The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1922-03-16
THE SOD HOUSE

Sioux CITY JOurnal-The BroOklngS
S. ID. Register relates briefly the story
Of the erection Of the first industrial
building in Brookings 43 years ago.
1t was a blacksmith shop and for the
supe%rstructure that unfailing
Of the pioneer, the prairie sod, vas
utilized. 1t appears that n f. Ped
erson had been a candidate for post
master and he had promised that if
chosen he would establish a black
smith shop in Brookings. His desire
having been achieved, he summoned
his ~neighbors, and from the prairie
sod they fashioned in a days labor a
large, roomy building in which Mr..
Peterson started his smithy the fol
lowing day.
The Courier's story reveals what a
short distance we are in this prairie
country from the sod house era.
Forty-three years is not such a long
time, and doubtless many people are
alive today who one dwelt in sod
houses, as there are still survivors of
the log cabin era. The sod house
was to the prairie country what the
log cabin was to the timbered cOun-
try. The sod house was a product of
the necessities and resourcefulness of
the pioneers. 1t Is commonly held
to be creditable to have been born in
a log cabin, and it is equally cred
table to have first seen the light of
day in a sod house. Those were good
people who built and lived in sod
scorching heat of summer and the
bitter cold Of winter on the remote
wind swept prairies. Only men and
ONE of the strongest moral fiber
would invite the deprivations of pio-
neer life and be content to abide
awhile in sod houses.
Because the houses were Of sod it
is not to be assumed that they were
not homes. A home is wherever love
and friendship, peace and content
was made radiant by the love that
dwelt within. Be it ever so humble,
there is no place like home. The sod
house was merely a beginning, as
the log cabin was a beginning. 1t
afforded a shelter for the sturdy pio-
neer and his family from the heat of
summer and the cold of winter until
such time as he could provide better
quarters. Though many failed. a
company Of pioneers lived
m cna fhn dow yyhnn thau pn,,tH nanun
from their sod shanties into substan-
tial houses equipped with modern
comforts and c~onveniences.
Though the sod house be such a
way back, is it not wonderful
the transformation that has taken
place since it dotted the prairies?
through the country today by
rail or motor, and noting it's fine
homes and it's groves Of splendid
trees, in town and country, it is hard
to imagine that four decades ago
people were living In sod houses.
The story of the conquest of the
prairies will not be complete unless
there shall be included in it an ac-
count Of the sod house. It's fame
already has been celebrated somewhat
in both prose and verse, but an epic
that will endure is yet to be written.
Some years ago Rev. o. r. mu. ray,
who was living at Mitchell, s. d., Ut
last accounts, wrote some verses en-
titled "The Little Old Sod Shanty on
the Claim" the first Of which is as
follows:
I am rather seedy looking while hold
ing down my claim,
And my v~ictuals are not always served
the best;
And the mice play slyly round me as /
lay me down to sleep,
In my little old sod shanty on the
claim.
Yet I rather like the novelty Of living
In this way.