OELRICHS - On Sunday, April 13, history buffs gathered at the Oelrichs High School to learn and share knowledge.
The Oelrichs Historical Society has had an annual history conference for over 10 years. Attendance this year was approximately 66 people, coming from near and far.
Many commented how delicious the hot roast beef sandwiches were for lunch, provided by Mama’s Cookin’ of Oelrichs. Residents, past and present, shared memories growing up in a small town.
The first of three presentations began at 1 pm, with Orval Frahm talking about the local country school. As soon as families settled in the area, the men got together to build schools for their children, knowing the importance of education.
There were many country schools in the Oelrichs, the last of which was the Thomsen school that closed in the spring of 1983. The Oelrichs Historical Society moved the school building into town, and it will serve as their museum after remodeling is complete.
Frahm asked the audience to share their memories of their country school. Connie Ulmer told a humorous story about snakes in their outhouse at the Lennon School. Connie Larive from Hot Springs shared her experience of attending a country school in SD and how the students were like family, because there were so few kids.
Next to speak was Rick Mills, curator and nationallyrecognized railroad historian from the SD Railroad Museum in Hill City. Mills spoke about what he loved - trains. He explained how the railroad progressed across the state, bringing immigrants and materials to the area.
Mills showed great old photographs of locomotives that he has collected through the years. His knowledge and excitement for the preservation of railroad history was evident.
He told Roy Merdanian, president of the Oelrichs Historical Society, that he recently discovered a 5-mile stretch of track he had not walked. Mills was planning to walk that track this summer, as he has all of the other rails in the state.
Sadly, Mills passed away unexpectedly on April 21, leaving a legacy of dedication to history and his love of trains. Jim Dryden, attendee of the history conference, shared, “We were so fortunate to have him speak for us, probably the last presentation he gave.” That sentiment is shared by many.
The last presentation was of the 13 World War I veterans interred at the Oelrichs Hillside Cemetery, given by Katie Merdanian.
Of the 13 buried at the cemetery, two of the veterans, Omro Hoffman and Joseph Manders, died as a result of the 1918 influenza epidemic.
Many veterans stayed in the Oelrichs area after the war; some left and came back. All are a part of the town’s history. In 1925, the WWI veterans in the area organized the Oelrichs American Legion post.
The Oelrichs Hillside Cemetery honors those veterans interred therein