Frawley Ranch facts for kids
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Frawley Historic Ranch
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Distant view of the ranch
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 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Spearfish, South Dakota |
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| Area | 4,750 acres (19.2 km2) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001893 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
| Designated NHLD | May 5, 1977 |
The Frawley Ranch is a very old and important ranch located in Lawrence County, South Dakota. It's close to the city of Spearfish, South Dakota. A man named Henry Frawley built this ranch. He made it the biggest and most successful cattle ranch in western South Dakota. He did this by buying up many smaller pieces of land that other settlers had tried and failed to farm. Because of its history, the ranch was named a National Historic Landmark in 1977. This means it's a special place that is important to the history of the United States.
Contents
The Frawley Ranch: A Historic Place
Building a Ranch Empire
Henry Frawley's Early Life
Patrick Henry Frawley was born on March 13, 1851. He grew up in Washington County, New York. His parents, Thomas and Honora Frawley, had moved there from County Limerick, Ireland. Henry went to law school at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. He finished his studies in 1876.
In 1877, new lands in the Black Hills area were opened for people to settle. Henry Frawley traveled by train to Bismarck, North Dakota. From there, he took a wagon train to Deadwood, South Dakota. He started his own law business in Deadwood. He was very good at his job and became successful quickly. His law firm helped build railroads and represented banks and mining companies. While working as a lawyer, Henry also started buying land and mining interests in the area.
Growing the Ranch
On July 22, 1890, Henry Frawley married Cristina Anderson. Cristina owned a farm called Centennial Farm. This farm was located between Deadwood and Spearfish. Henry and Cristina had three children: Henry James, William C., and Honora.
Henry Frawley began to buy many small farms in the valley. These farms had not been successful for their previous owners. He slowly gathered more and more land. By 1913, he owned over 4,783 acres. This huge property included several different farms. It also had the Anderson dairy farm with a brick barn and even a school. The Frawley Ranch raised special kinds of horses called Belgian and Percheron draft horses. These are large, strong horses used for pulling heavy loads. They also raised Hereford cattle, which are a type of beef cow.
Family Takes Over
Henry Frawley became ill in 1920 and passed away in 1927. After his death, his wife Cristina took charge of the ranch. She managed it successfully until she passed away in 1942.
Their children, Henry James Frawley, Sr., and the families of William and Honora Frawley, then ran the ranch together. In 1960, Henry James Frawley, Sr. bought out the other family members. His son, Henry James Frawley, Jr., joined him in running the ranch in 1962 after finishing college.
In 1968, the state of South Dakota needed land for a new highway, Interstate 90. This highway was built through the northern part of the ranch. To help the animals, special tunnels were built under the interstate. This allowed the livestock to cross safely from one part of the ranch to another.
The Ranch Today
In 1998, a company called Elkhorn Ridge partners bought the Frawley Ranch. They started to develop some of the land near Interstate 90. They built an RV park, places for homes, and a golf course.
However, a large part of the ranch, about 2,800 acres, was set aside to be protected forever. This is called a conservation easement. It means that this land will always be kept natural and used for agriculture. It is protected through a program run by the United States Department of Agriculture. This helps make sure that the beautiful land and its history are preserved for the future.
