The Docket
A quarterly newsletter for Friends of
The Custer County 1881 Courthouse Museum
and Members of the Custer Historical Society
Winter 2011
Contact us at info@1881courthousemuseum.com
www. 1881courthousemuseum.com
The Jury Is In
The 130th Anniversary &
Recognition Event
A Success by All Accounts
On the evening of December 3, 2010,
the 1881 Courthouse Museum
courtroom was filled to capacity
(including the jury box). Special
invitations had gone out to all the The ―Jury‖ enjoying the Anniversary Event
Friends of the Museum and volunteers festivities.
and what a response they had! With Oswald Family Foundation, Gladys
the entire Museum aglow with Reed, and Kendall Ashmore with
Christmas lights both inside and out, plaques designating Individual Donor
guests began arriving to visit and of the Year, Corporate Donor of the
partake of libations and hors de Year, Volunteer of the Year, and
oeuvres. People began finding seating Junior Docent of the Year. Speeches
among the many beautiful and and door prizes followed. It was
cleverly designed and decorated trees indeed rewarding to see the
in the courtroom. overwhelming response to this
The French Creek Folk entertained celebratory event. From all accounts
with instrumental music while people those attending had a great time. It
mingled among the myriad of lights was an evening to remember with
and ornaments. A buffet meal was thanks to the Museum’s wonderful
provided in the Ranch room while a donors and volunteers. Let’s hope the
large anniversary cake with the Museum will be around for the next
picture of the 1881 Courthouse 130 years – what a celebration that
Museum graced its top in the Industry will be!
room. People were treated to the
same menu as those attending the first 1881 Courthouse Museum
public use of the building in 1880 at a recognized outstanding
New Year’s Eve gala event. There
was smoked turkey, ham, carrots,
Volunteers and Donors
pickles, smoked oysters, buns, canned
pineapple, and petit fours along with Volunteer of the Year
coffee, lemonade and water. The volunteer are a crucial part of
After the meal, special recognition the operations of the Museum. The
was given to Gerald Baldwin, the
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recognized as the Junior Docent of the
Year. Ashmore has been with the
program for three years. She was one
of the original students at the
beginning of program. Sandy
Ackman the Museum Director
commented ―She (Ashmore) does
excellent work and is always ready to
take on more tasks‖. Some of
Ashmore's major accomplishments
have been redesigning the Mercantile
display and taking the student lead
during monthly youth activities. Both
of these ladies are outstanding
workers and is the true definition of a
Gladys Reed receiving Volunteer of the Year volunteer.
Award from Director, Sandy Ackman.
staff and Trustees wanted to thank
everyone at the recognition event for
volunteering this year The Trustees
established two annual awards,
Volunteer of the Year and Junior
Docent of the Year. The Museum
honored Gladys Reed as the Volunteer
of the Year. Gladys has been
volunteering in the community before
the museum was opened, longer than
most other volunteers, Staff or
Trustees. She has worked on all of the
annual major events that the museum
has. At the Old Time Country Fair,
Gladys has coordinated the silent Kendall Ashmore receiving award from
auction boxes since the museum Sandy Ackman
started the fund raising event. She is Individual Donor of the Year
always willing and ready to help with The Museum also recognizes its
any task that she is asked to do. many donors for their support over
the years. This year, the Trustees
Junior Docent of the Year established two annual awards,
A few years ago the museum started Individual Donor and the
a program ―Behind the Scenes‖ where Corporate/Foundation Donors.
middle school students could Gerald Baldwin was recognized as the
volunteer at the museum. In the first Individual Donor for his outstanding
year the students decided to call contributions for many years. Since
themselves Junior Docents. A docent the start of the museum Jerry has
is a volunteer with a museum or been one of the museum's top donors.
