News
Scoop of History - The First United Methodist Church of Sturgis, November 13
The First United Methodist Church of Sturgis is the topic of the November Scoop of History sponsored by the Sturgis and Meade County Historical Society. This Scoop of History will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at the church located at 1755 Ball Park Road.
The Sturgis church was organized on March 22, 1882, with a membership of 12 people. According to church records, “a valuable corner lot and building was purchased on Main Street and Junction for a temporary church. The first meetings were held in this building which, at one time, had been used as a saloon.” This building was located on the site of the old post office, now the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
A new church, built on the corner of Howard and Cedar Streets, was completed in the spring of 1887, which served the congregation until the current Methodist Church on Ball Park Road was constructed in 2002.
The United Methodist Women have long been one of the most active groups in the church, sponsoring the Mother Daughter Banquet for 85 years. This and other services and ministries of the church will be presented at the Nov. 13 Scoop of History.
HISTORY DAYS 2022 JUNE 17 and 18
The sixth annual History Days, sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society, will be held Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, at Sturgis City Auditorium. “History: Lost and Found” is the theme of the event which focuses on researching, preserving and sharing history.
History Days kick off Friday with a reception and cash bar from 4-7 p.m. at Sturgis City Auditorium. Booths displaying a variety of historical artifacts, pictures and other information and memorabiliia will be open during the Friday evening reception and also on Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon.
Booths include information and displays about Bear Butte Creek preservation, Sturgis and Meade County Historical Society, Silver City, genealogy, USS General S.D. Sturgis-a transport ship during World War II, photo preservation, West River History Conference, and Society of the Black Hills Pioneers. Also on display will be items from the Old Fort Meade Museum and the former Faith Museum, and photos from the Bob Lee Collection. Ruby Gabriel, a local Meade County author, will also have a booth about a book she recently wrote about Meade County.
For those who want to learn more about the Sturgis and Meade County Historical Society, a booth with information about the Society and membership will be available. There are five levels of membership in the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society, as follows: individual membership, $25 per year; family membership, $35 per year; student membership, $15 per year; life membership, one-time payment of $5,000; and business sponsorship, $250 per year.
Two programs, both held at the Sturgis Public Library, will be offered on Saturday, June 18, as follows: 11 a.m.: “Basics of Scanning and Preserving Photos” by Dustin White, owner of White’s Canvas Art Company of Sturgis; 1 p.m.: “Family History: Also Known as Genealogy – Getting Started” by Cathy Druckrey, Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research.
History Day is possible due, in part, to the support from the City of Sturgis, HomeSlice Group, KBHB Radio, Meade County, and Sturgis Photo & Gifts.
For more information, call (605)381-5395 or email mark@sturgishistory.org.
HISTORY DAY 2021 CANCELLED
The Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society will not be holding History Days this year. By the time we decided the current state of things would allow for it, there was not enough time available to properly plan and execute the event. We fully intend to bring the event back in June 2022!
We will be adding to our “Characters of Sturgis and Meade County” publication developed last year, to be distributed to our members later this summer. If you are interested in doing a story for the publication, please let us know!
HISTORY DAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED
The Sturgis and Meade County Historical Society has announced the cancellation of the 6th annual History Days, which was to be held June 19-20.
This cancellation includes all elements of the event, including the parade. “We regret cancelling History Days,” stated Mark Rambow, president of the Historical Society. “It has become a very popular gathering, and we had a wonderful theme planned,” he said. “With current restrictions on group functions, however, it has become untenable to plan the event over the next few weeks, much less anticipate whether we could actually hold it in June,” he explained. “
The Historical Society will resume its “Scoop of History” events as soon as possible and will begin planning for History Day – 2021.
2020 History Day theme is Early Characters of Sturgis and Meade County
The Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society’s theme for its 6th Annual History Days on Friday and Saturday, June 19 – 20, is “Early Characters of Sturgis & Meade County.”
Historical Society president Mark Rambow said the Society is interested in all kind of characters, famous and infamous, good and bad, or simply a family member who deserves to be remembered, from any era of local history.
