The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-11-14
DIGGING INTO THE PAST
HISTORY OF BROOK|NGS
Cleaned from MemOry'S Pages and
Recorded for Future
BRIEFLY TOLD STORIES BY PIONEERS
A Modest Frame Building Which
Commands Attention

On the west side Of Main street
stands a modest frame structure which
has had history that should be re-
corded along with the many interest
ing events in the early building of
this city.
During the year 1850 r. S. Hadley
bought a business lot and erected a
very cheap two story frame building.
Being an attorney and his wife a mil
liner. Mrs. Hadley opened the first mil
lincry store" in Brookings in the south
half and her husband hung out his
shingle" at the north entrance. Mr..
Hadley was the first mayor in Brook
ings and the first piece of music play
ed by a band in the city was ''ren-
dered" in front of that building by
the afterward famous BroOkingS cor
net band and we have an idea il was
the first time the air of BrOokings
county was split" by band music. 1t
was a "serenade" and Mayor Hadley
made a speach.
The band boys before appearing in
public" went over the hill east OF
town and broke loose" to see how
the air would take the ripping" Then
mounted on a hay rack with team
driven by John Howard they drove
back and Opened up" on the mayor.
After playing three pieces call they
knew they climbed on to the hay
rack and were going to Serenade the
Brookings house then run by Jake
Walker but the horses heads were
pointed north and had to to be turned
south. In changing ends, although the
street was unusually wide an axle was
broken and the musicians and in
struments were piled up promiscuous-
ly After getting the pieces to gether
the horns were SO damaged that fur
ther onslaughts on the air were aban-
doned for the time.
But we are getting away from the
text. Attorney IIadley abandoned his
law practice and the north half was
occupied by the BrOokings Sentinel
now Brookings Register. Hon John
+. Diamond occupied the upper story
with his bride during the winter OF
1SS0-l and the first time we remember
of seeing John to know him was
when he stood on the ridge OF fiji
teen-foot snow drift and was Waging
war against a green water elm log
irving to convince himself that he
could chop it into stove wood and
some people at that time accused him
of trying to initiate Abraham Lincoln
while Mrs. Diamond watched him
from the window.
Judge J. O. Andrews opened up a
law office in the north half of the
first story while the south half con
tinued to be the first millinery store
and was managed by Mrs. Paul Will
liams who purchased the stock of
Mrs. Hadley.
Congressman Philo Hall first read
blackstone with Judge Andrews in
that modest law office.
For time while p. c. Johnson was
the mail dispenser, the only postOfiice
in Brookngs occupied the first floor
Then p O. Peterson had land office
there for time and J. O. Peterson
transformed it into jewclry store
ThOs. Gullick first ran a lunch room
in the south half and finally tore a
hole through the board partition and
branched out right smart The
building is now occupied by Bart $
restaurant and the second floor is
used for living rooms. We almost
forgot to mention that J. W. st. John
at one time had his Office on the Sc
cOnd floor
q. y. B