library. Kendall Ashmore was He has also done pro bono legal work
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Director’s Report
Winter 2011
Even after the Museum officially
closed for the season this past fall, we
have been very busy. High school
students once again turned the
Museum into a ―haunted house‖ for
the Halloween Haunting while over at
the Elementary School the Halloween
Carnival took place. As soon as the
spooks departed, the Museum
Committee started decorating all
three floors and the outside of the
Courthouse Museum for the
Jerry Baldwin receiving individual donor of
the year award from Colleen Hennessey, Christmas Festival.
president of the board of trustees. Not only did we have the Open
for the Museum. This year Jerry has House in December, we celebrated the
donated black & white office copier, 130th Anniversary of the first public
outdoor window lights and installed use of the building (a New Year’s Eve
them himself. A few years ago he gala) and held a Recognition Event in
sponsored the redesign and honor of all the many volunteers and
furnishings of the General Custer donors of this Museum. Special
Room. recognition went to Gerald Baldwin as
Donor of the Year, the Oswald
Corporate/Foundation Foundation as Corporate Donors,
Gladys Reed as Volunteer of the Year,
Donor of the Year and Kendall Ashmore as the Junior
The Oswald Family Foundation was Docent of the Year. The turnout was
recognized as the outstanding and we were glad to
Corporate/Foundation Donors, for commemorate this anniversary with a
their support for many years. Oswald nice social event recognizing all our
Family Foundation gave a generous wonderful volunteers and donors.
donation that helped the museum to At the Open House the following
meet this year's operating budget. day we had a Razor Scooter as a door
Through Pacer Corporation, this prize and the winner of that
summer they sponsored a mining trip graciously donated it back to the
for a youth activity by setting up a Museum so that there could be
visit to the Shamrock and L-53 Mine. another drawing for the Junior
They also sponsored a visit to Two Docents. Wyatt LeFebvre was the
Springs Ranch to see Spanish lucky one on that. We also drew for
Mustangs. Pacer also has helped the the raffled large-screen TV and saw
Museum by providing materials and the look of surprise and delight on
information for the Museum's mining winner Diane Dennis who happened to
exhibits. Non Profit organizations be in the Museum at the time of the
would die for Friends like this. drawing. I would like to thank Kathy
Larsen for the idea of the raffled TV
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and all the work she put into that job We are starting a major cleaning
and also Joan Houlihan for helping project in the Museum and could use
make the project profitable. Jean and some help in various areas if you are
Larry Matthesen also donated a interested in helping these next few
beautifully decorated tree that was months. I am also looking for
among the many gracing our someone with library experience to
courtroom for the Festival of Trees. help catalog the various books we
Theirs was available in a silent have. Anyone interested with
auction with the monies going to the preservation and the photographs the
Courthouse Museum. We hope all Museum has can volunteer for that
had a wonderful time and we thank all project as well as several documents
who help keep this Museum going that need filing. Come down with an
from year to year. interest and we can probably find a
The Youth Activities kept us busy niche here for you. Soon we will be
also with the children learning about filling the host/hostess schedule for the
the buffalo, a very informative activity summer months.
that adults also found interesting, and We have taken on some new
the annual cemetery walk that also fundraisers at the Museum. We are
was for young and old alike. The partnering with South Dakota
children’s activity of making Magazine this year so if you want to
Christmas ornaments on December 4th subscribe or renew your subscription
was so popular that at one point we to that magazine, please do so through
could hardly get new ones into the the Museum and we can get a
room to participate percentage. Also the Museum will be
For weeks this fall and into the collecting Lynn’s Dakotamart receipts
winter we have been busy with all for their WE CARE program, so
sorts of mailings, so many that we please bring your receipts to the
decided on getting a bulk-mailing Museum. If anyone knows of other
permit. We sent out the special fundraisers that the Museum can
invitations to the Anniversary and participate in, I would appreciate
Recognition Event, and then the list knowing about the program.
for Friends of the Museum, and the I would also like to say that Frances
brochures for the Capital Hanson will be much missed at the
Improvement Campaign. Museum.
Work for grants on the Capital Sandy Ackman
Improvement Campaign is ongoing.
