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

Centennial School

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

1. Centennial School Marker

Inscription.

The Centennial School #11 was built in 1880 by several homesteaders and ranchers. Pioneers tried to build a school every three miles. It operated as a school until 1936. Then, it was a polling location for Centennial Valley until the 1960s, as well as a church for services. The furnishings in the one-room school for grades 1-8 are original. In 1962, Henry J. Frawley purchased the building and began restoration. For the past several decades, Spearfish elementary school teachers and their students, dressed in period costumes, experience the historical and cultural legacy of the pioneers of the Northern Black Hills.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 44° 27.59′ N, 103° 43.571′ W. Marker is near Spearfish, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. It is on Centennial Road 0.1 miles west of U.S. 85, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5511 Centennial Rd, Spearfish SD 57783, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch (within shouting distance of this marker); Frawley Brothers Upper Ranch (approx. one mile away); 1940 DAR Penny Pines Forest

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(approx. 2.3 miles away); Preacher Smith of Deadwood Gulch (approx. 3.8 miles away); Henry Weston Smith (approx. 3.8 miles away); Sharing an Experience (approx. 4.3 miles away); vision to reality (approx. 4.3 miles away); Whitewood's Railroad History (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spearfish.

Centennial School and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

2. Centennial School and Marker

Closeup of Centennial School gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

3. Closeup of Centennial School gate

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.