Lemmon, South Dakota (Rapid City, Lead: home, moving, smog)

[marlys]

My parents used to get their fuel oil in Portland, Oregon from Knepper Fuel Co. This didn't have any social significance to me until I read "LoveSD's" story about her family in Lemmon. My father ran the Petrified Wood Park gas station there in the 1930's through the 40's. When they moved to Oregon in 1951, he owned his own gas station for a year in Willamina/Sheridan area, then they moved to Portland where he became a Knapp Shoes door-to-door salesman while my mom worked in the VA Hospital as a nurse. Anyhow, I don't think a day went by that my parents didn't start a conversation with people by saying, "Gee, I knew someone with your last name back in South Dakota. Any relation?" Invariably, there would be a connection! Now, I realize the Knepper Fuel Co. people must have been the same sort of deal - probably someone from "back in South Dakota."

mjp

Originally Posted by limeyirish

I remember the name. My grandfather, John Rafferty helped to build the petrified park and his picture is in the museum there. My dad Owen and several of my uncles helped too. That was my playground growing up.

In the Petrified Wood Park Museum, they hand out a flyer that has my Jewel's name on it as also helping build the museum. I was shocked when I visited there a couple years ago to find this information! I knew he ran the gas station, but had no idea he had a hand in helping build the park, too!

mjp

[LoveSD]

The Knepper boys were from a large family. There was Samuel Huston Knepper who married Matilda Duke (who was my great grandmother's eldest sister). Sam had many brothers (5 or 6?). Many of these brothers were in education...I think one was a college president in Idaho. I am pretty sure these Kneppers are all connected somehow although right now I don't remember any Knepper connected to a fuel company (but my Knepper research pretty was limited to Sam's family). The family hailed from Pennsylvania and went westward to the Dakotas and then moved to places like Idaho and Oregon.

One of these days I'll get to Lemmon for a visit! Even though the ranch my great grandparents owned is now under water (the reservoir), it would be great to visit the area.
LoveSD

[I Remember]

My stepbrother Alvin Barth had a farm in Thunderhawk and was the music director of a churches choir for many long years. He originally lived in Mott, ND. a real fine citizen and he is missed.

[sd2ca]

Originally Posted by I Remember

My stepbrother Alvin Barth had a farm in Thunderhawk and was the music director of a churches choir for many long years. He originally lived in Mott, ND. a real fine citizen and he is missed.

I used to love going to Thunder Hawk. We took our wheat to the elevator there.

When they finally got around to having mail service in the area, the Postal Service assigned our farm address to the Thunder Hawk Post Office. We got mail delivered to our mailbox in front of the house on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday!!! Can you believe that!!!!!! Loved to see Herbie "the mailman" Jackson coming down the gravel road, hoping he had something good to leave in the box for us.

[I Remember]

In 1935, the gasoline sorage tanks caught on fire in Lemmon. When they blew up, people thought the whole town was gone. The train kept coming through the town. A man was standing watching unawre he was on the tracks because of the smoke. A man named Bill Stock ran to save him. Both men lost their legs being cut off by the train. Bill lived the other man died.

Originally Posted by sd2ca

I used to love going to Thunder Hawk. We took our wheat to the elevator there.

When they finally got around to having mail service in the area, the Postal Service assigned our farm address to the Thunder Hawk Post Office. We got mail delivered to our mailbox in front of the house on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday!!! Can you believe that!!!!!! Loved to see Herbie "the mailman" Jackson coming down the gravel road, hoping he had something good to leave in the box for us.

PEPSI COLA company sponsored a little league type of a softball competition. Lemmon played Thunderhawk and lost probably because some of the players from Thunderhawk (going on age 15) still in the lower grades because the farmers would take their sons out of school to plant and harvest the crops.

[I Remember]

There was a skating rink open for a short period of time as well as Sam's Bowling alley open most of the time. Gales resturant was where you ate the finest food. We had an IGA store, a department store where the money was sent up through a tube on a purchase along with a hardware store operated by my Uncle.

[sd2ca]

Originally Posted by I Remember

There was a department store where the money was sent up through a tube on a purchase.

Are you referring to "The Golden Rule" building? Seems they had the vacuum tube system.

[I Remember]

Originally Posted by sd2ca

Are you referring to "The Golden Rule" building? Seems they had the vacuum tube system.

That's it. At that time, I thought it was the biggest building in the entire USA.

[sd2ca]

Originally Posted by I Remember

That's it. At that time, I thought it was the biggest building in the entire USA.

It was a pretty cool store, wasn't it. If I recall correctly, the store also has belt driven ceiling fans. One motor powered all of the fans, and the fans were all connected together with belts.

[I Remember]

Originally Posted by sd2ca

It was a pretty cool store, wasn't it. If I recall correctly, the store also has belt driven ceiling fans. One motor powered all of the fans, and the fans were all connected together with belts.

Made a lot of noise but we thought it was air conditioning. It was always cool coming in from the heat of the summer. There was a drugstore on the corner where we used to get an ice cream cone. Saturday night was the big time blowout. Seems like everyone would come to town.