BLACK HILLS ORDNANCE DEPOT

MISC. INFORMATION

The Edgemont Tribune; Jan. 13, 1943; Edgemont School Gets Federal Grant.

The Edgemont Tribune; March 10, 1943; More Workers Needed At Provo.

The Edgemont Tribune; Jan. 24, 1945; Beer was accorded the status of a war essential last week when the War Labor Board found that a strike of the Teamsters' Union (AFL) at three St. Paul, Minn., breweries "substantially interfered with the war effort."

The Edgemont Tribune; April 18, 1945; All new cars are required to have BHOD decals on windshield.

Working women, on the depot, who hire sitters for their children while they are away from home should probably be making social security deductions from the sitter's wages according to Conrad O. Benson, Manager of the Rapid City Field Office of the Social Security Administration.

About two years ago Congress approved a new Federal Social Security law which brought many domestic workers under coverage of the act. Baby sitters are covered by the law if certain requirements are met.

Sitters, regardless of age, who during any calendar quarter are paid $50 or more in cash wages by one employer and work for the same employer 24 or more different days are covered by the act. According to Benson a sitter does not have to be employed for a full eight hours to have the day counted as one of the 24 during the quarter.

Under the present law an amount equal to three percent of the sitters wages is paid into the Social Security Fund. One half of this amount is deducted from the employees wages and the balance is paid by the employer. Quarterly deductions are sent to the Directory of Internal Revenue which serves as a collection agent for social security deductions for domestic help.

The responsibility for making payments or determining if payments should be made rests with the woman employing the sitter. Penalties are provided by law for failure to make payments unless a reasonable excuse is shown.

Additional information may be obtained by writing Mr. Benson at 501 Kansas City Street, Rapid City, South Dakota.

The insignia of the Ordnance Corps of the United States - "the shell and the flame" - is the oldest military device of the American Army. It was adopted by the Corps in about 1833, and ever since that time it has officially designated this branch of the Army.

Antecedent to its American adoption, the insignia had been used by the British Grenadier Guards, Royal Engineers and Royal Horse Artillery. After its adoption by the American Army. It was used by the Artllery, as well as Ordnance, until 1834, when the traditional crossed cannon was adopted by the Artillery.

The Ordnance seal (crossed cannon in circle with "shell and flame" above) from 1833 appeared on all Ordnance publications, documents and drawings. At the present time it is the official seal of the Ordnance Corps and is known as the "Ordnance Escutcheon."

The "shell and flame" was first used by the "Ordnance Corps" on a button, described in Army Regulations of 1835 as "button convex, plain border, cross cannon and bomb-shell." During the Mexican War the device appeared on fatigue caps. Records show that the "shell and flame" first appeared by itself in 1848. At the time of the Civil War, the insignia was used alone on the hat and the full seal appeared on the buttons, although both were worn at the same time.

In August, 1930 an Ordnance Corps Order designated the "shell and flame" as the Ordnance Insignia. At present the insignia is worn as a part of the official uniform for Ordnance Officers on each lapel of the blouse when the olive drab or khaki shirt is worn without the service coat, the insignia is worn one inch from the end of the collar on the left side.

The "shell and flame" when adopted by the American Army had a round base and the flame, in width, exceeded that of the shell. It continued in this form with only slight variations in width of the flame until after the first World War. Since 1931 many modifications have appeared. These changes in design resulted in the present "streamlined" pattern, in which the flame, instead of being spread out is tapered to a peak at the top, with the right side of the flame resembling a shallow "5" curve.

In 1941 the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, adapted an insignia of which the "shell and flame" is a part; the motto on the insignia is "algeo Flammam" meaning "I add the Flame," which the school has done in a fine manner.

During the World War II the Ordnance insignia was used on a "WOW" bandanna, a special headgear designed by the Ordnance Corps for "Women Ordnance Workers." It was produced in Army Ordnance red on a white background and vice versa.

The simplicity of the "shell and flame" harmonizes with the armament of days gone by, while the action it connotes is applicable with equal force to the weapons of our own day.

-Safety Digest

The 21,095 enclosed acres of the depot make a perfect haven for wild life native to the great western plains area. As no hunting is allowed in this rolling, 33-square mile sagebrush territory, and only predatory animals are destroyed, non-migratory fauna is plentiful.

