Local Lou

A brand new historical marker off of Phillips Ave in Downtown Sioux Falls, lets read it and explore some of the history!

Historical Marker Barracks of Fort Dakota 

1865-1873

Near this site in a southwesterly direction stood the Barracks of Fort Dakota. Soldiers of Company E 6th Iowa Cavalry under Captain Daniel Eicher built the Enlisted men's Barracks in the summer of 1865. Made of white oak logs the 140x20' building was divided into 5 rooms with a central stove. Bunks were made of pole cut from local trees and were often infested with bed bugs. Kerosene was rubbed on the bunks to exterminate the bed bugs. Two men slept on one bunk, using hay filled bed sacks as mattresses. The Garrison left in 1869 and the post was abandoned. The Barracks was converted and used by newcomers to Sioux Falls such as Byrum Phillips and RF Pettigrew as temporary housing. The Barracks was razed in 1873. 

In 1984 a bronze tablet was placed on the front of the Hollywood Theater by Mary Chilton Chapter of the NSDAR until 1990 moved to the commerce building and disappeared in a remodel. 

Historical Marker Barracks of Fort Dakota 1865-1873 located off Phillips Ave near 8th street in Sioux Falls SD.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/We_Did_What/RBjHEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=kerosene+oil+for+bed+bugs+1800s&pg=PA35&printsec=frontcover

https://www.colonialpest.com/2016/10/12/used-kill-bed-bugs-back-day/

https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/do-it-yourself-bed-bug-control

https://www.sdpb.org/rural-life-and-history/history-of-fort-dakota-near-present-day-sioux-falls

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22680693/daniel-f-eicher

https://www.greetingsfromsiouxfalls.com/hollywood

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7464

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Forgotten_Sioux_Falls/c8jtYvmkU9kC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hollywood+theater+sioux+falls&pg=PA22&printsec=frontcover

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Spitznagel

Join me and my fellow podcast host, Tasha from Talking with Tasha, as we delve into the book "Vanished in Vermillion" by Lou Raguse. You can find links below for Tasha and the Siouxland Libraries, where you can learn more about the One Book Siouxland Events happening in April 2025.⁠

Talkin With Tasha – a podcast for everyone⁠⁠Natasha (@na.ta.sha.86) • Instagram photos and videos⁠⁠

One Book Siouxland Siouxland Libraries⁠

⁠About the Author - Vanished in Vermillion

Join me and my fellow podcast host, Tasha from Talking with Tasha, as we delve into the book "Vanished in Vermillion" by Lou Raguse. You can find links below for Tasha and the Siouxland Libraries, where you can learn more about the One Book Siouxland Events happening in April 2025.Talkin With Tasha – a podcast for everyoneNatasha (@na.ta.sha.86) • Instagram photos and videosOne Book Siouxland Siouxland Libraries

About the Author - Vanished in Vermillion

South Dakota podcaster Andy Heller from Fat Dude Digs Flicks stops by the chat with Local Lou about the One Book Siouxland pick for 2025Vanished in Vermillion: The Real Story of South Dakota’s Most Infamous Cold Case by Lou Raguse If you have not had a chance to read this book yet and do not know the end of this story, we won't spoil it for you in this episode. You still have time to read it before the kick off event (FREE EVENT, registration encouraged!)

One Book Siouxland Kick-Off 

There will be three sessions on themes from the book including:

10:00 a.m.: podcaster Local Lou will present on the Court of Public Opinion featuring local historical crimes (Meeting Room A/B)

11:30 a.m.: award winning artist, Jerry Fogg, will speak on his art and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (Library floor by art wall)

1:00 p.m.: journalist panel discussing crime reporting in South Dakota (Meeting Room A/B)

Saturday, April 5, 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m.
Downtown Library- Meeting Room A/BFat Dude Digs Flicks | Instagram, Facebook | LinktreeOne Book Siouxland Siouxland Libraries

About the Author - Vanished in Vermillion

We are back in Vermillion, South Dakota, where we will read a historical marker. Following that, we'll discuss Vermillion in 1971 and get to know two 17-year-old girls who are heading to a graduation party right before they vanish.... in Vermillion.

