PIERRE— The Split Rock Bathhouse in Garretson recently was awarded a matching grant from the South Dakota State Historical Society, as announced by Jenna Carlson Dietmeier, interim State Historic Preservation Officer.
The grants are awarded through the State Historical Society’s Deadwood Fund grant program. Funding for the program is from Deadwood gaming revenue earmarked by state law for historic preservation projects throughout the state. The program is administered by the society’s State Historic Preservation Office in Pierre.
The Split Rock Bathhouse, located at 608 5th Street, Garretson, was awarded $9,000 for rehabilitation work including caulking and tuckpointing cracked mortar joints.
The Split Rock Bathhouse was built in 1936 and is listed as contributing to the Split Rock Creek Park Historic District. This is the only building included in the district. The building is located on the eastern bank of the Split Rock Creek just south of the dam. This building was designed as a Works Progress Administration project and was constructed of concrete and quartzite. The style of the building is an example of the ‘WPA Rustic’ because it was built to have a utilitarian design. The building is significant in the areas of recreation, entertainment, and architecture.
“This historic preservation grants program is designed to encourage restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties and is one more way we can promote and protect our history and culture”, said Jenna Carlson Dietmeier, interim State Historic Preservation Officer.
Deadwood Fund grants are awarded twice a year, with grant application deadlines of Feb. 1 and Oct. 1. They are reviewed at the spring and winter meetings of the State Historical Society’s board of trustees. For more information on the Deadwood Fund grant program, contact the State Historic Preservation Office in Pierre; telephone (605) 773-3458; or website history.sd.gov/Preservation.
About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered in Pierre. The center houses the society’s museum, archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development departments. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.
