GHOST TOWNS AND ALMOST GHOST TOWNS OF AURORA COUNTY - SOUTH DAKOTA
GHOST TOWNS AND ALMOST GHOST TOWNS OF AURORA COUNTY - SOUTH DAKOTA
I will begin each of these sections with a bit of history about the county and then move from there into the towns, maybe even a lost treasure or mine or three.
Some of these areas are no longer accessible unless you have a submarine (sometimes human beings like to dam up rivers and creeks and create huge monster lakes that put the towns, lost treasures, etc. hundreds of feet underwater.
Also included in this guide are some defunct counties; counties swallowed up by other counties as the time dictated it would happen.
Many of the towns are now nothing more than a field somewhere, some histories were lost except for maybe a mention here or there, many just a post office in some farm house or in an old mine where people could get and send out mail.
Some grew, became a town or at least a village but now, just a memory; the railroads gone, the mines mined out, or just plain bad luck, now merely a name on some old map or a mention in articles and censuses of the time.
SOME SOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE RESEARCH OF THIS BLOG SITE -
JIM FORTE POSTAL HISTORY (all 50 states but this will link to South Dakota for obvious reason. ;) )
Dakota postal collector(Aurora County)
WIKIPEDIA : GHOST TOWNS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
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| AURORA COUNTY MAP (SOURCE GENEALOGYTRAILS.COM) : 1913 |
Aurora County, named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, was created by the Dakota Territory on 1 October 1879.[3] It was organized on August 29, 1881, when three county commissioners were appointed. The county had been established from the combination of former counties Cragin and Wetmore, which had both been formed in 1873. The three county commissioners met on 29 August 1881, and named Plankinton the county seat, an act which was ratified by voters in November 1882. The northern portion of Aurora County was partitioned off on April 17, 1883, and established as Jerauld County.
The terrain of Aurora County consists of low rolling hills, partially devoted to agriculture. It is dotted with small lakes and ponds.[5] The highest point is the upper west boundary line, and the terrain slopes east-northeastward; the lowest point is the county's northeast corner at 1,325' (404m) ASL.[6]
The county has a total area of 713 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 708 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.6%) is water.
AURORA COUNTY - 1885
Aurora county is situated on the western water-shed of the James river, between that stream and the Missouri river. It lies toward the southeastern part of the Territory, and is drained by streams which flow into the above-named rivers. The county comprises twenty townships, with an area of 720 square miles, or 460,803 acres.
The soil is a deep, black, slightly sandy loam, mixed with a light, sandy clay, retains moisture well, and gives a very rapid growth. The rainfall averages twenty-nine inches. Rains are frequent and not very heavy. The average is gradually increasing as the country is being settled, and is ample for all crops here raised. No drouth has ever visited this locality, and from the nature of the soil, with the dews usual, such a thing as serious drouth is quite improbable.
The climate is good, the days in summer very warm, and the nights cool, requiring a blanket for covering while sleeping. There is perfect freedom from malaria and disease, and physicians are about the only class who will find this country unprofitable. The winters are not cold, and the mercury does not often register as low as twenty degrees below, and, by reason of the dry and light air, neither men nor stock are seriously affected thereby.
There are several considerable bodies of water in the county, the principal of which are White Lake, in the northwestern part, covering nearly 3,000 acres, and Platte Lake, near the west line. A half dozen smaller lakes are scattered over the central portions of the county.
The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway passes through the centre of the county, east and west.
Aurora county contains six churches, thirty-six schools, and five newspapers.
Plankinton is the largest town. It boasts a population of 2,200, and was incorporated in 1882. The town is situated on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway; has a court house and jail, erected at a cost of $18,000; a flouring mill, with a capacity of 100 barrels per day; a fine school house, costing $5,000, and a large number of mercantile houses, representing all the various lines of business.
