Deadwood in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood

Photographed by Connor Olson, October 6, 2021

1. Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood Marker (replacement marker)

Inscription. Jewish American pioneers significantly contributed to the commercial development and establishment of responsible government in Deadwood. For example, gritty Jewish westerner, Sol Star, arrived in Deadwood in 1876 with his business partner Seth Bullock in the midst of the gold rush. The firm of Star & Bullock, located at Wall and Main Streets, proved to be one of the most prosperous in the Black Hills. Sol Star served as mayor of Deadwood for 14 years. Star established the Deadwood Flouring Mill with partners Ben Baer and Harris Franklin, two other early Jewish Deadwood pioneers. It was said that as long as Star was with the company, no one in Deadwood ever went hungry. The families of Harris Franklin and his son, Nathan Franklin (Deadwood’s second Jewish mayor), Jacob Goldberg, Nathan Colman, Joseph Hattenbach, Ben Baer, Jacob Wertheimer, Sam Schwarzwald, Sidney Jacobs and many of their Jewish friends, took their places beside their non-Jewish neighbors in helping to tame the wild Dakota frontier.

The efforts of the Jewish business community helped bring prosperity, recognition and jobs to the region. Not only did

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they help build the town and helped rebuild it after its many fires and floods, but they also were able to convince the railroads that Deadwood should have a railroad link to the outside world, and take its place as a major commercial center.

Captions:
Richard Clarke, aka “Deadwood Dick” and Jake Goldberg, circa 1920s
Sol Star and Seth Bullock, circa 1892 to 1895.

Erected by Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission; Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 44° 22.676′ N, 103° 43.76′ W. Marker is in Deadwood, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Wall Street, on the right when traveling south on Main Street. Located across the street from the famous Bullock Hotel on the site of the original of Bullock and Star's first store in Deadwood. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 634 Main St, Deadwood SD 57732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is

Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, October 6, 2021

2. Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood Marker

Marker can be seen at the center, mounted on the fence

in West River.

It is also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Badlands (a few steps from this marker); Early Placer Mining Operations in Deadwood (a few steps from this marker); Wall & Main Street: Commercial Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Saloon Number 10 (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Facade Replication (within shouting distance of this marker); Deadwood 1876 (about 400 feet away); The Fire of 1879 (about 400 feet away); Broadway Street (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Deadwood.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Deadwood City 1876 (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood. Gold was first discovered

Solomon Star, Mayor of Deadwood image. Click for full size.

3. Solomon Star, Mayor of Deadwood

by soldiers under Gen. George Custer in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory in 1876. Gold was an explosive allure to frontiersman and fortune seeking gold miners who created rough, and frequently violent gold mining boom towns. Deadwood was just such a boom town when Jewish miners and Jewish merchants moved to the gulch helping to settle the town and “civilize” the community alongside their Christian neighbors.

Also see . . .
1. Deadwood, South Dakota and the Jews. (Submitted on February 1, 2010, by Jerry Klinger of Derwood, Maryland.)
2. Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation is a non-profit, volunteer organization. The purpose of the Society is to identify and recognize sites of American Jewish Historical interest. The Society sponsors and promotes programs of local and national historic interest. Cooperating with local Historical Societies, Communities, Churches and Synagogues, the Society encourages dialogue and interactive recognition of the commonality of the American Experience. (Submitted on February 1, 2010, by Jerry Klinger of Derwood, Maryland.)

3. Zion on the Prairie.

Photographed by William J. Toman, August 7, 2010

4. Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood Marker

View of The Bullock Hotel, one of the buildings mentioned in the marker, with the marker in the lower right.

Production of South Dakota Public Broadcasting Jewish history of Deadwood, South Dakota.

"When seen from a 21st-century perspective. The people in these images seem so distant and so poor. But possessions have never been a measure of true wealth. These people brought with them an abundance of determination and a rich sense of independence."

(Submitted on June 7, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)

Deadwood 1876 image. Click for full size.

circa 1876

5. Deadwood 1876

Former Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jerry Klinger

6. Former Jewish American Pioneers and Deadwood Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2010, by Jerry Klinger of Derwood, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,656 times since then and 54 times this year. Last updated on October 6, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2021, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on February 1, 2010, by Jerry Klinger of Derwood, Maryland. 4. submitted on August 8, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5, 6. submitted on February 1, 2010, by Jerry Klinger of Derwood, Maryland. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.