Evening star., 1927-05-29
BLACK HILLS AREA
IS PRIMITIVE SPOT
Lodge Affords Comforts.
President to Set Prece-
dents by Vacation.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President
Not only is he going TO a spot far
removed from the center OF popuia-
ton and which is about two thou
sand miles distant from Washington,
but he will he living in country
that has been little changed by the
hand of man. and where he will fire.
uuently see deer and the roaming
buffalos. and at times hear the howls
Of other wild animals.
The State game preserve in which
the Summer White House will be
located is the haven of every kind
of animal that was common to the
mountain section of the West before
civilization in its swift march across
the continent thinned their numbers
and drove them to more remote Sec
tions. Within the $4,000 acres of
land in this preserve there are not
only several hundred buffalo and
more than 1000 elk, but there are
bear. antelope, mountain goats and
mountain lions. The deer is said to
have increased so in this preserve
that they now are numbered in the
thousands, and according to Senator
: Norbeck, OF South Dakota, princi.
epally upon whose representations the
> President selected this section for
his vacation. they are SO tame and
friendly that they Craze peacefully
along the highways with no fear OF
the passing tourists. There also are
wild turkey. partridge, quail and
grouse as well as countless kinds OF
other birds.
Retreat Has Comforts.
The State game lodge, previously
used as a hotel for tourists, which
will be used as the Summer home by
the President and Mrs. Coolidge. is
modern in its general nature and Is
represented as being attractive from
a rustic viewpoint, and as being SO
arranged as to afford the Presidential
family all the comforts that could be
desired in mountain retreat. How
ever, this building Is nothing to com.
pare, in architectural beauty, with
the Summer home the Coolidges oc-
tcupied at Swampscott two Summers
ago. Nor does it offer the rich fur
nishings for which the Swampscott
home was noted. It also lacks the
luxuries that existed at White Pine
Camp in the Adirondacks, where the
Coolidges spent last Summer. How
ever, the game lodge is comparatively
new and possesses an architecture
harmonious with the surroundings.
South Dakota is proud Of this build
ing, and Senator Norbeck, who has
stayed at the lodge on many occasions.
feels confident that Mr.. and Mrs.
Coolidge will find happiness and COM
fort during their stay.
The lodge has more than 20 rooms,
and is surrounded by number of
rustic log buildings that could be
used by servants and guests in the
event extra quarters are needed. The
lodge boasts of its large, attractive
living room, and the broad porches on
three sides Of the building. Senator
Norbeck said that the President will
be able to sit upon the porch and
enjoy the sight of elk and deer. as
well az other game animals roaming
quently come to the steps Of the front
porch, he said.
s, Since the present structure opened
in 1922 1t has been under the man
.agement Of Mr.. and Mrs. c. c. Gid
con. formerly OF Minneapolis. whose
wholesome hospitality has gained
them countless friends. Until two
years ago Mr.. Gideon was also game
keeper OF the State game preserve,
supervising the care Of thousands of
buffalo, deer and elk that roam the
adjacent sanctuary and add to the
natural attractions of the surround
inga.
Capacity for So.
The lodge is a spacious three story
frame building, resting on founda-
fion of huge powders. When filled
to capacity it can take care Of So
sleeping guests The building faces
north by east and broad expanse
of well kept lawn separates its front
through the park A few yards north
aof the highway the crystal-clear
spring waters of Sauaw Creek boil
along its rocky bed, to disappear
into the ground a few miles down
the valley and re-appear with in
creased volume farther on. Facing
the lodge are the rock-strewn, pine-
clad heights of the Big Horn sheep
and Rocky Mountain goat pastures,
that rise abruptly from the north
bank of the creek. Behind it, the
south ridge of the valley rises
steeply from the back doors.
The present structure was COM
pleted in 1922, after it's predecessor
was burned to the stone foundation
in the Fall of 1891. The lumber used
in it's construction was sayed on
the ground. The logs were brought
in from the forest on a narrow gauge
railroad that was built for logging
operations. Both the saw mill and
the railroad have just recently been
removed from the premises. Mr..
Gideon, who is by profession con-
struction engineer, supervised the
building.
/ Upon entering the lodge the first
impression gained from the woodwork
and furnishings is one OF restfulness
and comfort. Game heads and Black
Hills scenes grace the walls and
buffalo robes are strewn about the
floor. To the left of the hall is the
dining room and to the right the
living room. At the end opposite the
entrance, short fight of stairs leads
to the pheasant room. which is used
for dances and banquets, and the
upper floors.
Rustic Stone Fireplace.
The massive rustic stone fireplace
Is a magnet that sooner or later draws
all guests into the heavily beamed
living room where overstuffed furnl-
ture invites relaxation after days OF
fishing or hiking in the hills.
Directly across the building. the fire
place in the dining room is made up OF
Black Hills specimens of various
kinds. Petrif1ed woods, crystals and
mineral rocks, some with free gold
fiecking their rough surfaces, make
up a splendid piece of masonry. The
capacity of the room is 20 diners and
when more places are needed the
pheasant room is pressed into service
There is another dining room in the
basement for the servants.
The pleas room is so-called from
the number of gorgeously hued
mounted ring-neck pheas SAINTS that
deck its walls and chandeliers. Dur
ing the tourist season it is the center
OF gaiety.
On the second floor the governors
suite occupies the place of honor
This will no doubt be the President:
suite. 1t consists of a living room