Historic preservation projects in Aberdeen, Dell Rapids, Garretson, Geddes, Pierre, and Vermillion recently were awarded matching grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society.

The grants are awarded through the State Historical Society’s Deadwood Fund grant program. Funding for the program is from Deadwood gaming revenue earmarked by state law for historic preservation projects throughout the state. The program is administered by the society’s State Historic Preservation Office in Pierre.

“This historic preservation grants program is designed to encourage restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties and is one more way we can promote and protect our history and culture”, said Jenna Carlson Dietmeier, Interim State Historic Preservation Officer.

The following projects were the most recent to be awarded grants to supplement their work:

• Aberdeen: Brown County Courthouse, built 1904; was awarded $20,000 for repairs to the bell tower and masonry and tuckpointing work to the building’s exterior.
• Dell Rapids: First National Bank of Dell Rapids, built 1889; was awarded $14,000 for tuckpointing to provide better structural integrity and basement rehabilitation.
• Garretson: Split Rock Bathhouse, built 1936; was awarded $9,000 for rehabilitation work including caulk and tuckpointing on cracked mortar joints.
• Geddes: Papineau Trading Post, built 1857; was awarded $5,000 for stabilization work including adding support beams to support the upper floor.
• Pierre: Farr House, built 1904; was awarded $13,000 for repairment and reconstruction of damaged historic box gutter, fascia, and soffit.
• Vermillion: Vermillion Carnegie Library, built 1904; was awarded $14,000 for building stabilization, prioritizing the rehabilitation of the damaged cupola.

These new recipients represent a total award amount of $75,000. These figures will be included in the 2024 year-end totals. Deadwood Fund grants are awarded twice a year with grant application deadlines of Feb. 1 and Oct. 1. They are reviewed at the spring and winter meetings of the State Historical Society’s board of trustees. For more information on the Deadwood Fund grant program, contact the State Historic Preservation Office in Pierre; telephone 605-773-3458; or website history.sd.gov/preservation/fundingopportunities.aspx.

About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered in Pierre. The center houses the society’s museum, archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development departments. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.