Aberdeen Area History

Aberdeen Area History This project's purpose is to highlight and preserve the rich history and contemporary stories of the and James L. Knight Foundation.

For decades, Aberdeen has served as the center of activity in Northeast South Dakota. It has been the hub of the regional railroad network, a jumping off point for homesteaders, and the core of regional education, fine arts and culture. This projects purpose is to highlight and preserve the rich history and contemporary stories of this area. This project would not be possible without the generous support of the John S.

Mellette was laid out in 1881 and named in honor of Governor Arthur C. Mellette. Mellete’s total area is 0.26 square mil...
12/14/2022

Mellette was laid out in 1881 and named in honor of Governor Arthur C. Mellette. Mellete’s total area is 0.26 square miles and had a population of 199 in 2020. Below is a picture of the Depot located in Mellette, SD.

Title: Mellette Depot
Description: Black and white photograph. Chicago Milwaukee St Paul & Pacific Railroad Company Depot, at Mellette, SD, looking at the South end East Side, from the R.C. Lathrop Collection
Contributors: Alexander Mitchell Public Library

Today we have a map of South Dakota, describing geologic composition. It is 42 x 68 inches, and the scale is 1:500,000.T...
12/07/2022

Today we have a map of South Dakota, describing geologic composition. It is 42 x 68 inches, and the scale is 1:500,000.

Title: Geologic Map of South Dakota
Description: Map of South Dakota, describing geologic composition.
Contributors: James E. Martin, J. Foster Sawyer, Mark D. Fahrenbach, Dennis W. Tomhave, Layne D. Schulz

Ever wonder what the interior of Brookside Rural Demonstration School looked like? See below! The photograph below shows...
11/30/2022

Ever wonder what the interior of Brookside Rural Demonstration School looked like? See below! The photograph below shows the inside of Brookside rural demonstration school from 1943. It includes students at their desks, chalkboards, a bench, flag, and decorations on the walls.

Title: Brookside Rural Demonstration School interior
Description: Black and white photograph of the inside of Brookside rural demonstration school.
Contributors: Helen Bergh

Today we have a picture of Jack and Jill’s store located on Main Street, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. This store was in be...
11/23/2022

Today we have a picture of Jack and Jill’s store located on Main Street, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. This store was in between The Main and Plymouth Clothing Co. Who remembers this store?

Title: Jack & Jill
Description: Black and white photograph of Jack & Jill store on Main Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota. The buildings next to it include The Main and Plymouth Clothing Co.
Contributors: Troy McQuillen

Below is a photo of the Farmers & Merchants Bank located on Main Street of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Title: Farmers & Merc...
11/16/2022

Below is a photo of the Farmers & Merchants Bank located on Main Street of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Title: Farmers & Merchants Bank Building
Description: Black and white photograph of the Farmers & Merchants Bank building.
Contributors: Troy McQuillen

Who remembers Noah’s Critters? It was a pet store located on Main Street of Aberdeen, S.D. The Plymouth Clothing Co. was...
11/09/2022

Who remembers Noah’s Critters? It was a pet store located on Main Street of Aberdeen, S.D. The Plymouth Clothing Co. was located next to it.

Title: Noah's Critters
Description: Black and white photograph of Noah's Critters pet store on Main Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Contributors: Troy McQuillen

Here is a photo of an Aberdeen Police Department Plymouth patrol car in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The photo was taken in t...
11/02/2022

Here is a photo of an Aberdeen Police Department Plymouth patrol car in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The photo was taken in the parking lot of the Aberdeen Police Department. You can also see the Brown County Courthouse in the background.

Title: Patrol Car
Description: Photograph of an Aberdeen Police Department Plymouth patrol car in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Contributors: Aberdeen Police Department

Click the link below it view the whole brochure that takes about Aberdeen, South Dakota. It includes maps, points of int...
10/26/2022

Click the link below it view the whole brochure that takes about Aberdeen, South Dakota. It includes maps, points of interests, and statistics about Aberdeen.

http://digitalcollections.northern.edu/digital/collection/local/id/16363/rec/803

Title: Good Time City Aberdeen
Description: This trifold brochure contains information about Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Contributors: Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau

The photo we have today shows the 1972 Bike Sale in action. In this picture, a bicycle is being auctioned off by the Abe...
10/19/2022

The photo we have today shows the 1972 Bike Sale in action. In this picture, a bicycle is being auctioned off by the Aberdeen Police Department.

Title: Bike auction
Description: Overhead photograph of a crowd of people around a bicycle being auctioned off by the Aberdeen Police Department.
Contributors: Aberdeen Police Department

Click the link below to view four pages of the Miller-Huebl Funeral Home in Aberdeen, SD. The owners of this funeral hom...
10/12/2022

Click the link below to view four pages of the Miller-Huebl Funeral Home in Aberdeen, SD. The owners of this funeral home were Floyd and Helen Miller. Look at this brochure to learn the history of the business, see photos of the new building in 1979, and learn about its employees.

http://digitalcollections.northern.edu/digital/collection/local/id/6984/rec/341

Title: Miller-Huebl Funeral Home
Description: This brochure for Miller-Huebl Funeral Home in Aberdeen, South Dakota includes the history of the business, description and photos of the new building in 1979, and biographies of its employees.
Contributors: 582 Miller-Huebl Funeral Home

10/05/2022

Happy National Teacher’s Day! Check out the link provided below to read a special letter written to teachers in 1948 and 1949. Be sure to thank a teacher today!

http://digitalcollections.northern.edu/digital/collection/local/id/4646/rec/7

Title: Special Letters to Teachers 1948-49
Description: Letters from Genevieve Arntz to teachers in Brown County, South Dakota.
Contributors: Students of Brown County Rural Schools, teachers and county staff

09/28/2022

Below is a five-page document on John H. Firey’s nomination into the Aberdeen Hall of Fame. The document was read on the radio station KABR and listed Firey’s history and achievements.

http://digitalcollections.northern.edu/digital/collection/local/id/6858/rec/36

Title: Firey, John H
Description: Document read on the radio station KABR naming John H. Firey to the Aberdeen Hall of Fame.
Contributors: L.E. Falk

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Aberdeen, SD
57401

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