Rapid City Public Library Podcast Series

In the October episode of Black Hills Legends and Lore, it's time to celebrate ghosts. Ghost towns, that is!

We'll explore three Black Hills ghost towns: Pactola, Castleton, and Spokane. We'll learn about their origins, and get snapshots of the towns circa fifty years ago, fifteen years ago, and today. 

No GPS or hiking boots required!

Read and edited by Adrian Ludens.

Music by Falconer. "Nightfall" used by permission.

In the September episode of Black Hills Legends and Lore, we delve into the fascinating story of "Lame Johnny" aka John Hurley--whose real name was Cornelius Donahue.

Lame Johnny Creek and Horse Thief Lake are both named after this colorful character, and there's even a legend of a lost fortune in stolen gold!

But how much of this outlaw's exploits is fact and how much is legend? Even the historians don't all agree!

Podcast researched, read, and edited by Adrian Ludens.

Music by Semo. Used by permission.

The recent deadly flooding in communities in Texas, New Mexico, West Virginia and New Jersey served as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable power of nature. 

These events undoubtedly stirred some memories of the deadly Black Hills Flood in June 1972.

In this podcast we have a newly-recorded recollection by James and Sarah Solano, and an archived recollection by the late Bill Boylan used in a podcast for the first time. 

James and his friends sought shelter when their car was swept away by the rising waters near the School of Mines. Bill caught a ride with a National Guard truck and helped search for bodies in the aftermath of the flood.

Solano interview by Adrian Ludens, July 2024. Boylan interview by Bea Hartwig-Stucke, July 2009. Editing and mixing by Adrian Ludens

Archival news report courtesy of KOTA. Newscaster: Robb DeWall

Music and effects: Roie Shpigler, Shirly Spikes, and Boom Library. Used by permission.

Summer's heating up but we are cooling things down--perhaps too much! 

In this episode of South Dakota Legends and Lore we learn about the blizzard that hit the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions of the United States on January 11, 1888. It became known as the Children's Blizzard or Schoolhouse Blizzard and caught most folks unprepared for the dangerous drop in temperature, high winds, and blinding ice and snow. 

We focus on (South) Dakota Territory survival stories and experiences, and provide additional reading suggestions.

Voiced and edited by Adrian Ludens

Snowstorm sound effects by Dauzkobza, used by permission

South Dakota Legends and Lore returns this summer with three new episodes featuring famous, infamous, and not-so-famous historical figures from Dakota Territory and South Dakota.

This month, we'll hear recollections from two real-life cowboys. Bruce Siberts tells about "A Bad Winter on the Prairie" near Fort Pierre circa 1895, while Ike Blasingame recalls many a "Storm and Stampede" near Mobridge circa 1905.

These readings are from the books: Nothing but Prairie and Sky: Life on the Dakota Range in the Early Days by Bruce Siberts (1868-1952), edited by Walker Wyman; and Dakota Cowboy: My Life in the Old Days by Ike Blasingame (1884-1962).

Narrated and edited by Adrian Ludens. Music by Lance Conrad. Used by permission.

May is Be Kind to Animals Month, National Pet Month, Chip Your Pet Month, and National Service Dog Examination Month.

We look into what each of these observations means, and give some relevant book title recommendations for further reading.

We also explore the difference between service animals and comfort animals and talk briefly about the Humane Society of the Black Hills.

Podcast recording and editing by Adrian Ludens.

April 8th is National Library Workers Day and April 16th is National Librarian Day and we are celebrating!

We'll learn the (official) difference between a Librarian and a library worker, hear funny stories, and hear more about some of the many services we offer at the Rapid City Public Library.

Featuring Krista Licht, Mackenzie Betcher, Scott Olson, Sophie Brown, Jack Monroe and Brady Jones.

Interviews, editing and mixing by Adrian Ludens.

Music by Ziggy and Roie Shpigler. Used with permission.

March 8 is International Women's Day, and the entire month of March is Women's History Month! 

To celebrate we are learning about several notable South Dakota women. Featured are:

Gladys Pyle, the first woman in the nation to be elected to a U.S. Senate seat.

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, a Native American author and teacher.

Becky Hammon, basketball standout, NBA coach, WNBA head coach.

Anna Simmons, instrumental in achieving women's right to vote in SD.

Plus book readings and recommendations.

Reading and editing by Adrian Ludens. 

Music by YesteryBeat. Used by permission.

This month on South Dakota Legends and Lore, we celebrate Black History Month by learning a little bit about four notable South Dakotans.

Lucretia Marchbanks was the second black woman in Dakota Territory, and became very successful in Deadwood.

Sarah Campbell was the very first non-Native woman in Dakota Territory with the Custer expedition.

Oscar Micheaux was a homesteader in Gregory County, SD who went on to write novels and produce films.

Cleveland Abbott (born in Yankton, SD) became a renowned athlete and coach.

Plus reading recommendations for two notable February birthdays: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Narrated and edited by Adrian Ludens.

Music by Louis Island and Straight With Teeth. Used by permission.

The third Monday of January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, also known as Civil Rights Day. This year, that day is January 20th. 

RCPL library associate Adrian has details on how this national holiday came to be, how it can be celebrated, and some basic info on MLK himself. Plus he lists some of the MKL-related books available from the RCPL and its sister libraries.

Music by Intrex. Used by permission.