100+ years ago
Temperatures in Huron stayed in the upper nineties for most of June 1888, making it the perfect weather to spend some time on the river. S.A. Bowe and his sons had built a side-wheel steamboat that could hold thirty-five people and charged thirty cents for a round-trip ticket. Groups could sail five miles upstream toward Lake Byron, have a picnic supper, enjoy singing and dancing at a pavilion owned by Bowe, and then return a few hours later. Bowe regularly advertised boat rides in the newspaper, hinting to gentlemen that a moonlight boat ride would impress the ladies more than a moonlight carriage ride. Bowes steamboat was in use until 1900 when repairs and upkeep became too costly.
70+ years ago
In March 1951, the Beadle County chapter of the American Red Cross offered its annual summer swimming program. Swimming lessons took place at Ravine Lake and were led by six certified Red Cross instructors. The program offered lessons for both beginners and intermediate swimmers, life-saving classes for juniors and seniors, and a special late-afternoon swimming class for Huron businesswomen.
Swimming lessons were suspended for several weeks that summer after water samples sent to the State Board of Health revealed sewage contamination rendering the water unsafe. Herman Bauder, the city sanitarian, explained that the pollution was caused by stormwater overflowing into the old sewer line running beneath the lake. The lake was reopened two weeks later when the water tests came back clean.
Other summer recreation activities for children included baseball, tennis, and golf. City playgrounds at Northside Memorial Park, Wilson School, and Jefferson School provided daily crafts, games, and story time. Sandra Hart, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1776, taught baton twirling at several parks.
45+ years ago
Hurons Crazy Days took place along Dakota Avenue and Third Street on July 28-29, 1978. The event was organized and sponsored by the Huron Chamber of Commerce. Area businesses offered exciting advertised discounts like the special sales at JC Penney in the new mall, Hedblom Clothier sold mens pants for $8.88, Chuck Porter Ford Dealership offered a 1971 Chevy Impala for $499, and a dozen grade A large eggs sold for nine cents at Red Owl.
Crazy Days offered a variety of outdoor events including a BBQ lunch for fifty cents, a KOKK disco dance, carnival rides, clowns, a kiddie rodeo parade with prizes for the most original, funniest, and most colorful entries, and a local talent show with a grand prize of a $175 savings bond. That year, people could register to win $500 in crazy bucks or a new car. If you were still looking for something to do that weekend, you could head to the Star Lite outdoor theater for a Burt Reynolds movie marathon.
Historical Happenings was written by Jennifer Littlefield, Reference Librarian at the Huron Public Library. The information was taken from past editions of the Huron Daily Plainsman. For more information about Hurons history, visit the library or search the librarys digital archive.
Leave a Reply