 Museum volunteer Jesse Mills and another young Museum visitor view some of the new Rock Island items at the SDSRM.
The collection was assembled over the 50-plus year career of Bernard J. Carey, a second generation employee of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad – the fabled “Rock Island Line.” Carey was the last depot agent in the Sioux Falls office when it was closed in 1971. The unique donation includes historic paper documents; photos; hardware including oil cans, locks, keys, and lanterns; standard depot clocks; telegraphy equipment; an 1880s depot “barrel” stove; and period office furniture – some of which date back to eastern Dakota Territory in the 1880s. South Dakota railroads represented in this collection include Rock Island/Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern,Great Northern, South Dakota Central, Milwaukee Road, Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha/Chicago & North Western, Illinois Central, Burlington Northern, plus other historic companies. Additionally, a large collection of historic barbed wire will also be a prized addition to the Museum’s agriculture section. “The generosity of the Carey’s children Steve, Sheila and Sharon is tremendous. I am amazed at the variety this collection adds to the Museum’s statewide focus,” related Museum Director Rick Mills. The items have been transferred to the Hill City facility in two trips since late June. Mills says this is the third major collection from eastern South Dakota that the Museum has received in the last 8 months. “It sure is nice to know there is something like the SDSRM to provide real learning experiences and historical context for tourists. Oh, how I wish it had existed when Dad (Bernard) was still alive. He was quite a guy, and so interested in history and had a great love for the railroad and his, his dad’s, and brother’s and niece’s telegraphic contributions to the Rock Island and Great Northern in their jobs over so many years,” commented Sheila Brzica, Mr. Carey’s eldest daughter. As a child, Sheila also learned to tap out Morse code by her father’s side in case of emergency. Some of the new items have already been moved into the Museum’s display areas, with more to be readied for display during the Museum’s annual TREES AND TRAINS Christmas exhibit in November and December, as well as more in the new depot display in 2013.  Thanks to SD Public Radio’s Victoria Wicks for an outstanding profile of our Gene Jackson and his incomparable HO layout creation that resides at the SDSRM! Take a listen to the audio file at the link:
http://www.sdpb.org/tv/shows.aspx?MediaID=59933&Parm&ParmAccessLevel=sdpb-all  The first phase of a joint exhibit between the Wheat Growers Association and the Museum has been installed – the 16 foot facade of a wooden grain elevator looks imposing, and is the first side of a display which will depict modern WG facilities around the state later this year.
 Gene Jackson puts some final touches on his magnificent HO layout which he donated to the SDSRM in 2010 Come on up to Hill City and help us plan for our model layout’s future, as well as for our 2011 programming and exhibits on Saturday, January 8th!
Saturday, January 8 – Museum Closed for Board Meetings 10am – Model/HO Layout and Displays meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS) 11am – Education/programs meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS) 1pm – Quarterly Board meeting (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS) Sunday, January 9 – Museum Closed Monday, January 10 – Museum Closed Tuesday, January 11 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Wednesday, January 12 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Thursday, January 13 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Friday, January 14 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Saturday, January 15 – Museum Closed Sunday, January 16 – Museum Closed Monday, January 17 – Museum Closed Tuesday, January 18 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Wednesday, January 19 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Thursday, January 20 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Friday, January 21 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down) Saturday, January 22 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – new exhibit construction) Sunday, January 23 – Museum Closed Monday, January 24 – Museum Closed Tuesday, January 25 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction) Wednesday, January 26 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction) Thursday, January 27 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction) Friday, January 28 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction) Saturday, January 29 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction) Sunday, January 30 – Museum Closed Monday, January 31- Museum Closed February days and hours: Sunday and Monday: CLOSED Tuesday through Saturday: 10am-4pm daily Saturday, February 5 – 11-3pm Special Program – “Antiques Railroad Show” – railroad and related antiques appraisal day at the SDSRM  We are very pleased with the response that we are hearing about TimeRail, our dramatic and educational 8 by 70 foot mural/timeline! Some of the comments:
“The mural is BEAUTIFUL” “Super Timeline presentation!” “What a wonderful tour of railroad history” TimeRail, combined with our other rail and South Dakota history exhibits, is making history! Come in and see it for yourself. Photo by Sarah Mills |
SDSRM Blog
The best place to read and stay you up to date on all the wonderful things happening at The South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City. Archives
August 2021
Categories
All
|
|
|
RSS Feed