Paul Otto Hickok
July 11, 1920 - October 9, 2009
July 11, 1920 - October 9, 2009
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Former Board of Director, Paul Hickok dies.
Paul Otto Hickok, long-time resident of Hot Springs, passed away October 9, 2009 in Forest Grove, Ore., where he had lived since November 2004. He was 89-years-old. Paul was born July 11, 1920 in Austin, Minn., to Otto and Bertha Hickok. He and his three brothers grew up in Minnesota, moving wherever their parents found work. During World War II, he worked at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego building PBY flying boats and teaching "Rosie the Riveters" their craft. On June 27, 1945, he married Doris LiaBraaten and in 1948 they moved to Hot Springs, where they raised their eight children and spent the next 55 years. He was a pillar in the Hot Springs community, serving with the Jaycees, on the boards of The Mammoth Site, the Miss South Dakota Pageant, and the City Council. After retirement at age 80, Paul and Doris rejuvenated the Pioneer Museum in Hot Springs, SD. Cultural Development Organization's 1st Commemorative Medallion Offered The Pioneer Museum of Hot Springs is the featured subject of the first commemorative medallion, conceived and offered by the new non-profit Cultural Development Organization, showcasing Hot Springs historic sandstone architecture. The Cultural Development Organization includes local business owners, area artists, and residents interested in the long term expansion of the fine arts, architectural arts and cultural heritage of the Hot Springs area. Initial projects of the Cultural Development Organization will include a just-launched murals project, with local artists creating murals attached to existing historic buildings, as well as the annual Commemorative Medallion.
The Commemorative Medallions are offered as limited numbered editions: Gold medallions are $100 each with 25 limited editions, silver medallions are available at $50 each with 75 limited editions, and 400 bronze editons are available for $25 each. These special medallions are available by writing: Cultural Development Organization, P. O. Box 411, Hot Springs, SD 57747 or may viewed and purchased at Black Hill Books and Treasures,112 South Chicago, Hot Springs, SD, and at the Pioneer Museum, 300 North River St, Hot Springs, SD. A portion of the proceeds stay with the Pioneer Museum for those medallions purchased on site. Museum hours are 9 to 5, Monday through Saturday. |
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Pioneer Museum To Have Archival Storage
The Fall River County Historical Society has began planning the construction of an archival storage facility within the Pioneer Museum of Hot Springs. Board members Dave Purtill, in charge of special grant writing; Jim Bingham, President; Peggy Sanders; Adam Heath and Lon Sharp toured the facility with architect Lee Geiger of Geiger Architecture, Rapid City. Mr. Geiger specializes in working with historical buildings. The Board of Directors will then be given a detailed assessment of the proposed project. This assessment is the first step before grant writing and a local fund drive will be planned to cover construction costs. |
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Hot Springs & Pioneer Museum Receive Borglum Sculpture
A life sized bust carved by renowned Mt. Rushmore sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, has been donated to the Fall River County Pioneer Museum and is now on permanent display for public viewing. The sculpture, of an early, socially prominent Hot Springs resident, Pearl Carley Hargens, was commissioned of Borglum in the very early 1900s. Pearl, originally of New York City and South Bend, Indiana first married Richard H. Hunt a NY architect. They had three sons at the time of their divorce in 1900. In 1902 she married Dr. Charles W. Hargens of Hot Springs, SD as his second wife. Dr. Hargens, a country doctor and a key figure in the Hot Springs community, was known to make regular business trips back east including to NY and Chicago. Pearl lived in Hot Springs until her death in 1935, garnering a reputation as a lady of fine dress who made her own clothes of fabric specially imported from France and who could frequently be seen in long flowing gowns, adorned with boas. She was also known as the lady hosting an ice cream social each summer for all of the children of the town. The Borglum sculpture of Pearl marked her grave in the Hargens plot of Hot Springs Evergreen Cemetery until it was donated in May of 2007 to the museum by Charles Hargens’ daughter, Dorothy Hargens, who now resides in northwest Nebraska. The museum, a prominent four story sandstone building on a hill in the center of Hot Springs served as an elementary school until the early 1960s. It is now maintained as a museum by the Fall River County Historical Society and houses a number of unique artifacts and pioneer era “treasures.” The Pioneer Museum is open from May 15 through mid-October, six days a week, 9 am to 5 pm. |
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