huffman.
The next historical society meeting will be on Tuesday, November 5, and will feature Deadwood City Archivist Mike Runge talking about Spanish-American War Memorials in Lawrence County..