White Lake is a thrifty village, west of Plankinton, having a population of 600, a fine school house, roller mill, and several churches. [from "Dakota", Compiled by O. H. Holt, 1885]
AURORA COUNTY, SD - 1904
Aurora county was created by the legislature in 1879, on February 22nd. It was organized by Governor Ordway on August 8, 1881. Its first recorded exploration was by George Catlin, while enroute from a stranded steamboat near Yankton, to Fort Pierre, in June, 1832. It was first settled in 1879 by Oliver R. Ames and J. Briedenbach, on Firesteel creek. E. H. McIntosh. J. B. Smart and Charles Briedenbach were the commissioners appointed to effect the organization. They located the county seat at Plankinton, where it still remains. Plankinton dates from August 10, 1880. Besides being the county seat, it is the location of the state reform school, founded in 1887. White Lake is the only other town of importance. B. H. Sullivan, of this county, was United States surveyor general for South Dakota during the Harrison administration. W. M. Smith was state railway commissioner. 1802-3. The county is drained into the James by Firesteel creek, contains seven hundred and twenty-four square miles and had a population of four thousand and eleven in 1900. Its chief industry is stock growing and general agriculture. [History of South Dakota, Volume 1; by Doane Robinson 1904; B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers; Contributed by Vicki Hartman] [source: https://genealogytrails.com/sdak/aurora/history.html]
Timothy E Canty…………………. 1885…………………….. 59.12
Timothy E Canty…………………. 1887…………………….. 70.41
Authorized Nov 23 1888, “Discontinued” Apr 21 1890 with “No Papers”.
The post office was established on Dec 15 1884 with Clarence E Vermilyea as postmaster.
The proposed name was Glenwood. The post office was discontinued on Feb 28 1899 with
mail to Robey. The post office was re-established on Oct 3 1901 with Richard A Harvey as
postmaster. The post office was discontinued for the final time on Jun 14 1902 with mail
again to Robey.
Postmaster Compensation
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1885……………………….23.87
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1887…………………….. 110.22
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1889…………………….. 147.95
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1891…………………….. 188.52
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1893…………………….. 185.95
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1895…………………….. 184.50
Clarence E Vermilyea……………. 1897…………………….. 164.88
The post office was established on May 4 1880 with John D Miracle as postmaster. On Jun
10 1880 the name was changed to Plankington.
This post office was established on Apr 24 1883 with George C Nutting as postmaster. It
was discontinued on Dec 17 1883. With no site location filed, “No returns” on July 1 1883,
no cancels known, and no “mail to” available, it is probable that this office did not operate.
This post office was established on Nov 28 1882 with Peter Rechtfertig as postmaster. It was
discontinued on Mar 31 1907 with mail to White Lake.
Postmaster Compensation
John Crow……………………….. 1883…………………….. no returns
John Crow……………………….. 1885…………………….. 58.20
Joshua H Roupe………………….. 1887…………………….. 88.97
Barbara Duster…………………… 1889…………………….110.97
Barbara Duster…………………… 1891…………………….. 70.42
Barbara Duster…………………… 1893…………………….. 69.58
John F Just……………………….. 1895…………………….. 66.89
John F Just……………………….. 1897…………………….. 56.95
John F Just……………………….. 1899…………………….. 76.71
John F Just……………………….. 1901…………………….. 57.07
Howard G Pinney………………… 1903…………………….. 63.09
Frank Thomas……………………. 1905…………………….. 66.45
The post office was established on Aug 6 1883 with Frank R Rollins as postmaster. The post
office was discontinued on Sep 20 1887 with mail to Plankinton.
Postmaster Compensation
Frank R Rollins…………………… 1885…………………….. 15.76
Frank R Rollins…………………… 1887…………………….. 11.04
Storla is a census-designated place in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6 in the 2020 census.
The post office was established on Feb 2 1901 with Royal O Butterfield as postmaster. The
post office was discontinued on May 31 1905 with mail to Letcher in Sanborn County.