We have had a fair response on In Memoriam
donations with one donation of over
Frances M. Hanson
$5,000.00. We are grateful for that
Board of Director member and
but also for any amount you can
Trustee, Frances M. Hanson, died
consider. We did not get the amount
December 26, 2010 at Custer
requested in the first Deadwood Grant
Community Hospital. Frances had
($25,000.00). We will receive a
served on the Board of Directors of
$10,000.00 amount. We will scale
the Custer County Historical Society
back on plans and work will get done
and on the Board of Trustees of the
with what we have.
1881 Courthouse Museum for many
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years as well as holding the office of April 15th
Treasurer for both boards. Holding a Second Trial of Custer County
variety of Custer County offices over
The ownership of the 1875 Cabin
several years, she also belonged to a
The children will re-enact the roles
long list of civic organizations.
of the judge, lawyers, plaintiff,
Frances will be sorely missed and our
defendant, clerk and the jury who will
condolences to the many members of
decide the verdict. The children will
her family of this area and beyond.
have hands on experience learning
The Board of Directors will be filling
about the history of the 1875 Cabin
the vacancy left by Frances’s passing.
and how a trial is conducted.
Everyone is invited to come to see the
trail.
Winter / Spring May 13th
Youth Activities 2011 Museum's Scavenger Hunt
January 21st Custer students are invited to come
Spelunking with Steve to Museum to have a fun filled hour
The Black Hills are filled with many with history. The Museum exhibits
caves and has two of the largest caves have changed and improved over last
in the world. Steve Baldwin, who has couple of years. Staff has created a
been spelunking though out the Black new scavenger hunt for students to
Hills caves for many years, will show search and find the answers within the
the different equipment used to tour Museum. There are different
the cave. He will also explain how to scavenger hunts for different ages. So
explore and to map caves. Steve will come and test your knowledge of
share some of his caving stories with Custer history and have fun doing it.
the children.
February 11th VOLUNTEER HELP
―Making old fashioned WANTED.
Valentine Cards‖ Volunteer with Library experience.
The children will make old- Can you catalog books? Do you know
fashioned valentines cards for their the Dewey Decimal system? Are you
family and friends. It will be an willing to learn? Do you have 3 to 4
enjoyable activity that will challenge hours a week? We can use your help
their creativity and give the children at the 1881 Courthouse Museum. Call
something special for Valentine's Day. or stop in any morning Monday
through Friday 9am to 12pm. See
March 18th
Sandy.
Women of the Black Hills
Many women helped to develop the
Back Hill and Custer City, The Photograph Preserver Wanted
children will learn about the live’s of Do you know anything about
Aunt Sally Campbell, Anne Tallent, computers or scanners? We need
Calamity Jane and others. someone to help with our Photograph
Preservation Project. We would like
to get all the photos in our vast
collection scanned onto the computer.
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Work as a volunteer 3 to 4 hours a an exclusive school for boys, and is
week at your convenience and help out famous as a horse thief, stage robber,
the museum. Call or stop in any and general all-around bad man.‖
morning Monday through Friday 9am Hasselstrom has included local history
to 12pm. Ask for Sandy in many of her books.
May 7th ...Shebby Lee will read from a
Host or Hostesses Wanted. rare document written by Badger
Would you like to spend 3 to 4 hours Clark: ―Mother and Dakota.‖ Lee is a
a week talking to visitors from all over frequent presenter at the West River
the World? Would you like to learn History Conference, R.C. (15 min.)
more about the History of Custer? Plans include also introducing long-
The 1881 Courthouse Museum can time rancher Eben Streeter of Buffalo
use volunteers from May Through Gap (10 min).
September. Stop by and talk to Sandy June 4th ...‖Family Connections with
Ackman. Museum Office is open 9am Crazy Horse‖...Harriet & Ailin Brings
to 12pm. Monday through Friday. Plenty, Rapid City. This program was
highly recommended by Crazy Horse
Memorial, which also recognized
Wish List Harriet as an outstanding educator in
Colored Paper for Copier 2010 at Native American Day.