Of course, the most prolific of the furry quadrapeds are the cotton tail and jack rabbits.

Occasionally, the rabbits become so populous around the housing area of the depot, with resultant destruction of flowers and garden truck, that a concerted effort is made to get rid of them. Joe Marsh, Chief of the guard force, has accounted for a many as 100 cotton tails and jacks in a single night's bag.

A constant war against predators is carried on by the BHOD guard force and the coyotes and bobcats, which roamed the territory in great numbers at the time of the Depot's inception, eleven years ago, have in recent years, been rather scarce. Last year, however, bobcats again became a nuisance and 10 were killed by the guards, one of which weighed 37 1/2 pounds.

Skunks are among the top pests and these mustelines are responsible for, among other things, destruction of game bird eggs, thus lowering the pheasant and partridge crop.

The depot's number one nemesis to the striped kitties is George Beaman, who has charge of insect and rodent control and who has a very high batting average in eliminating the obnoxious, and odiferous animals. In the first six weeks of '53 he has accounted for 22 of them.

Despite the raids by skunks, bull snakes and other predators that consider birds' eggs a delicacy, there are quite a number of Chinese Pheasants and Hungarian Partridge on Depot property. The memorable blizzard of '49 took a terrific toll of these game birds.

The duck population at BHOD is dependent upon the weather. If there is a wet spring and summer, ducks by the hundreds will settle on the property with mallards predominant. Teal, coots, and pintal are next in numbers, in that order.

On the depot land there are beautiful stands of crested wheat and buffalo grass. Approximately 7000 head of sheep graze on the land, under a lease agreement.

There are two small prairie dog towns at the present time but in the early days, there were dozens. The little rodents are periodically eliminated by George Beaman, with the use of poison and gas, to conserve the grass lands.

Other permanent residents on this vast stretch of semi-arid land though not numerous, are badgers, racoon and mink.

Some deer and antelope manage to jump the 24 miles of fence but do not stay permanently.

Among the reptiles, rattle snakes are the most common and quite plentiful.

Black eagles and an occasional bald eagle are seen at BHOD, but only in migration.

Several of our residents have made pets of wild animals, the most popular of which are: racoons, prairie dogs, hawks and owls.

(In view of the controversy raging over the final disposition of the remains of Sitting Bull, your reporter remembered an Igloo resident who had seen the famed Sioux medicine man several times. So, with the aid of Frank Vermillian as interpreter, the following story was obtained.)

"Yes, I remember Sitting Bull, I had seen him on occasion before his death in 1890," Mrs. Sadie Long Bull said in response to our query. Mrs. Long Bull is Mrs. Sophia Van Goodman's mother and she resides on the Depot with her daughter. Although she is 86 years old, she appears to be much younger and her memory has not suffered the ravages of time.

Mrs. Long Bull's cousin was one of the Indian Police who were sent to request that Sitting Bull accompany them back to Ft. Yates where Sitting Bull was to be told to stop his Ghost Dances which the Superintendent believed were a distrubing factor to Indian-White harmony.

Sitting Bull, through his humanitarian acts, had become a leading figure among the Hunkpapas (one of the sioux clan) and exercised considerable influence over them. As Medicine Man, he was respected and those who knew him spoke of him as a tribal "good samaritan" who helped the poor and was a benefactor to all those in need. Those who followed Sitting Bull performed ceremonies called Ghost Dances and these dances, in time, drew down the wrath of the Agency at Ft. Yates.

In 1890, when the Indian Police were sent after Sitting Bull (followed at a discreet distance by the Seventh Cavalry), they first screwed up their courage on fire water because Sitting Bull was much respected and the Indian Police expected trouble. When Sitting Bull was asked to accompany the police back to Fr. Yates, he said he would go with then after he was dressed. In the ensuing confusion, one somewhat intoxicated and quite jumpy policeman shot Sitting Bull. Chaos followed when the Seventh Cavalry arrived and the followers, fearing a massacre, fled the scene. This incident took place at Sitting Bull's encampment between Little Eagle and Bullhead, S. Dak., on the Grand River, and Sitting Bull's body was removed by the cavalry to Ft. Yates. Sometime later, Sitting Bull's relatives went to Fort Yates seeking Sitting Bull's body, but they never found out where he was buried. There is still doubt, according to the spry octogenarian, as to where he is buried and that the present marking really indicate the final resting place of Sitting Bull.

