Lead in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Halloran Block
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
1. Halloran Block Marker
The Halloran Block was designed by City of Lead Architect J. A. Archibald and was completed for James Halloran in December, 1897. Mr. Halloran originally came to the Black Hills with the Custer Expedition of 1874. James Halloran was a prime mover in the consummation of the Hidden Fortune Mine, northwest of Lead. He also was part owner of the Dolphin and Comstock operations, located on Yellow Creek, south of town. The Dolphin and Comstock Group was part of the great Homestake ore trend.
The Halloran Building has been home to a variety of businesses, including restaurants, saloons, a hotel, a boarding house and a hardware store. The building survived the fire of 1904 that destroyed a quarter of the City of Lead.
During the 1920's and 1930's underground rock pillars in the Homestake Mine began to collapse resulting in surface subsidence in the center of the town of Lead. Several buildings were severely damaged and the threat of continued subsidence required that the center of the town of Lead be moved. The town was moved to the west to its present location. The subsidence area is now part of the Open Cut.
The Halloran Block survived the subsidence and now stands as one of the oldest buildings in the City of Lead. Minimal exterior work has allowed the Halloran Block to retain its character and stature as
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features.
Location. 44° 21.115′ N, 103° 45.977′ W. Marker is in Lead, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street and Siever Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, near the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 West Main Street, Lead SD 57754, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Homestake Hospital Site (a few steps from this marker); Homestake Slag Buggy (within shouting distance of this marker); 1912 Lead City Hall / Homestake General Offices (within shouting distance of this marker); Commonwealth Mine Stamp Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Homestake Air Locomotive Number 35 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Homestake Opera House & Recreation Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Homestake One Ton, End Dump Ore Car (within shouting distance of this marker); The First National (Norwest) Bank (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lead.
More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque,
2. Marker detail: This view, looking west up Main Street, was taken in the 1920’s
The Halloran Building sits just below the three-story building in the upper center of the photo.
Regarding Halloran Block. Included within the Lead Historic District, National Register of Historic Places (1974)
Also see . . .
1. James T. Halloran (1847-1917). Find A Grave entry:
On coming to America he first located in Louisville, Ky., where he attended school and where he also learned the trade of a bridge builder. From Louisville he came west to Omaha, where he resided for a couple of years and during which time he worked at his trade in the railway shops of that city. Going from there to Fort A. Lincoln, he joined General Custer's expedition, which left that post the 2nd of June 1874, for the Black Hills. Mr. Halloran accompanied the expedition to the Hills and back to the fort, being engaged in the capacity of a packer. In 1876 Mr. Halloran returned to the Hills and the following year located the Golden Crown mine. He remained located in Deadwood when the gold excitement was at its height and lived there the greater part of the time until after his marriage in 1887, although his principal mining interests were established in Lead. (Submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Lead Historic Walking Tour. City pamphlet PDF (Submitted on February 22, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Marker detail: extent of subsidence in 1934
This photo shows the extent in the subsidence in 1934. The Halloran Building is adjacent to the Homestake Opera House, the three-story building in the upper right or the photo.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
4. Halloran Block Marker (tall view; looking east along Main Street; marker is beside clock)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
5. Halloran Block Marker (wide view)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018
6. Halloran Block (wide view; looking southwest from Main Street; marker at left, by clock)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 11, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