Examples include, General Sturgis, Poker Alice, Grasshopper Jim, Calamity Jane, Caleb Carlton, Annie Tallent, Curley Grimes, Charles Nolin, Rev. Erskine, Father Columban, J. J. Davenport, H. O. Anderson, Pappy and Pearl Hoyle, and so on.
“We welcome anyone who has a character in mind to participate,” Rambow said. “Participation can be through an informative booth at our reception, a reenactment of the character, or both. Persons dressed in character are also invited to walk in the parade on Saturday.”
Rambow suggested that those interested to please first check with the historical society when selecting a character to make sure that person isn’t already taken! “Use your imagination,” he said. “We are famous for our many characters!”
Rambow can be contacted at mrambow2@gmail.com
Annual Taste of Sturgis deemed a success
The People’s Choice Award, as determined by those in attendance, went to L. Jeffery Catering/Grocery Mart, first; Uncle Louie’s Diner, second; and Weimer’s Diner and Donuts, third.
Also serving bites of food were Arby’s, Jambonz Grill and Pub, LaRisa Mexican Cuisine, Loud American Roadhouse, Sidehack Saloon, and The Knuckle Saloont. A cash bar was provided by The Oasis.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will enable the nonprofit organization to carry out its mission of preserving, protecting and promoting Sturgis and Meade County History. “The Money raised will help us preserve and document the collection items we have acquired,” said Historical Society President Mark Rambow. “It will also allow us to continue to offer important programing to the community.”
“We thank everyone who attended this event,” said Rambow. “We also thank the businesses that donated food and their employees who worked at our fundraiser. We could not have had such a successful event without the support of the community,” he said.
In addition to the businesses listed above, Historical Society sponsors also include City of Sturgis, Davenport Family Real Estate, First Interstate Bank, First National Bank, KBHB Radio, Meade County Commission, Meade County Senior Center Association, Sturgis Photo and Gifts, The HomeSlice Group and The Local.
Fifth Annual History Day a success; History award recipients announced
More than 200 people passed through the doors of the Sturgis City Auditorium June 14-15 for the fifth annual History Day sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society. The recently concluded event celebrated the 130th anniversary of the formation of Meade County.
A Saturday morning parade was held down Sturgis Main Street with more than 25 entries participating. Also held were two programs by former longtime Black Hills area newspaper reporter and editor Tim Velder, who now resides in Sundance, Wyo., where he works in marketing and communications for Powder River Energy. Velder spoke abou the Titan missiles and abandoned towns of Eastern Butte and Central Meade Counties.
The Martin C. Beug Friend of History Award was presented to Rod Bradley and Family for the Hotel Sturgis and to Meade County Commission for the Meade County Erskine Office Building, The award is presented annually in honor of the contributions made by Beug, who started the Historical Society. Recipients of the award must demonstrate presesrvation, protection and promotion of Sturgis or Meade County History.
“Renovating the old Masonic/J.C. Penney Building on Sturgis Main Street, the Bradley family is contributing a new and exciting addition to Main Street,” said nominator Leona Schroeder. “The vision, investment and hard work of the Bradley Family in developing The Hotel Sturgis has definitely fulfilled the spirit of the preserve, protect and promote goals of the Sturgis & Meade County Historica Society,” she said.
In preserving and redesigning the old Erskine School Building, the Meade County Commission has allowed the community at-large to continue to enjoy the beauty and dignity of this historic structure while repurposing it to a modern audience and need, guaranteeing its future relevance and significance,” said nominator Mark Rambow.
History Day was possible due, in part, to Historical Society sponsors as follows: Arby’s, City of Sturgis, Davenport Family Real Estate, Elk Creek Steakhouse, First Interstate Bank, First National Bank, Grocery Mart, Jambonz Grill & Pub, KBHB Radio, La Risa Mexican Cuisine, Loud American Roadhouse,Meade County Commission, Meade County Senior Citizens Center, Papa John’s, Sidehack Saloon, Sturgis Photo & Gifts, The HomeSlice Group, The Knuckle Saloon, The Oasis Bar, Wanda’s Kitchen and Weimer’s Diner & Donuts.
To view photos from this event, click on the link at the bottom of this page.