Hyde County, SD History - Books .....Chapter 12 Bramhall 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 11, 2010, 4:33 am Book Title: History Of Hyde County CHAPTER XII BRAMHALL This town was located on the NE quarter of 11-112-73, a claim proved up on by James Cogan. This was purchased by W. N. Brayton and Wm. Fanckboner, and was laid out as a town and platted in August, 1883. Mr. Brayton was very enthusiastic over the prospects of a coming city there, and went to hauling stone and piling it up for future builders on the townsite. He discouraged, however, later on sold out his interest to Mr. Fanckboner. The first building on the townsite was a store building owned by J. J. Hammer, who placed in it a stock of goods. He also was postmaster, afterwards succeeded by John Newell. Bramhall at one time made some claims to future glory and prominence, it makes no such claim now as not a vestige of it remains except the two story schoolhouse, which alone marks the old townsite. At its start Wm. Fanckboner, proprietor of the town-site, proclaimed in a glowing advertisement it to be "A new town situated in the beautiful Ree Valley, and destined to be the future metropolis of Hyde County, Dakota. It is located on the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, midway between Huron and Pierre." "Now is the time," said the advertisement further, "to invest in town property. Good water can be found anywhere on the townsite. Town lots will double inside of sixty days, merchants, mechanics, tradesmen and capitalists will find this a rare opportunity." Alas! for the cruel verdict of time and also for the enterprising Fanckboner. The land remains, but not the townsite, the lots failed to double in value in sixty days, there was no rush of merchants or mechanics, and no capitalist ventured a dollar. But still Bramhall had an existance. It had a hotel run by John Newell, also a store by Geo. Calmus, a blacksmith shop run by A. V. Schurtz, a meat market run by John Newell and a saloon kept by Geo. Calmus. It had at one time two newspapers, the Bramhall Blade and the Bramhall Pioneer. We have before us the Blade from No. 1 to No. 50. It was started by H. C. Shober with Harry Elder, as associate editor. In No. 1 its salutatory gets way up in G in editorial eloquence, and we quote as follows: "Politically we take pride in shouting for Blaine and Logan, but we shall studiously endeavor to steer our little craft clear of the factional maelstrom in which our county affairs are at present sadly engulfed, and "view from afar the spreading havoc o f misused power; but when the chilling November blasts shall waft to our waiting ears the welcome wail of dying dissention, we will join the cortege that follow to the potter's field, and as the grim, gaunt and gostlike form unwept and uncoffined is lowered to its resting place we will reiterate with pleasure the hallowed phrase 'earth to earth and dust to dust.' " In the way of locals the editor said he was in Highmore Wednesday, and saw two entertaining scenes, one was a tight rope act, the other was Tom Hadley doing up an important citizen on the county muddle question. Bramhall must have had a hall then, for the editor tells of a successful dance in Bowers' hall, where forty couples were present, and he grows eloquent again over the number of charming ladies who were in attendance. This paper also states that A. N. Van Camp delivered a temperance lecture there the Sunday evening before, that Nat Cline of Holabird had visited them, and that Mrs. Tryon had fallen down the cellar sustaining serious injuries. Bramhall was anxious for a side track, and was happy when in September, 1884, the company gratified their wishes, soon after they were further gratified by the addition of a warehouse. Religious services were held regularly in Bramhall at the school house, generally conducted by Rev. Charles Sheen of Van Order township. The April 4. 1885, number of the Blade mentions a birthday surprise party to Mrs. John Newell, as an occasion of much pleasure and enjoyment. This paper also copies from a Michigan paper items of regret that Wm. C. Wooley had departed from their home town, Elba, and taken up his abode in South Dakota. The last store in town was run by John L. Howard, who was also postmaster, the only thing to keep him company was the flickering Blade, but soon the townsite was abandoned. The hot winds of that period, so to speak, seemed to blow the whole thing away. An action was brought by the owners of lots in the defunct town of Bramhall about two years ago, to have the townsite vacated, which now enables the husbandman to plow, sow and reap where the distinguished metropolis once existed in great expectancy of coming events. About seven years ago the railroad platform where was intended a station house was still there when one night, to protect themselves from a cold north wind, some cattle laid down on the track south of it. A freight came along and plowed into the cattle, throwing the train from the track, killing the firemen and demolishing the platform. All there is left of Bramhall now is the two story school house, and the memories of its former self both of which will disappear in a few short years. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME BY JOHN B. PERKINS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/hyde/history/1908/historyo/chapter126nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/sdfiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb