Watertown in Codington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Public Opinion & City Hall
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 7, 2019
1. Public Opinion & City Hall Marker
Several newspapers kept the people of Watertown up to date until about 1900. By then the majority of them had ceased publication or merged with other papers. The Public Opinion was formed from the merger of the Courier-News, which began printing in 1882, and the Public Opinion, founded by L.D. Lyon in 1887. A new publisher bought both papers in 1893 and kept the Public Opinion name.
Stizel X. Way purchased the paper in 1908 to advance his political and civic interests. By 1910, it was Watertown's only daily paper. It was first located here on South Broadway. In 1911, the paper moved to Second Street Northeast. It remained there until 1972, when it moved to its current location on Third Avenue Northwest. It was family-owned until 2002.
The first city hall was located at the southeast corner of Kemp Avenue and 1st Street West. Designed by architect L.V. Sybrant and constructed in 1889, it was three stories tall and housed the police department and city jail, fire department, council chamber, public library, public hall, and city offices. After the building was declared structurally unsound and demolished in 1974,
this page online
1. Original city hall building. Photograph image taken in 1909.
2. Public Opinion newspaper printing room in 1916.
3. Original Public Opinion Building on North Broadway.
4. Photograph image of Commercial Hotel. This site world become the location of the Public Opinion Building constructed in 1954. This is the current location of city hall.
Erected by Sponsored by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, a Preserve America Grant, and the South Dakota State Historical Society. Images courtesy of the South Dakota State Historical Society and the Codington County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 44° 53.983′ N, 97° 6.558′ W. Marker is in Watertown, South Dakota, in Codington County. It is at the intersection of 3rd St NE and Kemp Ave E on 3rd St NE. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 3rd St NE,
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 7, 2019
2. Public Opinion & City Hall Marker
Regionally, this marker is in East River. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Downtown History (within shouting distance of this marker); Retail Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Retail Building (about 400 feet away); Harper Building (about 500 feet away); John Moodie Dry Goods Company (about 600 feet away); Woolworth Building (about 600 feet away); Foley BlockEast End (about 600 feet away); E.H. Prey Jeweler and Optician (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watertown.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 619 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 10, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