Mrs. Long Bull remembers Sitting Bull as of medium build and rather handsome. She was in her twenties when he was killed.

Wind, which is defined as a horizontal current of moving air, and has been called lately by many other names, reached near-hurricane velocities early this week in the northwesten states. In Igloo, the wind also blew.

According to the anemometer above the Fire and Security building, winds reached a high in gusts above 75 miles per hour. The average wind speed on Monday was 42 miles per hour. Although Monday seemed windy, Tuesday, the 17th of March was windier. That day the wind averaged 55.6 miles per hour and high gusts kicked the anemometer needle against the peg. Seventy-five mile per hour winds are the maximum recordable on the local anemometer, and this suffices in most instances. Although wind is not uncommon for March, records indicate that this has been the windiest March in several years.

Many theories have been proposed to explain the recent excessive winds, varying from stomic blasts affecting the upper atmosphere to the counter-reaction of thermals at a front dividing extremely high and extremely low pressure areas. One theory blaming the wind on the Republicans, was not considered worthy of mention.

Whatever the cause of the wind, the effects are various. Trip tickets were blown out of cars, windows were blown out of doors and hats occasionally were lifted from unsuspecting heads and sent bouncing down the road and across fences. A gentleman in Edgemont claims that this is the most violent wind since 1910 when the chimney on his house blew away. To attest to this, he will show you his chimney which blew back on his house last Monday.

For the past three years, the two three-inch guns which have acted as silent sentries at the flagpole across from headquarters, have been on memorandum receipt to Signal Officer K. J. Hicks. Being rather large, not easily transported and more or less permanent fixtures, little thought was given to the possibility of the guns disappearing.

You can imagine the surpise and consternation of Kilburn Hicks when he reported to work one morning, a few weeks ago, and the guns were gone. Naturally his first though was of the extreme difficulty that was going to be encountered in attempting to survey two guns. Instigating a through search for the missing items revealed that they had merely been moved, so that they could be given a "new look".

So, a few mornings ago, the lost artillery was returned to headquarters with a bright new paint job, and the tires properly inflated. This adds considerably to the appearance of headquarters.

So, Kilburn now breathes easily, but is firmly convinced that anything - but anything - can disappear.

LeVerne E. McCleery, a thirteen-year-old Provo lad who was accidentally shot in the eye with a .22 calibre rifle bullet last Wednesday, exhibited an amazing amount of courage when he said to his companions, "I'm shot, I'd better get home," got on his bicycle and rode more than a mile with the slug imbedded in his right eye.

BHOD Chief of Police Joe Marsh, who handled the investigation for the Fall River County authorities, said that McCleery, accompanied by two other youths, Marvin Sanovia, 15, and DeWayne Bush, 12, were hunting birds on the Charles Stearns ranch when the accidental shooting occured. The three youths are sons of BHOD employees.

Marsh said Sanovia was aiming his gun through the window of a hay and feed storage shed, standing on a bale of hay. He lost his balance, causing the rifle to dischare and the bullet entered the bridge of the McCleery youth's nose and lodged in the right eye.

The boy was rushed to Sisters' Hospital in Hot Springs by the Black Hills Ordnance Depot's Ambulance and later removed to St. John's Hospital, Rapid City, where the eye was removed. The victim of the accident was reported by hospital authorities to be recovering nicely.

Badger Clark, South Dakota's Poet Laureate, expresses sorrow at the passing of the Old West at the Kiwanis Inter-Club dinner held at the Officers' Club, where he was guest speaker. The well-known poet, who for many years has been a veritable recluse in his Hills cabin near Legion Lake, told the Igloo Kiwanis Club's guests that modernization has dimmed the color of the Hills towns and said that the verve of pioneer life no longer exists. Seated beside Badger is Executive Officer Lt. Colonel Roy B. Southworth, Jr.

Linda, eight-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hagen, had a very thrilling experience last Friday while on a mining expedition into the Black Hills. The little miss had accompanied her father to the uranium workings on the Marty Ranch as a diversion from the usual day's routine (whatever a small girl's daily routine might be.)

Tiring of mining operations, Linda set out on an expedition all her own. Climbing to the top of the mountain our young adventuress was startled by a sudden noise just beyond a small pine. Getting down on hands and knees for a better look beneath the pine, Linda perceived a pair of big feet, and two enormous eyes peering right back at her - so close you could spit in his eye.

