kids encyclopedia robot

National Register of Historic Places listings in Spink County, South Dakota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Map of South Dakota highlighting Spink County
Location of Spink County in South Dakota

Welcome to Spink County, South Dakota! This page is all about special places in the county that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of this register as a very important list of buildings, sites, and objects across the United States that are worth saving because they tell us a lot about history.

These places are chosen because they are important to the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the area. By listing them, people hope to protect them for future generations to learn from and enjoy. In Spink County, there are 27 places currently on this list. A few others were on the list before but have since been removed.

Historic Places in Spink County

Many different kinds of places in Spink County are considered historic. They include old homes, public buildings, and even bridges! Each one has a story to tell about the past.

Homes with History

Some of the homes on the list show us how people lived long ago.

  • The William F. Bruell House in Redfield was added to the list in 2000.
  • The Edbert and Josie Opitz House, also in Redfield, became historic in 1998. These houses give us a peek into the lives of families from the past.

Important Public Buildings

Public buildings are often at the heart of a community.

  • The Redfield Carnegie Library was listed in 1978. Libraries like this were often built with money from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman who believed in the power of books and learning.
  • The Old Redfield City Hall was added in 1997. This building once housed the local government, where important decisions for the town were made.
  • The Spink County Courthouse in Redfield, listed in 2001, is another key public building. Courthouses are where legal matters are handled and local government often operates.
  • The Redfield Light Plant and Fire Station from 1978 shows how towns used to get electricity and how they protected themselves from fires.

Old Churches and Farms

Churches and farms also play a big part in the history of a county.

  • The First Congregational Church in Turton was listed in 1979. Churches are often central to a community's social and spiritual life.
  • The Salem Church in Tulare was added in 1997.
  • The Harlow Farmstead near Frankfort (1982) and the Markham Farmstead near Conde (1990) are examples of historic farms. These places show us how farming, which is very important to South Dakota, has changed over time.

Historic Bridges

Several bridges in Spink County are also on the list. Bridges are important for travel and trade, and older ones can show us different ways engineers used to build things. Many of these bridges were listed in 1993:

  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-010-376 over Wolf Creek near Tulare.
  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-021-400 over Turtle Creek near Tulare.
  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-025-370 over Turtle Creek near Tulare.
  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-062-270 over Turtle Creek near Redfield.
  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-120-231 over the James River near Redfield.
  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-140-224 over the James River near Redfield.
  • South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 58-218-360 over the James River near Frankfort.

These bridges help us understand how transportation developed in the area.

Other Interesting Sites

  • The Chicago and Northwestern Depot in Redfield (1980) was a train station. Train depots were once very busy places, connecting towns and bringing people and goods.
  • The Norbeck--Nicholson Carriage House in Redfield (2015) is a building that would have stored horse-drawn carriages in the past.
  • The Old Spink Colony on the James River near Frankfort (1982) is another site with historical importance, though its exact purpose isn't detailed here.
  • There are also several sites listed by their numbers, like Site 39SP2, Site 39SP4, Site 39SP12, Site 39SP19, Site 39SP37, and Site 39SP46. These are often archaeological sites that protect important information about ancient cultures or early settlements.

Places Formerly on the List

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if the building is destroyed, moved, or changed so much that it no longer has its historic value.

  • The Ashton Methodist Church in Ashton was listed in 1982 but removed in 2009.
  • The Hall Bridge over Snake Creek near Ashton was listed in 1993 and removed in 2008.
  • The James Norwood Round Barn near Ashton was listed in 1978 but removed in 1989. Round barns are quite unique and were built for various reasons, sometimes thought to be more efficient.

Images for kids

  • CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN DEPOT; SPINK COUNTY, SD

    The Chicago and Northwestern Depot in Redfield.

  • EDBERT AND JOSIE OPITZ HOUSE, SPINK COUNTY, SD

    The Edbert and Josie Opitz House.

  • REDFIELD CARNEGIE LIBRARY, SPINK COUNTY, SD

    The Redfield Carnegie Library.

  • OLD REDFIELD CITY HALL, SPINK COUNTY, SD

    The Old Redfield City Hall.

  • SPINK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, REDFIELD, SD

    The Spink County Courthouse.

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
National Register of Historic Places listings in Spink County, South Dakota Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.