On a previous post, it was mentioned that Bob Adams, on one of his frequent visits to his old stomping grounds, and I took a tour of the Brookings County Historical Museum in Volga. Their collection of BHS annuals is even more extensive than the Brookings Public Library. The 1926 annual is one that piqued my interest. One of the senior boys in that class was a young man by the name of Niall Tidball. His father Clyde owned and ran Tidball Pharmacy, which later became Shirley Pharmacy. The Tidball house was built on the SE corner of 3rd St. and 6th Ave., just south of the courthouse, in the 1920's, and is listed as a historical property in the city of Brookings. Our family moved into that house in the summer of 1963. I am fortunate to reside there yet today.
1926 was the last year for annuals to have a name other than "The Bobcat." Up until then, there was no official name for the athletic teams, so the annuals were given various names. In 1918, the annual was called "The Bomb;" in 1921, "The Sioux;" in 1926, "The Pheasant." An explanation given in the 1926 Pheasant says that the high school athletic teams, by a vote of the student body, will henceforth be known as "Bob Cats." The reason is that Bob Coffey, a star athlete and 1925 graduate of South Dakota State College, had been hired as teacher and coach for the 1925-26 school year. Because his teams displayed some of the qualities of the feline species, the Register often referred to those teams as "Bob's Cats." As an aside, there was a sophomore picture of one Marvin Iverson. That man is my father. When our family moved into that house in 1963, the attic had numerous copies of old magazines. Some of the National Geographics, for example, preceded World War I. Had we kept them, they might be rather valuable today. I seem to recall seeing advertisements for esoteric cars such as the Stanley Steamer and the Hupmobile.
One of the earliest schoolhouses built in Brookings County is also display. It was in use from 1884-1965, and was located south of Volga. Perhaps some of our classmates who lived in that area may have been students there at one time.
Another attraction that caught my eye was the Hauxhurst house, built in 1884, and perhaps the first home built in the city of Brookings. It was located in the 500 block of Third Street, just across from where the public library is now located. As a young boy, one of my best friends lived right next door to the east. Mayor Homer Dwiggins lived next door to the west. These houses were all on the same block where Tom Bozied and I grew up. In the 1950's, Jim Egeberg lived right across the street from that house.
That house was moved to Volga a few years ago when the new government building was built on that site. The big apartment building on the corner was also relocated part of town, just a block west of Southside Park.
Many farming inplements were located in another building. included in these "implements" were four stuffed horses. One small room displayed s an array of over 40 different kinds of barbed wire. If anyone was caught stealing the barbed wire, he would be held in the jail, which also an exhibit in that building.
Perhaps the most stunning display is the original log house built in 1879 by the Sundet family. It was located south of Brookings, near the I-29 bridge over the Sioux River. It actually had an upper floor that appeared to be a bedroom for the parents. There was also a small crib there, suggesting that the baby of the family would be near the parents if an emergency occurred. The downstairs contained the living quarters and an additional bed for the older children.
There is a great deal of history in that gem of a museum. If the history of Brookings County is of interest to you, a trip over to Volga would be well worth your time and effort.
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