Douglas County Museum and Country School – Armour, South Dakota
This museum complex has the building used by the County Auditor and Register of Deeds as well as an old school and Railroad House.
The history connected with these buildings is just wonderful. The museum 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.
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 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.
Hours:
Sundays Memorial Day through Labor Day
2 to 5 p.m.
Or by appointment, year around.
Call 724-2423 or 724-2129.
No admission charge.
Located along Highway 281 on the Douglas County Courthouse Grounds
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