Postmaster Compensation
Royal O Butterfield………………. 1901…………………….. 12.89
Royal O Butterfield………………. 1903…………………….. 89.07
STORLA, SOUTH DAKOTA – by: OLE AND MARIT
Ole Olson Storla was born in Gol Hallingdal, Norway on 7/05/1823. He married Marit Kjornes Rudling who was born in 1819 and had two small daughters at the time of their marriage. Together they had two sons, Ole Olson Jr. Storla and Thor Olson Storla. The Storla family immigrated to America in 1862 and settled in Iowa. In 1882, the family came to South Dakota when Thor was 25 years old. Ole Sr. and his sons were among the earliest pioneers to file on land in Belford Township in the Dakota Territory. (The daughter’s married names are Mrs. Rasmussen & Mrs. O. H. Storla)
Storla developed in the early 1900’s, from being the site of a creamery when the area (initially homesteads and tree claims) became a stable farming community. The creamery was moved from the T.O. Storla farm one-half mile west of what became the village of Storla. The creamery bought whole milk, separated it, and churned the cream into butter. The butter was packed into wooden tubs/kegs, taken to Mt. Vernon RR station, and shipped out via the railroad. Years after the creamery was gone, its’ huge churn lay abandoned in a pasture next to Main Street. Named for the family owning the land upon which it started, it is generally called Store-luh. However, some people said Store-lee, which is probably closer to the original Scandinavian pronunciation.
The first General Store was started around the same time as the creamery was moved and most farmers sold eggs & poultry in exchange for groceries & supplies.
The first Post Office was located a mile north and one and one-fourth mile east of Storla and was called Amboy. A stage-coach from Mitchell would deliver mail to Amboy on the way to Wessington Springs. The homesteaders would come there for mail. It was established on 2/02/1901 with Royal O. Butterfield as postmaster. It was discontinued on May 31, 1905 with mail routed to Letcher in Sanborn County.
A Blacksmith Shop repaired wagons, shoed horses, sharpened plow lays and did general repair work. W. A. Scott opened the first Meat Market and Confectionery Store/Restaurant. Around 1912, a newspaper, the “Tri-County Journal” was published weekly. By 1913/1914 there were a few automobiles in the community so Oliver Storla & Charlie Olson started the first Garage in 1914. About 1918 the Farmers State Bank was organized and in 1920 the Storla Telephone Co. was run by the Gilbert Johnson family out of their home. Around 1921, a Veterinary Clinic with two Veterinarians began service in Storla.
The West Trinity Lutheran Church was moved to Storla from a mile north. On June 14, 1924, a bad storm blew down the church and the lumber was reclaimed to build the Parsonage. In 1928 work was begun digging a basement for the new church which was completed and held the first service 2/24/1929. Later that year the old one-room school was sold at auction and a new school with full basement, furnace, and indoor rest rooms was built. Additionally, Northwestern Public services supplied power to “old part” of Storla and the “new part” of Storla was supplied by Tri-County Electric. Storla Sunset Nursing Home opened its’ doors in July of 1956.
The Church and Parsonage are all that remain of early Storla. CHS Farmers Alliance retains the Agricultural Community theme that Storla was founded on.
The post office was established on Oct 31 1881 with William H Hooper as postmaster. The
name was changed to Yorktown on May 7 1882. And then to White Lake on November 1st 1882.
The post office was established on Nov 6 1883 with George R Russell as postmaster. The
post office was discontinued on Jul 31 1890 with mail to Plainfield in Brule County. The
post office was re-established on Dec 3 1900 with Lyman E Harkness as postmaster. It was
discontinued for good on Oct 31 1902 with mail to White Lake.
Postmaster Compensation
George R Russell…………………. 1885…………………….. 20.18
Albert H J George………………… 1887…………………….. 25.45
Albert H J George………………… 1889…………………….. 70.05
Lyman E Harkness……………….. 1901…………………….. 10.24
On May 8 1882 the post office name was changed from Windsor to Yorktown with William H Hooper continuing as postmaster. On Oct 31 1882 the name was changed for the final time from Yorktown to White Lake.
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