Remembering the History of Spearfish
While in school, you might have studied the Revolutionary War and about George Washington crossing the Delaware, or how John Hancock’s signature was the biggest on the Declaration of Independence. Every year we celebrate the birth of our nation declared on July 4th, 1776. Then, exactly 100 years later, when South Dakota was simply part of the Dakota Territories, amidst the gold rush, a settlement was established.
Gold in the Hills
The Black Hills area was a major destination as the gold rush started in 1874. Eager settlers, miners, and prospectors made their way to the Black Hills in search of this treasure and a new life.
Yet, according to one message, gold was discovered much earlier. Before settlers came to the area, the hills were used by the Native Americans. Native Americans used the nearby creek to hunt fish using spears (hence the name Spearfish). In 1833, there were seven men who ventured into the Black Hills. These men, seeking gold, discovered the element in the hills, however met a tragic fate.
Ezra Kind scratched in stone a message about the fate of his fellow prospectors. The group has found gold in the area but were later killed by Native Americans. This small piece of sandstone was later discovered by local farmer and miner Louis Thoen in 1887 at the base of Lookout Mountain.
A Small Place Out West
While Deadwood was the primary location for gold mining, Spearfish became a main supplier of the mining camps with food. As the town continued to grow, Spearfish was established in May 1876. A place where farmers and ranchers gathered as the Spearfish valley made for good farming with plenty of land for eager cattlemen to set up ranches.
With more cattlemen traveling to the area, the town continued to grow, and more businesses became established in this now nicknamed “Queen City” (due to the three peaks, Spearfish Mountain, Crow Peak, and Lookout Mountain surrounding the town like the points of a crown).
The year 1881 marked the establishment of a Territorial Normal School for both men and women with a variety of curriculum to study. Three years later the school officially opened its doors. Over time the school underwent various name changes as the Black Hills Teachers College in 1941, Black Hills State College in 1964, and then Black Hills State University in 1990.
In 1882, the first private bank was established. Known as the Bank of Spearfish, it was the first brick building in town. As the years went on, the bank changed leadership and soon became a branch for other banks in the Black Hills area. While no longer a bank today, the building is still standing.
In 1890, South Dakota senator, R.F. Pettigrew, introduced a bill to the U.S. Senate for funds to go toward placing a fish culture station in the region. The bill passed, and Spearfish was chosen as the location for a fish hatchery that would introduce trout into the region. In 1896, the Spearfish National Fish Hatchery was established under the leadership of the first hatchery superintendent and New York native, Dewitt Clinton Booth, with the purpose of stocking and growing the trout population in the Black Hills. Now registered on the National Register of Historic Places, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery is a beloved attraction among the Spearfish community.
A Bustling New Town
As Spearfish continued to grow throughout the early 1900s, new attractions continued to take shape. The Matthews Opera House opened its doors on December 3, 1906. Owned by rancher Thomas N. Matthews, the opera house offered its stage to plays, operas, and dances. At one time, the theater was used as a basketball court before entering into the showcase of silent films in 1919.
After hitting on hard times in the 1930s, new owners Bud and Margaret Kelley brought the opera house back to life with various musical performers and plays gracing its stage.
Another stage that gained national recognition was the Black Hills Passion Play. German-born Josef Meier brought the Passion Play–a play that told the story of Christ that was a tradition every Easter in his hometown of Luenen, Germany–to Spearfish in 1938. In 1939 the play was began to be performed in an outdoor amphitheater. Thousands of people came from all over to see the play. It received so much national recognition and Josef Meier also received international recognition and awards for his role in portraying the Christus.
A cherished community event, many community members would partake in the summer performances. Although, the Black Hills Passion Play no longer runs, it remains a beloved piece of Spearfish history.
