Stories appearing in WPO's 125th Anniversary Edition...

Early Settlers...
Residents in 1878 when town was first platted.



Daniel Lovejoy...one of the first settlers
on the shores of Lake Kampeska...
Photo Courtesey of Codington County
Historical Society 		George C. Ball
J.B. Ball
C.A. Beck
0.T. Bigelow
E.N. Brann
E.A Brizee
G.H. Cady
C.0. Carpenter
N. Clark
George Davison
William Delap
Charles Deming
WH. Donaldson
John H. Drake
W. Gillett
I.T. Griner
George E. Hanson
H. Hanson
A.D, Heath
F. Hopkins
F. Hoskins
P.E. How 		A.D, Heath
F. Hopkins
F. Hoskins
P.E. How
P. Inglesby
O.P. Kemp
J. C. Kuney
0. Larsen
J.A. Lee
L.L. Leach
William Lybarger
H. McMillan
J.C. Miler
Otto Olsen
G. Oshier
A.F. Paulson
M.O. Paulson
W.W. Prout
George Riggs
E. Robbins
Bradley Rogers
John B. Severy
Louis Slosson
R.B. Spicer
J.R. Stowell
James E. Tanner
O.H. Tarbell
W.R. Thomas
George N. Tuthill
Gilbert Tuthill
E.H. Ulrich
M.E Waite
W.C. Waite
K.W. Warner
R.T. Warner
E . J. Webster
A.E. Weston
E. Wheelock
C. R. Williams ***
C.H: Wildon

*** C.R.Williams
Stony Point... Generations of Watertown people spent their leisure hours at Stony Point on Lake Kampeska.

Stony Point Amusement Park at Lake Kampeska began as a tree claim acquired by Charles Williams in 1883. When the land turned out to be unsuitable for farming (too rocky), Williams noticed the lake attracted visitors who fished and camped on its shores. Charles started by opening a small store to provide necessary provisions to the guests. Soon he expanded the business to include a bathhouse, trap shoot, a slide at the lake, horse barn and gas station. Fishing tackle and a fleet of boats to rent were added. Cottages and homes began sprouting up and in 1900, a 60-foot excursion launch called 'Stella Mae' was added. In 1912, the Spider Palace was built, offering beer, billiards and dancing. A round roller rink (Spider Web) and a recreation food area were added later fea­turing a bowling alley & a 300-foot bar, said to be the longest in South Dakota.

Heavy snows collapsed the Spider Palace roof in November 1946. It was rebuilt the next year and the Lawrence Welk's Orchestra played at the open­ing dance. Charles eldest son, Bill Williams, eventually took over operation & development and Stoney Point enjoyed continued success until the 1960s when attendance began declining due to changing taste and television. The Spider Palace remained in operation for until snow again caved in the roof in February 1978. The structure has not been rebuilt.
Bill Williams

On the road...

With so many cars in town by 1903, the city established its first speed limit... 6 mph 		Henry Ford developed the first gasoline-powered buggy in 1892 and 11 years later the Ford Motor Company was founded. During that time, the horseless carriage hit Watertown. In August, 1891, A.C. Gilruth purchased the town's first automobile. In 1903, more than 20 automobiles were purchased. In June of that year, Watertown boasted 10 Oldsmobiles, six Ramblers, three electric cars, one Hayes-Apperson touring car, one Thomas touring car, one "electric delivery" vehicle and at least three car dealers.

With so many cars traveling the area, the first speeding limit was imposed for the city in September 1903. The city council established a speed limit of six miles per hour for the business district and 10 mph for the rest of the city.

With the introduction of the Model T in 1908, the automobile was everywhere. By January 1912, the Watertown Auto Club was organized and was instrumental in helping to establish good roads for the area. By 1914, South Dakota had more cars per capita than any other state in the country.

An early 1890 Watertown directory included these family names familiar to our classmates.


Bergen, Peter, carpenter,
Berner, T. L., carriage painter,
Boetcher, John, proprietor,
Briggs, S. A., insurance agent,
Chandler, Orin , farmer,
Davis, Frank, engineer,
England, Andrew, farmer,
Gibson, Martha, homemaker,
Hanson, Hendrick, carpenter,
Hanson, R., shoemaker,
Jensen, Amos, hotel clerk,
Jensen, James, laborer,
Johnson, Albert, plasterer,
Johnson, Curtis B., brickmason,
Johnson, Edward, mason,
Johnson, George W., mason,
Johnson, James M., plasterer,
Larson, A., shoemaker,
Larson, C. W., printer,
McAlister, Allie, dressmaker,

Middleton, Matthew, laborer,
Miller, E. W., carpenter,
Miller, J. M., land clerk,
Mills, Mrs. Addie, homemaker,
Nelson, Rev. A., pastor,
Nelson, Andrew, laborer,
Olsen, Hagen, cabinet maker,
Olsen, L., carpenter,
Peterson, Peter, tinner,
Riley, Albert, engineer,
Skinner, George A., farmer,
Smith, George, farmer,
Smith, O. M., blacksmith
Thomas, G. W., lawyer,
Thomas, L. M., postmaster,
Thompson, T. R., mason,
Timmerman, J. A., laborer,
Wagner, Mack, farmer,
West, James E., attorney
Yetter, C. E., brakeman,

 

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