Plastic Hangers Oct. 1st ...Matt Padilla and Michael
Plastic Storage Boxes Engelhart, archaeologists for the
Vacuum Cleaners. USFS, will examine the population of
Cleaning Supplies the Black Hills in the last 10,000 years
Paper Products. with a discussion of these groups (rock
Men’s & Boy’s Western Shirts art, mining, etc.) on ―Population
Women’s & Girls Long Skirts. Shifts Across the Black Hills:
Remnants of Their Histories.‖
Historical Society Lecture November 5th .. Rancher &.Professor
Tammi Littrel (Chadron State) will
Line-up for 2011 discuss the history of ranching in
February 5th .. ―The Early History of
Fall River County. This outstanding
Rapid City‖ – Power/point by
talk was first presented at the Fall
Historian Reid Riner, Rapid City.
River Conference of 2009 in Hot
Since 2004, Riner has been the
Springs.
administrator of the Minnilusa
Historical Association.
March 5th ‖The Search for Mineral Board of Directors of the
Treasure‖–Geologist Roy Roadifer of Custer County
Custer has traveled as far as the Historical Society - 2011
Sahara Desert in his work of finding Election for Directors on the Board
oil fields. for the Custer County Historical
April 2nd ...‖On the Trail of Lame Society took place at the Membership
Johnny‖—Author Linda Hasselstrom meeting of the Historical Society on
of Hermosa says, ―For years, I’ve been January 8, 2011. Elected for a three-
on the trail of an orphan who grew up year term were Gladys Reed, Bruce
in Philadelphia, studied the classics at
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Larsen and Bruce Doughty. They Gerald and Karen Baldwin
joined Directors Don Mitchinson, Amy & Bradley Ballard
Wilma Loken, Andy Kelford, Carmen Frank Batchelder
Keupp, and Rachel Nepper. Kathy John & Kay Bauman
Larsen also joined the Board as she James Borglum
was selected by the Board at their Dennis & Marlena Boro
meeting to fill the vacancy of Frances Phyllis Borzillo
Hanson who had suddenly passed Kirby & Bonnie Brouillard
away at Christmas time. The Board Richard & Sue Brown
and Membership thanked retiring Delmer Brown
Director Dave Padgett for his service Helen Carney
as member and officer. After the John & Dianna Carson
Membership meeting the Board had Chuck & Pamela Cochran
met to elect officers. 2011 officers are Rodney & Avis Converse
as follows: Bruce Larsen – President, Darlene & Ted Crisman
Andy Kelford – Vice-President, Daniel & Linda Custis
Rachel Nepper – Secretary, and Kathy Jon & Wanda Dahlstrom
Larsen – Treasurer. Corinne Darrow
James & Nance Dunston
Arley & Pam Fadness
Board of Trustees of the Fred & Ginny Fernbaugh
1881 Courthouse Museum - 2011 Carol & Clarence Foos
The Board of Trustees of the 1881 Dorothy Foreman
Courthouse Museum will be Kay Foust
welcoming three new Trustees to the Jim Frank & Colleen Hennessey
Board this year. Joining Trustee Joan Houlihan
members, Colleen Hennessy, Kathy Ervin & Ella Goldhammer
Larsen, Ned Westphal, Leon Nepper Nancy Griffin
and Rachel Nepper and County Ken & Arbutus Hanson
Representative Dave Hazeltine and Linda Hasselstrom
City Representative Duane Murphey, Darwin & Jerrilee Hoeft
are Joan Houlihan, Denny Hickok, Joanne Hoffman
and Wanda Mitchell. All three have Paul Horsted & Camille Riner
been volunteer hosts for the Museum. Daniel & Michelle Hutt
Les McClanahan retired the end of Elaine Jackson
last year and Frances Hanson passed Jim & Leila Joyce
away in December. Judy Kretzschmar
Daniel & Jodi Lawrence
Individuals Who Have Donated Wilma Loken
to the Capital Improvement John Madsen
Campaign and/or the Friends of BT & Victoria Marking
Joanne Mason
the Museum Campaign
Larry & Jean Matthesen
James & Claire May
Elizabeth & Richard Adamson
Les & Wanda McClanahan
Rudy & Lois Anderson
Sandra & Michael McNeely
Lonnie & Laurie Arthur
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Patricia & Robert Meakim We are actively applying for grants.
