A Special Place
by Owen Wiese
When R.P. and Ella Wiese bought the South East Quarter of Section 17, in Minnehaha County in 1950, they were not looking for any more than a wonderful view out the picture window to the West. It was and remains so to this day, a view of miles to the horizon.
It wasn’t very long before they realized that there was something that would be very important to them and their family. “The Devils Gulch, A Special Place”. Another place that was there and had been used by residents of Garretson who didn’t put value in the Devils Gulch was a dumping ground. The dump ground was at the east edge of their property and some people were still looking for trinkets and treasures in the area. It is now overgrown by trees.
Three people who found the Gulch a special place, when youngsters, were Owen and Lois’ three daughters. They would go to the Gulch to play and explore during their early years. As they became adults and when they come home for a visit, they enjoy a walk in the Gulch to find and renew the memories of their special place. It is always a special place.
As time went on the Gulch did become a Special Place to my dad. He had taken an interest in planting trees to make the Gulch a more attractive place. He planted a number of trees along the entrance road not far from the Visitors Center. A ceremony was held at which Dad was recognized as a Tree Farmer and a sign was put in place recognizing the Gulch as a tree farm. As the years have gone by the trees planted in the area of the sign have grown tall and the sign has disappeared. I have followed Dad’s interest in trees and have planted trees in several areas in the Gulch, but without any ceremony. Some trees I planted have survived, some not.
The Gulch first became a Special Place in 1876 when Jesse James was said to have jumped over the Gulch ravine, on his horse, after out-running a posse that was pursuing him from his robbery of a bank in Northfield, Minnesota. Word about his feat spread. In 1922 W. W. Sanders, a newspaper man, was telling some of his friends about Jesse’s endeavor. His friends demanded to see the place where Jesse jumped. W. W. showed his friends a likely spot. Thus, was born the Legend of Jesse James. Thousands of people have asked if that is the spot that Jesse James jumped the Devils Gulch. That is also the time the name Devils Gulch came into use. Thousands believe it, thousands don’t. It is not possible to ask W.W. Sanders if his information is a guess or fact.
The Devils Gulch continues to be a Special Place for Garretson. Hundreds of people who live in many places hear about the Devils Gulch and visit Garretson to see it. They are highly impressed with the Jesse James story, and the place he established the Legend of Jesse James. Some people believe the Legend of Jesse, some are not so sure. It doesn’t seem to matter to most people because the scenery is so varied and the hiking trails are so interesting. The trails are not difficult, but the beauty of nature inspires the venturing spirit.
On the east end a person can view and listen to the water falls coming under the bridge and disappearing into what is alleged to be a bottomless ravine. The Indians who first explored the area long, long ago named the bottomless ravine Spirit Canyon. Are there unknown creatures lurking in the deep waters? Maybe the Spirits named by the Indians. Maybe even the Blue Dragon.
A climb down Devils Stairway in the east end of the bottomless chasm to the water’s edge, is for the adventurous and physically able to discover another perspective. Watch out, for whatever may be lurking in the water to reach out and grab you.
Not everyone has treated a visit to the Devils Gulch with awe as there has been some vandalism. At times in the past, it was evidently great sport to break the bridge from its moorings and watch it crash to the water. That was overcome when the City installed stronger moorings around the bridge. Another vandalism that has occurred two times was the removal of a bronze plate inscribed with information about the Jesse James jump. It took a real effort with strong tools to remove the plates. They are probably in someone’s recreation room or garage now, and has not since been replaced.
The Devil’s Gulch has been a very good place for locals and visitors to then have refreshments in Garretson. The earliest evidence of that happened probably about the time that W.W. Sanders was in Garretson. Dishner’s Cafe was on the corner of 3rd St. and Main Ave. They painted a sign on a protected stone in the Gulch which read “Dischners Cafe, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner”. For a very long time it was not understood why the sign was on the rock where it was. It was hidden and could not be seen. Finally, someone realized that trees had grown up and obscured the sign.
Today there several places in Garretson where visitors to the Devils Gulch can eat. That also includes The Gulch Bar. When I told them once, that I should get a penny for every drink they sold because I owned the Devils Gulch. For some reason they didn’t pay a bit of attention to me. I could have been a rich man! That is all in a joking tone.
Garretson has retained several events that connect it to The Devils Gulch and Jesse James. The yearly city celebration is called “Jesse James Days”. There is a local thespian group named the ‘Jesse James Players’ who have entertained with many plays. The Masonic Lodge that was in Garretson for a long time was the Spirit Canyon Lodge.
It is wonderful that Garretson has such close connection with the Devils Gulch. The Garretson Maintenance Dept. maintains the roads, manages the Visitor’s Center, mows the grass where needed and a park group does some landscape maintenance. There is no admission charge.
In a very recent addition of the ‘Garretson Gazette’ mention was noted of ongoing ‘Jesse James’ organizations and events. To reiterate a few: Jesse James Country Store, Jesse James Track Meet, Jesse James Golf Invitational, and Jesse James 4-H Club.
It is Your Park Garretson! There Is nothing like it anywhere!!