Upcoming EventsOne Book Siouxland Kick-Off 

Learn more about our 2025 One Book Siouxland title,Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse. There will be three sessions on themes from the book including:

10:00 a.m.: podcaster Local Lou will present on the Court of Public Opinion featuring local historical crimes (Meeting Room A/B)

11:30 a.m.: award winning artist, Jerry Fogg, will speak on his art and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (Library floor by art wall)

1:00 p.m.: journalist panel discussing crime reporting in South Dakota (Meeting Room A/B)

Saturday, April 5, 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m.
Downtown Library- Meeting Room A/B

For adults aged 18 and older.

One Book Siouxland Siouxland Libraries 

Case Timeline - Vanished in Vermillion 

“Vanished in Vermillion” answers locals’ questions about 1971 party disappearance 

vermillion.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k="pam jackson"&i=f&d=01011971-12311973&m=between&ord=k1&fn=vermillion_high_school_yearbook_usa_south_dakota_vermillion_19710101_english_49&df=1&dt=2&cid=2962 

What Happened in May 1971 - On This Day⁠  

⁠The Cost of Goods the Year You Were Born | Stacker⁠  

Argus Leader 6/3/1971 and 1/12/1972 can be read in their entirety on Localloupodcast.com in the Episodes tab.

We are going on a little adventure in Vermillion South Dakota, so I wanted us to get to know a little bit about Vermillion first be reading two historical markers. Coming up in the next few episodes we will be hearing all about the Siouxland Library's One Book Siouxland pick of 2025, Vanished in Vermillion. You still have time to read the book before the kick off event at the Downtown branch of the Library April 5th 2025, listen to the episode or click the link below for more details.

One Book Siouxland Siouxland Libraries

Join Lou and Talkin with Tasha host Tasha as they talk about in 1911, Sioux Falls lacked public restrooms for women, prompting Edith Kellar Lillibridge and Anna M. Eddy to form the Woman's Alliance with 30 women. Despite limited resources, they initiated a groundbreaking project, raising funds through member contributions. With 400 members, Mary Peabody became the first president. This facility served as a "home away from home" for women, creating a lasting legacy of service in the city's history.

Talkin With Tasha – a podcast for everyone

So happy to have another history chat with film maker Brad Dumke. Join us as we talk about Wallace Dow the "Builder on the Prairie" an architect that showed up just when Sioux Falls was getting on the map and made a living building impressive stone buildings that define the cities skyline today. If you listen towards the end you just might hear a Gigglebees reference... Brad is so great to share this local history chat with, if you have not had a chance to check out his work, watch the documentary or read the book on Dow links are below.

Get to know Brad's work:Videography | Experience 1856Watch the documentary:SDPB Documentaries | W.L. Dow. Architect | PBS

Get the book:

W.L. Dow: The Architect Who Shaped Sioux... book by Jennifer Dumke 

W.L. Dow:, South Dakota: Jennifer Dumke: 9781626191525: Paperback – Arcadia Publishing 

Local Lou Podcast

The Old Courthouse and Warehouse District in Sioux Falls showcases the influential work of early architects Wallace L. Dow and Joseph Schwarz. Their designs have significantly impacted the downtown area, making them the most notable architects in the city's history. Lets take a look at some of the history of the Coliseum built by Joseph Schwarz and learn a little bit more about both architects along the way!Local Lou Podcast - The Coliseum

1b35eb12-dfd7-4216-9c20-4d4413f77b8a 

History of the Sioux Falls Coliseum : City of Sioux Falls : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive 

The Coliseum Historical Marker 

1856 Media Dow Documentary 

W.L. Dow: The Architect Who Shaped Sioux... book by Jennifer Dumke 

W.L. Dow:, South Dakota: Jennifer Dumke: 9781626191525: Paperback – Arcadia Publishing 

History of the Sioux Falls Coliseum - YouTube 

LSS Multi-Cultural Center 

In 1872 Baptist services in Sioux Falls were held sporadically as the number of Baptists was too small to form a congregation, by 1910 they were building a church that could seat 1,000. Let's explore this history and a little about the architects Wallace Dow and Joseph Schwarz who both built a First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls.

First Baptist Church Historical Marker 

Collection: Hilton, Amos William Papers | American Baptist Historical Society 

Schwarz, Joseph | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 

Schwarz, Jos. A. Sioux Falls Architect