Dennis & Emelia Moulton If know of any grant sources let us
Leon & Rachel Nepper know.
Dave & Connie Padgett
Ivan & Patricia Pixler
Margaret Prahl & Tom Patterson
Gladys Reed
Darlene Sager
John Sommer
Leroy & Ruthanne Spangler
Courtland & Bonnie Swenson
Marjorie Tennyson
Mike & Bonnie Tennyson
Walter Thomas
Allen & Gail Trask
Ken Trosdahl
David & Jamie Walton
Bill & Lois Wells
Rick & Wanda Wheeler If you plan on subscribing to or renewing
Leonard & Oonagh Wood your South Dakota Magazine subscription
Ruth Ziolkowski please fill out the above form or use the
We thank all of you for being so information to apply online.
generous to the 1881 Courthouse
Museum Donation Submission Form for Capital
Fund Raisers Improvement Campaign
Lynn’s Dakotamart’s We Care
Program Name_________________________________
Bring your Lynn’s Dakotamart
Address_______________________________
Receipts to the Museum and we can
raise money with them. City__________________State___Zip______
South Dakota Magazine
We are in a program where if we Email_________________________________
get people to subscribe to South
Dakota Magazine, we will get 40% Yes! I would like to donate __$50 __$100
for a new Subscription and 10% for a __$250 __Other __________ to the Capital
renewal. Please subscribe through us Improvement fund for the 1881 Courthouse
and use the promo code 1881CHM. Museum.
Capital Improvement Campaign Multiyear contribution: $______each year for
The 1881 Courthouse Museum 7 years.
Send to: 1881 Courthouse Museum,
Capital Improvement Campaign is in
411 Mt. Rushmore Rd.,
high gear. To date we have raised P.O. Box 826
almost $12,000 dollars. We received a Custer, SD 57730.
matching grant of $10,000 from the Or donate via our web site at:
South Dakota Deadwood grant. Work http://www.1881courthousemuseum.com/
should begin sometime this summer
on the roof and soffits.
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Business Friends of the Museum
Tumbleweed Designs Featured Artifact
Studt Construction
Pizza Works
Baldwin Law Office/Custer Title
Laurie Arthur Financial Services
Black Hills Power Inc.
Custer True Value
First Interstate Bank
Golden West Telecommunications
Misty’s Cuts & Curls
Crazy Horse Memorial
Dakotah Photographic
MPS Hospitality
Sander Sanitation
Pacer Corporation
Custer Gas
Way’s Pocket Smelter
Pictured here is the mortar for the
The Black Hills Area Community
Way’s Pocket Smelter. It is only one
Foundation has been quite generous to
part of the entire kit which was used
the 1881 Courthouse Museum. If you
to determine the content of ores in the
would like more information about
field. The Pocket Smelter was
this organization please visit
invented by Henry Way, an early
www.giveblackhills.com.
citizen of Custer, who donated the
Park across from the 1881 Courthouse
2010 Year End Review Museum. He later sold the patent for
For The 1881 Courthouse the Pocket Smelter to a California
Museum: company who manufactured it and
Our goal was to maintain the sold thousands.
Museum as the focal point of the
Custer Community and keep our Trustee Position
history alive. To this end: The Board of Trustees would like to
We hosted nearly 5,000 visitors. announce an open position on the
We held 3 major fund raising events board. If you are interested please
and 4 community sponsored events. contact Sandy Ackman at the
Seventeen youth activities and 20 Museum (673-2443) for further
school class visits ( K – 5) were held. information. Deadline February 1st.
We recruited 21 middle school
students as Junior Docents
We had over 100 volunteers assist in
keeping this museum open.
We applied for the South Dakota
and City of Deadwood Grants. The
South Dakota matching grant has
been received for $10,000.
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