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

Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

1. Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch Marker

Inscription.

In 1888, on the stagecoach route between Spearfish and Deadwood, Anna and Marion Draper built the modern and ornate 12-room structure known as the Draper Roadhouse. Facilities offered an indoor bathroom and barns for visitors' horses and livestock. Henry Frawley purchased the homestead in 1912, and it was known as the Middle Ranch. Over the years, the house served as a stagecoach stop, hotel, bunkhouse for Frawley ranch hands, and Christina Frawley's home after her husband's death in 1927. The house was restored in 1977, and then it became the residence of Hank and Molly Frawley until Hank's passing April 2017.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 44° 27.602′ N, 103° 43.598′ 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 right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6755 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: Centennial School (within shouting distance of this marker); Frawley Brothers Upper Ranch (approx. one mile away); 1940 DAR Penny Pines Forest (approx. 2.3 miles

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away); Preacher Smith of Deadwood Gulch (approx. 3.9 miles away); Henry Weston Smith (approx. 3.9 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.

Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch Marker near the ranch gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

2. Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch Marker near the ranch gate

Sign for the original Draper House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

3. Sign for the original Draper House

Built in 1888, it was originally known as the Draper Roadhouse before purchased by Henry Frawley in 1912.

Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 29, 2025

4. Frawley Brothers Middle Ranch Entrance

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 108 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 29, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.