Sunkakan Wakpala/Horse Creek Community History

This information was taken from the following sources: Lakota Archives and Historical Research Center Rosebud Sioux Tribe Sites Project, Prepared with a FY 93 Historic Preservation Fund Grant from the National Park Service, 1995; Bennett-Mellette-Todd Counties, SD County Wide Directory: 15th Anniversary Issue, Larchwood, IA: County-Wide Directory L.L.C.; Trails and Forts: History of Exploration and Settlement by Milo Koskan, 2005.

Churches: St. James Episcopal Church was originally located below the old St. James Cemetery. In the 1930s it was moved to the south and a new cemetery was established. The church was condemned and torn down about 1975.

Buildings: A cannery was built in the 1930s to process the vegetables grown in the community gardens. Dances were often held at the cannery but not contest dancing. Other work projects conducted at the cannery were mattress making and quilting. There was also a Livery Stable and a Day School. In 1911 a postoffice was built in White River which continues to serve the communities of Swift Bear and Horse Creek. The Horse Creek Housing area is along SD Highway 83 near the County Road 44 junction.

Families: Chief Eagle Pipe, Bartlett, Spotted Elk, Rattling Leaf, Knife, Six Toes, Bordeaux, White Buffalo, Janis, White Horse, Black Wolf, Broncho Bill, Menard, Castaway.

Issue Station: The issue station for this community was at White River.

Location: Southwest of White River in Mellette County which was initially Farm District No. III.

Origins: Horse Creek got its name because many horses got stuck in the mud and died in the creek.

This Page Sponsored by: