Welcome to Highmore

History of Highmore

Highmore had its beginning as a twin town with two main streets. A. E. Van Camp, from Iowa, purchased 40 acres, which he platted on July 3, 1882, with Commercial Avenue as his main street. E. O. Parker, from New York, arrived in February 1882 and purchased 40 acres with Valentine Scrip. He platted it in June with Iowa Avenue as his main street. Businesses quickly built on Second Street, thus con-necting the twin towns. Highmore still has two main streets connected by Second Street. When Mr. Parker arrived from New York, he had to deal with Mrs. Lucinda Robinson, since she already had a small hotel on the land he wanted for his town.

The first religious services held in Highmore were Catholic and were held at the railroad station house, kept by Samuel Major. The first church that organized was the Methodist, incorporated in June 1883. The Congregational Church was organized in July 1883, and the Christian Church in July 1897. Church and school have been the center of community life with Highmore's first school building serving as a meeting place for several of the churches. Some of the first buildings in Highmore were Lucinda Robinson's Hotel; E.O. Parker's Store; the Post Office; John Zwight's saloon and billiard room, known as John's Place; Gerhart and Newton Lumber Yard; Dan Gurnea's store; James Ingram's livery stable; B. F. Tallman's jewelry store; and the Highmore Mirror, W. H. Gary, Publisher.

Highmore, like most towns, has suffered many losses from fires. The first major fire was in December 1887 when the National House Hotel burned. Almost a complete block burned on Commercial Street in August 1890, with eight buildings engulfed by the fire that began in Crow's Hotel. In 1892-1893 there were several fires, evidently the work of an incendiary. Those included the Court House which burned June 1892, the First National Bank building damaged in August 1892, and the McLaughlin Company store which burned in February 1893. Highmore lost its largest building in June 1921 when the Hotel West burned. The most tragic fire, with the loss of a life, was the Hyde County Implement fire in August 1957. In the past few years, fires have destroyed the Harris Drug Store building, the Coop Elevator, and Durfee's Grocery Store building. Many buildings have come and gone for one reason or another over the years.

Highmore is still served by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, only hauling freight, mostly grain grown in this part of the country. The depot was long ago moved from Highmore.

Highmore has always been a thriving community with a well balanced business district, a volunteer fire department, a progressive school system, a nursing home, a clinic, and housing for the elderly. Our present centers of community activity are the Hyde County Memorial Auditorium, Highmore County Club, Swimming Pool, and Senior Center. We are proud of our Court House, built in 1911. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Booster Club, Women's Civic League, and Historical Society are very active in community affairs, including the promotion of Old Settlers Day, the third weekend in June, and the Snow Queen Festival, held in the first part of December.

This History was written by Carol Lettau and appears in "South Dakota, Our towns . . . a pictorial review South Central Region, Volume V" 1988