Near Howard in Miner County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Nansen Store
August 8, 2024
1. Nansen Store Marker
Inscription.
Nansen Store. . This 2-part structure is what survived from the mini-community of Nansen. The name, probably given by the adjacent creamery operator, A A Henden, came from a revered then-famous Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. Another store or two may have operated nearby, but the current Nansen Store is the only long-term documented business. The first owner-operators, Knut and Caroline Skaar were in business by 1905, adding the 2 1/2 story structure in 1910. In the 1940's their daughter Olga and husband Bill Wall ran the store. In 1954 Malvin and Berna Hegdahl purchased the business. In 1958, Marie Maley became proprietor, but relinquished it in 1959. Not long after, the Nansen Store business was closed. The Hegdahls continued to use the store to room hunters during pheasant hunting seasons. In 1976, widow Berna Hegdahl sold the out of use building to Bill Feller. Several years passed with time and elements taking a toll on the structure. Gradually. repairs were made, with significant restoration efforts made in recent years. In February 2014, the Nansen store was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This 2-part structure is what survived from the mini-community of Nansen. The name, probably given by the adjacent creamery operator, A A Henden, came from a revered then-famous Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. Another store or two may have operated nearby, but the current Nansen Store is the only long-term documented business. The first owner-operators, Knut & Caroline Skaar were in business by 1905, adding the 2 1/2 story structure in 1910. In the 1940's their daughter Olga and husband Bill Wall ran the store. In 1954 Malvin and Berna Hegdahl purchased the business. In 1958, Marie Maley became proprietor, but relinquished it in 1959. Not long after, the Nansen Store business was closed. The Hegdahls continued to use the store to room hunters during pheasant hunting seasons. In 1976, widow Berna Hegdahl sold the out of use building to Bill Feller. Several years passed with time and elements taking a toll on the structure. Gradually. repairs were made, with significant restoration efforts made in recent years. In February 2014, the Nansen store was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Location. 44° 4.831′ N, 97° 28.046′ W. Marker is near Howard, South Dakota, in Miner County. It is on 228th Street east of 437th Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47313 228th St, Howard SD 57349, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East River. It is also in the American 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ghost Town of Argonne (approx. 4.3 miles away);
Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2024. This page has been viewed 307 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on August 10, 2024. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 11, 2024.
