[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16838-16839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE COMMUNITY OF MILBANK, SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and publicly 
recognize the 125th anniversary of the founding of Milbank, SD. I would 
like to take this opportunity to draw attention to and commemorate the 
achievements and history of this charming city that stands as an 
enduring tribute to the fortitude and pioneer spirit of the earliest 
Dakotans.
  Located in Grant County in northeastern South Dakota, Milbank got its 
start with the help of the railroad, specifically the Milwaukee line. 
Prior to the establishment of Milbank, the Milwaukee Railroad only went 
as far west as Ortonville, MN however, in 1880 it was extended to 
Milbank, a deserted section of prairie consisting of a solitary sod 
shanty. The railroad's arrival quickly gave rise to the town. Milbank 
is, in fact, named for Jeremiah Milbank, director of the Hastings 
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Platted in 
1880, the town was originally called the Village of Milbank Junction.
  Construction of the tracks was completed in July of 1880; however, at 
that point, the town was still in its earliest stages. As a result, 
everyone in the region ``who could handle a saw and hammer'' was 
summoned to help construct buildings. Development plans were running 
smoothly until a blizzard struck on October 25, 1880. The blizzard 
lasted 3 days, impeding not only the building process, but all local 
business.
  In hindsight, this storm turned out to be a sign of the difficult 
times Milbank would experience in its next few years. Due to the heavy 
snow storms and high drifts, rail service throughout the winter of 
1880-81 was sporadic, at best. In fact, the spring proved to be more 
treacherous than the winter, as Milbank was hit with a series of 
blizzards between January and mid-April. Over a 12-week period, the 
tracks were so dangerous that no trains were able to reach the 
community. Consequently, the town nearly ran out of fuel, save for the 
green wood brought down from the hills.
  In the fall of 1881, the county commission held an election with 
hopes of moving the county seat from Big Stone City to an area closer 
to the center of Grant County. Milbank's population had increased 
considerably by that time, and its residents eagerly anticipated 
winning the two-thirds majority

[[Page 16839]]

necessary to capture the title. Turnout for the vote was staggeringly 
high with virtually every person, regardless of residency, voting. 
Milbank received about 1,100 votes, claiming to have passed the two-
thirds threshold; however, Big Stone City disputed Milbank's 
declaration, asserting that Milbank was 11 votes short. A rather long 
and drawn out dispute erupted, ripe with claims of election fraud and 
mismanaged ballot counting. The dispute ensued until two of the three 
county commissioners declared Milbank the winner.
  In addition to the difficult winter of 1880-81, four devastating 
fires broke out between 1884 and 1900. The Big Fire, as many call it, 
occurred mid-November of 1884, destroying every building on the east 
side of Main Street south to Third Avenue. Another of the significant 
fires, one of the quickest on record, took place July 30, 1895. Started 
by a loan company assistant hoping to profit from the catastrophe, the 
blaze ravaged the Grant County Court House, destroying virtually all of 
the records housed there, save for those locked in the fireproof safe. 
Despite these tragedies and hardships, Milbank's resilient residents 
rebounded and rebuilt, which is testimony to South Dakotans' legendary 
pioneer spirit.
  One of Milbank's notable attractions is its historic grist mill, a 
celebrated relic from the town's early days. Located on the east edge 
of the city, the Old Holland Mill is a favorite of tourists. Its name, 
however, is deceiving, as many assume it is a Dutch windmill. In 
realty, the English-style mill was designed and built in 1882 by Henry 
Hollands, who himself was an Englishman. The mill was used to grind 
buckwheat flour and to saw wood. Due to the rapid growth of the 
surrounding foliage, however, after a short period of time, the wind 
was not strong enough to turn the giant blades, consequently requiring 
the attachment of a gasoline engine to supply the power necessary to 
operate it. An interesting and clever feature of the mill is its main 
drive wheel, which is constructed entirely of wood to prevent 
significant damage or injury. If something were to go wrong, the wooden 
cogs in the wheel would break, thus rendering the mill ineffectual.
  Milbank is also proud of the recreational opportunities it offers. In 
addition to its four city parks, lighted tennis courts, swimming pool, 
and golf course, Milbank is the birthplace of American Legion Baseball. 
While hosting the seventh annual American Legion and Auxiliary 
convention in July of 1925, a resolution was passed to create Junior 
Legion Baseball throughout the entire Nation. Not only does this 
program provide an excellent recreational outlet for millions athletic 
youth, but throughout the years it has guided many talented athletes on 
to play professionally.
  In the twelve and a half decades since its founding, Milbank has 
provided its citizens with a rich and diverse atmosphere. Milbank's 
nearly 3,500 proud residents celebrate the town's 125th anniversary 
August 8-14, and it is with great honor that I share with my colleagues 
this community's unique past and wish them the best for a promising 
future.

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