Bradley, South Dakota
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If you have any photos or other information relating to Bradley, South
Dakota please contribute to this page.
You can send email to mstl@eldora.net
Thanks to Wallace Woodbury (Jr.) for providing the content for this page.
This picture looking north shows the depot on the right as well as that
elevator in the other photos. That while streak in center-right is the
excavation or "cut" through which the track is laid leaving up
to the "viaduct" below:
The Viaduct--I think we called it an "overpass," is at the west
end of the "yard," and is the main approach to the town on the
left.
Bradley is eight miles east of Crocker and also in Clark County.
The puzzle is: Which track is being laid? It appears to be the siding serving the grain elevators, yet the date is 1908. The depot has a 1907 date. If correct it looks like siding is being but in the year after the depot and main line is finished? Would our well-informed experts say this was likely?
from the Clark County Centennial History
The town of Bradley, South Dakota, enjoyed the services of two railways. In this case, it was the M&STL that came in second. As this is a chronological narrative, first coverage must be given the earlier.
From the Clark County Centennial History: "From old records, it has been determined that Bradley had its beginning in a small settlement two miles north of the town's present location.
In 1885, when the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Company (commonly called the Milwaukee) was building its line north and south, a water tank and post office were established in this little community for the convenience of the crews. This was called Prairie Hill (now the name of the local cemetery).
When the trains started operating in 1886-1887, some businesses were set up two miles farther south and this became the town site."
"Every town has to have a name and there is an interesting story about how our town was named. Mr. E. R. Bradley, who was a civil engineer for the Milwaukee Railroad, was very well thought of by the populace because of his dynamic personality. When he saved the life of the superintendent of construction on the line, as a mark of respect the town was named in his honor in 1887. His photograph hangs in the Bradley office of the Citizens State Bank.
It was in April, 1994, that Mr. Bradley came in person to present the photograph. At the same time he gave the town a Civil War cannon to be preserved." "The railroads were an important feature of the development and growth of Bradley.
The Milwaukee Road on the west edge of the community ran two passenger trains and freights every day north and south." "Construction of an east-west line by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad Company began in 1902-1903 and was completed in 1908. It ran three passenger trains and at least two freights daily.
Since there was such excellent transportation, this became an important center for grain shipping. There were four grain elevators along the Milwaukee tracks and two more on the M.&St.L. tracks. At one time Bradley was the largest primary wheat market in the country. Large caravans of horse-drawn loads of grain came from all directions to the elevators and many business places were started."
"Fire nearly destroyed the town in 1891. At three o'clock in the afternoon of September 22, 1891, a fire started in the south end of Jacobson's storage and in minutes had spread out of control....The entire was ablaze almost at once. Fanned by a strong gale from the south, it spread to adjoining structures and across the street. The entire business section on both sides of main street were destroyed, many homes, and the Christian Church. A rugged optimism prevailed in this pioneer community and the strong-hearted people cleaned up after the fire and gradually business places were rebuilt."
"Fire plagued Bradley again on February 4, 1916, one half a block on the north side of the business section was destroyed. Eight hundred volunteers from a 10-mile radius gathered to man the bucket brigade that saved the rest of the town. A strong wind was blowing and it was with the greatest efforts that it was kept from destroying more than it did."
"A jail was built in 1903 and not any too soon. Horse thieves were overtaken by Marshall Holmes five miles north of Bradley and they were the first occupants of the new jail. There was an attempted bank robbery in the early 1900's regarding which the local people had been tipped off, and when the robbers rode into town, businessmen of the town were staked out on top of the J .M .Johnson bank building and were inside the Kinyon Hardware Store waiting for them. There was an exchange of gunfire and the robbers fled. No one was killed, but it was thought that one of the robbers had been hit, as a trail of blood was found the next morning. There were bullet holes in store buildings as proof that shots had been fired."
"The cost of living in 1904 is interesting: beef roast 6 cents a pound, boiling beef 4 cent, good beefsteak 8 cents, sirloin and round 10 cents, 3 cans of corn 25 cents, coffee per pound 15 cents, prunes 4 cents per pound." A round trip by train from Bradley to Watertown was $1.25. An excursion to Minneapolis was $3.00 round trip."
"Much more could be said about the town (And is in the total history from which these highlights have been excerpted). It began with sod shanties and kerosene lamps and now has well-lighted, beautifully furnished, and comfortably heated homes. Our heritage has given us much for which to be thankful. To those who pass through, it may be just another dying small town, but to those who have called it home, it means much more. As we look from the past to the present and realize the improvements hat have been made, we must have faith that the tomorrow of our children will be better than today." ("By Martha Mitchell, Frances Hunt, and from the tape recordings of Bradley historian, Roy Peterson")
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