History

Armour is located in south central South Dakota along U.S. Highway 281. It is 90 miles west of Sioux Falls and 45 miles southwest of Mitchell.

History buffs will find a wealth of resources in Armour. Whether you’re researching your family tree or just interested in South Dakota history, Armour has plenty to see and do.

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

Located on the northeast edge of town, Pleasant Ridge Cemetery offers a peaceful final resting place for those who lived in the Armour area. Pleasant Ridge is a private cemetery managed by a local board of directors who oversee its operation.

History

This information excerpted from the 1961 Douglas County history book.

Pleasant Ridge was incorporated on July 6, 1889. The articles were filed in Pierre, the state capitol, and provided for perpetual existence with authorized capital stock of $1,000. Those signing the articles of incorporation were Charles E. Huston, George W. Lumley, Philander B. Burton, David M. Henderson and John S. Bean. In May 1890, a 10-acre tract was platted by C.E. Huston, surveyor, who was assisted by D.M. Henderson and John S. Bean. The lot corners were marked by red cedar stakes driven level with the ground. This tract was named Pleasant Ridge Cemetery by John S. Bean, who also served as the first president of the corporation.

An additional three acres (lying adjacent to the original 10 acres) was platted in July 1908 along the west and south. In 1960, another tract was platted directly west of the previous 13 acres. This addition was paid for by Charles P. Crutchett. The James Berry home and acreage surrounding Pleasant Ridge was purchased in September 1926 from Mrs. James Berry for $4,000 and was used as a home for the cemetery sexton.
Ladies Cemetery Association

The Pleasant Ridge corporation carried on for some time with donated labor and money from donations, which was used to buy mowers, drill a tubular well and fence the grounds. The need for an annual income was evident and the Ladies Cemetery Association was formed to care for, beautify and otherwise improve the cemetery. Articles of incorporation for the Ladies Cemetery Association were issued May 2, 1918. The directors were Lulu B. Wanzer, Frances A. Carmody, Lillian A. Scholes, Mary Carlon, Abbie J. Morgan, Nellie R. Henderson and Minnie Rabern. Lulu Wanzer was its first president.

Membership in this group was fixed at $1 and soon grew to include women from surrounding communities The main source of income was from an annual dinner and supper served on Memorial Day in the larges empty building available in Armour. Sometimes, the dinners were held on the first floor of the Sietebak building, which later became Wudel Chevrolet. The event was also held in the Johnson House, a three-story hotel, which was located across the street from the Sietebak building, or in the building located on the corner south of the Fullerton Lumber Co., which was lost to fire many years ago.

Money from the dinners was used to make many improvements such as building a tool house, a wrought iron fence along the south with a large south gate, an entrance gate to the north and cement sidewalk along the entire south side of the cemetery property. In the earlier days, lot owners used to take care of their own lots and it was a common sight to see four or five ladies with hoes, rakes and spades wearing their garden gloves and bonnets to work on their lots.

The Cemetery Today

The Pleasant Ridge landscape is populated by many species of trees such as horse chestnut, catalpa, evergreens, elm, maple and various flowering shrubs. A part-time caretaker is charged with mowing and tree trimming. Each year, a fund drive is held to generate donations for the permanent care of the property.

Board of Directors

Carter Wiese, president
Thelma Meyer, secretary
Mary Putnam, treasurer
Jerry Altenberg, director

Grave spaces are $100, with 50 percent of the fee deposited for perpetual care. To purchase a grave space, contact Carter Wiese at (605) 724-2129.

Cemetery Directory

A map and directory of grave sites is located at the north entrance to the cemetery. The information is also available online.

Other Genealogy Resources

Douglas County Genealogy — Part of the SDGenWeb Project
The SDGenWeb Archives
The South Dakota Tombstone Transcription Project

Douglas County Museum
and Country School

Hours:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Memorial Day through Labor Day
1 to 4 p.m.
Or by appointment, year around.
Call 724-2129 or 724-2795 or 724-2423.
No admission charge.
Located along Highway 281 on the Douglas County Courthouse Grounds

The red brick building, which houses the Douglas County Museum, originally served as the offices of the County Auditor and Register of Deeds. It was built in 1902 because state law required county auditors and registrars to be located in fireproof buildings — at the time, the main courthouse was a frame structure. The cost of construction was $3,625. After the present courthouse was built in 1927, the smaller structure was no longer needed and it was then used as an office for a local attorney and, later, as a storage facility. Since 1960, the Douglas County Historical Society has housed its growing collection of artifacts in the structure. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Charles Crutchett, and early settler and druggist in Armour, was instrumental in setting up the museum. His early work has been continued and expanded by the Douglas County Historical Society. The museum was dedicated in Mr. Crutchett’s name in 1974. The museum collections include clothing, household items, farm tools, office equipment, American Indian artifacts, military items, photographs and other memorabilia unique to the Douglas County area. Most items in the collection have a connection to area residents. Of interest outside the building are light poles, which were originally on Armour’s Main Street, and the bell and keystone, which were from the 1908 Armour school building.

The Hockey-Helland School was originally located in western Douglas County. It was built in 1884 and served as a school almost continually until 1963. It was moved to its present location northwest of the museum in 1981. It still contains some of its original furnishings along with other school items. Each spring, all second graders in Douglas County are invited to attend “School Days” in the Country School. With the help and cooperation of the schools, second grade teachers in the county and former country school teachers, this project allows children to re-live the “good old days.”

The Douglas County Museum and Country School are under the care and management of the Douglas County Historical Society. The maintenance and operation of the facilities are funded by Douglas County and private donations.

The Railroad House

The Railroad House was added to the Douglas County Museum Complex in 1988. This house, built in 1886 by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, is similar to those provided by the rail companies for Section Foremen and their families. The Milwaukee Section House #33 was originally located by the railroad tracks in what was to become Armour. It first housed workers constructing the railroad. It is not known who the first Section Foreman was; however, in 1921 Roy Brown was hired to fill that position and he and his family moved into this house where they continued to live throughout Roy’s life and until his wife, Amelia, moved to the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Corsica in 1986. When the Milwaukee Road abandoned the rail through Armour in 1972, the Browns bought the house and were given life estate to the lot on which it stood. In 1986, Mrs. Brown and her family donated the house to the Douglas County Historical Society to be moved and used as a museum addition.

With funding from Douglas County, the historical society, private donations and hours and hours of volunteer labor, restortion was completed. Furnishings include items that were already owned by the museum, as well as items donated and loaned to complete decoration in the period of the early 1900s. The house is open during regular museum hours, or by appointment.