By 
Ahead of South Shore’s 125th Anniversary, The Watertown Current is pleased to publish a special section on the community’s history.
Our town’s humble beginnings were initially based on the passing of the Homestead Act of 1862. With the passing of this act, any U.S. Citizen over the age of 21 could file a claim for 160 acres of land completely free of charge! They were then required to build a dwelling of at least 12 x 14 feet, cultivate at least 10 acres, and live on the land for five years.
O. Grunerud established the first white man’s home in the area of what would become South Shore. For the first few years, settlers were scarce in our area due to the lack of established transportation. But that would change in 1886 with the beginning of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railways’ construction of a line from Benson, Minn., through Watertown and on to Huron. This new railroad would eventually wind its way within mere yards of Punished Woman’s Lake and, thus, provide the roots of our future as a town.
The town site of South Shore in 1889.
In the summer of 1887, several local area investors, including Ole Gesley, Judge Huggins, F.A. Berry, and J.R. Berry, purchased 80 acres of previously homesteaded land and formed the South Shore Town Lot and Improvement Company. The land was then surveyed and platted into the original layout of what we now know as South Shore.
The first post office soon followed in March 1888, located at the railroad depot. Businesses soon followed rather rapidly. Grain elevators were the main focus due to the location of the railroad, which was a great asset to the many local farmers who had gathered in the area. Lumber was also heavily inbound on the rails to help the town grow and add new businesses.
By the time South Dakota became a state in 1889, South Shore had grown to become a bustling village. On top of hosting up to three grain elevators at one time, the town also had added hotels, implement dealers, doctors’ offices, creameries, barbershops, a newspaper, a saloon, and even a cheese factory.
South Shore’s Main Street in its early days.
As the town continued to grow, it also experienced its share of hardships and troubles. There was a drought in our area that lasted roughly eight years from 1889 to 1897. There was also an elevator fire in the town in 1898. And, of course, there were occasional disputes between citizens.
A view of the town from the lake in 1901 or 1902.
By 1900, South Shore boasted quite a large number of businesses. The town boasted three general stores, a drug store, a furniture store, two doctor offices, a bank, a meat market, a hardware store, a land office, a barber and confectionery, a newspaper, two hotels, two livery/feed and stables, a blacksmith, three elevators, and a flour mill. Quite an impressive spread by today’s standards!
With the growth of the town, the city decided that it was now time to get South Shore incorporated. After a 24 to 2 vote, South Shore officially filed its incorporation papers with the state and became an official town in South Dakota in December, 1901.
