Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Trojan SD 1914 School House ~ the Last Building Standing has been Demolished!


Wharf Resources (USA) Inc. operates the Wharf open pit gold mine and heap-leach operation in the Bald Mountain Mining District of South Dakota. The property consists of several areas of adjoining gold mineralization amenable to open pit mining. Wharf resources holds title to the surface and mineral rights of the claims. All of the Wharf Mine’s total proven and probable mineral reserves are on patented claims. In 2009, gold production from the Wharf Mine amounted to 68,000 ounces of gold. Positive exploration results have extended the mine life to approximately 2014. This picture shows the major scope of this open pit mining activity near Terry Peak.

Trojan School House built in 1914



This recent picture shows the extent of how the Wharf Mine has nearly consumed the last building standing of what remained of the old skiing town of Trojan SD.

A valiant effort to save the 1914 School House was conducted by the Lawrence County Historic Society President Jerry Bryant, Mrs. Donna Watson along with many other concerned people.

A few weeks ago, the building could no longer be protected nor enough money raised to move it to possible donated sites. Sadly, the Trojan School was demolished and the town of Trojan ceased to exist except as a dot on the map close the Nevada Gulch.

This fate of destruction is all too often the end of many old buildings and structures in the Black Hills. Jerry Bryant’s quest to save old buildings and structures is also supplemented by his archeological vision to discover and protect historical artifacts buried in the remains of long forgotten structures. Bryant observed that Donna Watson is tirelessly pursing many conservation and preservation activities. Between her and her brother, they are the emotional ground movers for many issues in the Black Hills.

Jon Crane, a Hill City artist, founded the Black Hills Historic Preservation Trust. The Trust is actively preserving the Meeker Ranch and Gold Mountain Mine. The Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission recently made a strategic grant to the Meeker Ranch reroofing effort.

South Dakota Historic Preservation Advocacy Day - Last January 21, Preservation advocates took to the South Dakota State Capitol for Historic Preservation Advocacy Day organized by the Black Hills Historic Preservation Trust, Preserve South Dakota and National Trust. Supporters of historic preservation visited with legislators about historic preservation issues and benefits in communities across South Dakota.
Advocacy Day will become an annual event and is open to participants dedicated to building a voice at the State Legislature for historic preservation in South Dakota. Please join them in 2011.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

My name is James Lang. I started to school in Trojan in 1948 along with my 3 brothers and sister. we left Trojan in 1952 moving to bloomfield Missour. I now live in HighRidge Missouri 63049 .

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