Letting out a scream of "CAT" Linda beat a hasty retreat toward the mining camp. Simultaneously her dad and brother, Ronnie, started to the rescue as another member of the party, Louis Rickard, went for a gun. However, the Bob-cat got away and a scared little girl stayed closer to camp.

The miners had seen a similar cat as they were going to the workings but little thought was given to the incident until Linda met the fellow face-to-face.

The Community Building foyer became a sub-office of the Fall River County Treasurer's Office four days before Christmas and the place looked like Grand Central Station throughout most of the day. Seven hundred and two South Dakota Driver's Permits were issued between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and the volunteer typists were busier than the proverbial one-armed wall paper hanger with the hives. In the above photo, Dorothy Richer of the treasurer's office in Hot Springs is pointing out the required information needed for the permits to Donna Jackman. Waiting in line are Jay Firnekas, of the Police Department; Eunice Anderson, Vonda Smith (next to Donna) and Mrs. Ralph Cook, ready to get out the necessary half-buck to pay for the miniature document. The volunteer typists are, left to right, Mrs. Florence Krantz, Mrs. Ila Evans, Mrs. Anita White Eyes and Mrs. Lois Hagen. Mrs. Lil Facklam, not show in picture, was also a volunteer worker.

Today is 'Circus Day' for 30 Igloo kids who are guests at the Shrine Circus in Rapid City.

Sponsored by the Igloo Kiwanis Club, the local youngsters will be furnished chaperones and transportation, while the Shriners of Rapid City are making the tickets available.

Early this morning Don Thomson and his daughter, Carol loaded the kids abord the school bus for the trip. Box lunches, furnished by the Alex Johnson Hotel, will be served to the kids in the Rapid City East Boulevard Park at 11:00 a.m., this morning.

Frank Martinez, Kiwanis Club President, said he was extremely grateful to Mr. Rider of the Alex Johnson Hotel and to the Buckingham Transportation Company, which is furnishing the gas and oil for the trip.

The kids were selected from the nine, ten, and 11 year olds on the depot, by the age-old method of drawing from a hat.

The age-old circus prerequisites, peanuts and cracker jacks were much in evidence among the thirty-four Igloo kids attending the Rapid City Shrine Circus last Friday on a trip sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club. With Don Thompson and his daughter Carol, serving as chaperones, the kids took off by bus at 8:30 a.m., depositing the kids at the picnic grounds in Rapid City in time for a tasty box lunch provided through the courtesy of the Alex Johnson Hotel.

At the Circus Grounds, the kids were taken in tow by the Shriners, who provided each with a balloon and a box of cracker jack. During intermission, 100 bottles of pop per minute were dispensed to the 700 children present.

Don Thompson said a total of five gallons of water was consumed, plus numerous candy bars on the tip to and from Rapid. Thompson also states that the children were well behaved, not only on the bus, but in Rapid City too, and were a credit to the community.

Frank Martinez, Kiwanis Club president, said he wished to thank the Provo School District for the loan of the bus, the Buckingham Transportation Co. for the gas and oil and the insurance on the bus, the Alex Johnson Hotel for the lunches and Ed Hoel and George Fletcher for their valuable assistance.

Children lucky enough to have their names drawn out of the hat, affording them an opportunity to make the trip, were as follows: Ted Grubbs, Bob Lolley, Dick Lolley, Norma Nelson, Ronald Nelson, Sharon Hudson, Pearl Robb, Cherry Robb, Kathie Schmidt, Eddie Olmstead, Lois Dappen, Theresa Giago, Mary Giago, Sandra Turnquist, Dennis Turnquist, Jimmie Anderson, Bill Muhm, Karen Worth, Charles Britton, Virginia Britton, Diana Bettcher, Richard Harman, Jerry Thayer, Cassandra Brave, Melvin Nygaard, Barbara Looking Elk, Irene Kapp, Kenneth Peterson, Louis Anderson, Clarence Richardson, Johnny Pourier, Kerma Martinez, Barbara White Eyes and Jessie Rodriquiez.

 

tested in Internet Explorer 8 tested in Mozilla Firefox 3.5.7 tested in Google Chrome
1920 X 1080 resolution