Pierre, SD, to Aberdeen, SD
The difference between the West River side of the Missouri and the plains east of the river (East River) is obvious immediately after leaving Pierre. The land west of the river has been carved by eons of erosion into a rumpled landscape of valleys and buttes. East of the river the land has been shaped by the impact of the retreat of the great glaciers of the Ice Ages. The land spreads out in an undulating wave under a brilliant blue sky. Evidence of cattle ranching recedes as fields of sunflowers blaze towards the horizon.
Clusters of trees and silos dot the land, marking farm headquarters amidst the sprawling fields.
Closer to Aberdeen the land flattens and turns lush shades of green and gold as early fall beckons in northeastern South Dakota.
Aberdeen, SD
As is common with towns in the west, Aberdeen was founded in 1881 as a stop on the railroad as it inched towards the Pacific. The name “Aberdeen” was chosen because the president of the railroad had been born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Four railroads built depots in the town and its’ status as a transportation hub gave Aberdeen a solid basis for the local economy. During the early 1900’s a substantial town center rose on the six blocks between the railroad tracks to the north and Hwy 12 to the south. Anchoring the northern end of the commercial area is the 1911 Milwaukie Railroad depot, now home to the Aberdeen Visitor Center and in the process of being restored.
The depot was home to the famous “Pheasant Canteen” during World War II when nearly 600,000 soldiers passed through Aberdeen as they headed off to war. In 1943 citizens of Aberdeen opened a Red Cross/USO canteen in the depot to serve free lunches to troops passing through town. The canteen operated until March 1946. The menu began with ground ham sandwiches, cookies, pie, milk and coffee but soon farmers began donating pheasants that they had harvested on their farms. At the time there were so many pheasants that they posed a pest to farmers. Cooks developed a recipe for a pheasant sandwich made up of chopped pheasant, eggs, onion, celery, pickle relish and salad dressing and started serving pheasant sandwiches. Soon word spread amongst the troops about the Aberdeen delicacy and it became the most requested item in the canteen.
South of the train depot Main Street is lined with buildings from the first part of the 20th Century. The skyline is dominated by the tower of the 1904 Brown County Courthouse on the north and the cupola of the First United Methodist Church to the south.
The 1928 Alonzo Ward Hotel (now housing a restaurant and shops on the ground floor, condominiums above) rises on the west side of Main Street and a couple of blocks to the east are the spires of the Sacred Heart Church.
The lobby of the Ward has been restored to its’ original splendor.
In between are the remains of an earlier, more prosperous time for Main Street. As with most towns today, the center of commercial and retail activity for this town of approximately 30,000 people has moved off Main Street and to the outskirts of town, in this case along the strip of Hwy 12 as it heads east towards the airport. Downtown storefronts are a mix of small shops, offices, restaurants and empty windows.
Across the railroad tracks to the north the Highlands neighborhood is home to large homes built by prosperous merchants of an earlier age.
The glory of Aberdeen, however, is not of the architecture and deeds of an earlier age but rather the product of an incredible partnership between a local service club, the Sertoma, and the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Department. Wylie Park, located north of the town, is simply a stunning example of civic pride and emphasis on family.
Wylie Park
In 1911 the city fathers of Aberdeen forced through a proposal to purchase part of the Aldrich farm northwest of the city for use as a public park. Through the years additional land donated by the railroad and other purchases increased the park to around 210 acres. A myriad of recreational opportunities are available in the park, including playground areas, a swimming beach, miniature golf, a go-cart race track, water bumper boats, volleyball, and a campground, all placed amongst sprawling lush green lawns and wooded trails. The map from the campground brochure shows the layout of the park.
The mini-golf course features two “volcanoes” the feature water flowing out of the top when the course is open.
This is the point where those of you who do not want to revert back to childhood should stop reading. For the rest of us, grab your favorite lollipop and charge on!
Storybook Land
The crown jewel of Wylie Park is a collaboration between a local service club, the Sertoma, and the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Department. Storybook Land and the Land of Oz is a FREE experience with the exception of a few kiddie rides within (train, roller coaster, balloon ride, and carousel). Truly a young family could spend hours here without spending a dime. Storybook Land is a collection of characters from favorite childhood fairy tales, all arranged around a castle which is surrounded by a moat.
As we pass under the rainbow, Jack and the Beanstalk rise to our left
Rapunzel has let down her golden hair from one of the castle towers.
The path around the castle is lined with favorite characters.
You may have noticed the small black plaques on display by each character or scene. These plaques recognize the individual or business who donated that particular item. Yes, that’s right, donated. These statues and scenes have been paid for by donations from the community and sometimes in memory of a loved one. Here’s the Old Lady and the Shoe as well as Old McDonald’s Farm.
Humpty Dumpty’s Great Fall is a roller coaster for little ones.
As we complete the circle around the castle the characters just keep on coming…
And we finish up with Jack and Jill falling down the hill!
Adjacent to Storybook Land is the other fantastic experience, the Land of Oz. Created in recognition of the fact that L. Frank Baum, author of “The Wizard of Oz” once lived in Aberdeen, it’s a fantasy trip along the Yellow Brick Road. We’re off to see the Wizard!
Follow the yellow brick road…
And at the end, the wizard floats away…
What a fun time, especially for little kids! And it’s FREE! I specifically chose to visit on a weekday morning so that I could take pictures without many children around, didn’t want to seem like a creeper!
Another eclectic and unexpected adventure in America’s Heartland…
Next up: Pork ‘n Peas
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