Ardmore
Jul 9, 2013
Joel Schwader of Rapid City shared these photos of Ardmore, approximately one mile off the South Dakota-Nebraska border on SD Highway 71. The town was founded in 1889 and survived the Great Depression without one family on welfare. Rough times eventually fell on Ardmore and by 2004 it was considered an isolated ghost town.
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Ardmore is South Dakota's most southwest town, located in a dry plain of rolling hills and short grass. -
It got its start in 1889 as a stop on the new Burlington railroad. -
From the beginning it was a cowboy town – but a town that owed its survival to the train. -
Only the toughest – or the hardest headed – settled there. -
Water has always been scarce. In wet years, Hat Creek has brought a little water from Nebraska's Pine Ridge country, through Oglala National Grassland and across the border to Ardmore. -
But creek, wells or rain, there was never enough, and what they had was rarely fit to drink. -
It was so dry at Ardmore that in 1911, the federal government established an experimental farm north of town to demonstrate the wonders of dry land farming. -
Every year the farm held a picnic. Even President Calvin Coolidge attended the party in the summer of 1927 because he was lodged at Custer State Park. -
After a few years of trying, residents of Ardmore couldn't help wondering about the wonders of dry land farming. -
Even the government finally had to admit that this arid land was not meant for the plow. -
Grass returned and the population began to dwindle. A train brought the last tank of water to Ardmore over 40 years ago. -
They had town water for a while, but the well didn't last. -
The last time Ardmore had a recorded population was when the 1980 census showed a population of 16 residents. -
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Comments
right there. Awesome photography, Joel!!
The book takes place in Ardmore and western Nebraska and includes some local folklore like the Witch's Grave, the Ghost Ship of the Platte, the School Children's Blizzard of 1888, Ft. Robinson, Ghost Dancers and strange occurrences along the Oregon Trail.
Check out my pictures and more about the book on my Face Book page @jamesreimerardmore. The book is titled ARDMORE, by James Reimer.
Along with what Kelly said: I always thought of hunting season in November as a holiday, and hope I still make it down to see everyone for the good time! :)