(Taken from Larchwood Centennial Book)
The site of Larchwood and the land adjacent to it, which was known as Sykes Estate, was originally given as a grant by the United States Government to Charles W. Holder of Bloomington, Illinois in 1869 with a patent issued in 1870.
In 1873 Mr. Holder transferred the bulk of the grant to Jesse Fell, for the amount of $1.25 an acre. Mr Fell set our to improve the acreage which he had purchased. He sent Mr. Fred Geizer to the Larchwood site with instructions to set out willow hedges around each quarter section. Mr. Fell imported and planted many useful and valuable trees such as the European Larch, maples and evergreen varieties which still stand as a monument to his work and foresight.
In 1881 Mr. Fell sold his interest in Lyon county to the Close Brothers of LeMars, Iowa, who in turn sold the tract at an advance of about $1 per acre to Richard Sykes of Manchester, England in November of the same year.
Mr. Sykes took up the work where Mr. Fell left off. “The Big House”, commonly known to most local resident as the McGilvra house, was erected and used as a home for the Englishmen who came to assist Mr. Sykes in developing his purchase. A company barn was erected southwest of town to house the implements and animals needed for the work. Company houses were erected on each of 32 quarter sections, which were soon remodeled or replaced when family ownership caused more space to be needed.
S.B. Willard built the first house. His home served as a stop for the stagecoach and freight wagons on their way between Sibley and Sioux Falls and was also the location of the first post office.
Larchwood obtained it’s name from Mr. Willard. Jesse Fell wanted to call the town “Willardsville” but Mr. Willard said “No, we’ll call it Larchwood from its larch groves.” so it came about that the town was given a name as beautiful as it is itself.
The early settlers were plagued by many problems - drought (1871), grasshoppers (1873), diphtheria and blizzards (1881-1888).
Larchwood was a sports town from its earliest beginnings. The late 1870’s and most of the 1880’s saw the young English bring some of the better racing horses and polo ponies to this area. Riding to the hounds or fox hunting was a regular sport. In the area now known as the Emerald Park Addition the race track was established. Crowds of more than a thousand, attracted from a wide area attended, betting on races was common. The real and lasting sport for which the town has been widely know for is baseball. It cam into this town in the late 1880’s and has been a major part of our town’s history since then.
The railroad was built through the town in 1886, which caused a spurt of growth of business. The original business district was located west and north of the City Park but was moved at this time to provide room for growth.
Telephones made their appearance in 1897. Farmers in the area formed their own companies and switchboard in Larchwood. The farmer’s line continued in operation until 1960 when the Hills Telephone Company took over the service.
The City of Larchwood built a direct current light plant in 1912 to serve the needs of the community. This was one of the great improvements of the day.
Silent movies became a part of local entertainment in about 1916 in a building on the east side of Main Street. In the late 1920’s local talent provided proper musical accompaniment.
After 1915 building slowed due to the war in Germany, Larchwood with the rest of the nation, took up the work of increased agricultural production and the production of war related work and materials financed by the purchase of Liberty Bonds. The patriotic people of the town wholeheartedly joined in the war effort. The first American troops arrived in France in June of 1917. Many men from the Larchwood area were engaged in battle during this war. When the Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, the people of Larchwood expressed their joy and relief with a huge bonfire, which included burning of the grand stand at the ball park, many out-houses and anything loose that would burn, including an effigy of the Kaiser, hauled to the scene by John Cauley’s hearse.
After World War II, the demand for production of both agricultural products and industrial materials continued and employment was at a high level. Larchwood grew from this point on to the present time.
One hundred years is but a speck in the realm of time and man. We look back with awe and pride at the accomplishments and determination of those generations, who chose this Larchwood area to settle, raise their families and to prosper in spite of all adversity. The faith of those who in recent years have constructed new homes, new farm buildings, bought large farm equipment and the improvement of livestock breeding and feeding, assures us that the future is secure and in the hands of the same sturdy, determined type citizens who directed the progress in the past.
The site of Larchwood and the land adjacent to it, which was known as Sykes Estate, was originally given as a grant by the United States Government to Charles W. Holder of Bloomington, Illinois in 1869 with a patent issued in 1870.
In 1873 Mr. Holder transferred the bulk of the grant to Jesse Fell, for the amount of $1.25 an acre. Mr Fell set our to improve the acreage which he had purchased. He sent Mr. Fred Geizer to the Larchwood site with instructions to set out willow hedges around each quarter section. Mr. Fell imported and planted many useful and valuable trees such as the European Larch, maples and evergreen varieties which still stand as a monument to his work and foresight.
In 1881 Mr. Fell sold his interest in Lyon county to the Close Brothers of LeMars, Iowa, who in turn sold the tract at an advance of about $1 per acre to Richard Sykes of Manchester, England in November of the same year.
Mr. Sykes took up the work where Mr. Fell left off. “The Big House”, commonly known to most local resident as the McGilvra house, was erected and used as a home for the Englishmen who came to assist Mr. Sykes in developing his purchase. A company barn was erected southwest of town to house the implements and animals needed for the work. Company houses were erected on each of 32 quarter sections, which were soon remodeled or replaced when family ownership caused more space to be needed.
S.B. Willard built the first house. His home served as a stop for the stagecoach and freight wagons on their way between Sibley and Sioux Falls and was also the location of the first post office.
Larchwood obtained it’s name from Mr. Willard. Jesse Fell wanted to call the town “Willardsville” but Mr. Willard said “No, we’ll call it Larchwood from its larch groves.” so it came about that the town was given a name as beautiful as it is itself.
The early settlers were plagued by many problems -
Larchwood was a sports town from its earliest beginnings. The late 1870’s and most of the 1880’s saw the young English bring some of the better racing horses and polo ponies to this area. Riding to the hounds or fox hunting was a regular sport. In the area now known as the Emerald Park Addition the race track was established. Crowds of more than a thousand, attracted from a wide area attended, betting on races was common. The real and lasting sport for which the town has been widely know for is baseball. It cam into this town in the late 1880’s and has been a major part of our town’s history since then.
The railroad was built through the town in 1886, which caused a spurt of growth of business. The original business district was located west and north of the City Park but was moved at this time to provide room for growth.
Telephones made their appearance in 1897. Farmers in the area formed their own companies and switchboard in Larchwood. The farmer’s line continued in operation until 1960 when the Hills Telephone Company took over the service.
The City of Larchwood built a direct current light plant in 1912 to serve the needs of the community. This was one of the great improvements of the day.
Silent movies became a part of local entertainment in about 1916 in a building on the east side of Main Street. In the late 1920’s local talent provided proper musical accompaniment.
After 1915 building slowed due to the war in Germany, Larchwood with the rest of the nation, took up the work of increased agricultural production and the production of war related work and materials financed by the purchase of Liberty Bonds. The patriotic people of the town wholeheartedly joined in the war effort. The first American troops arrived in France in June of 1917. Many men from the Larchwood area were engaged in battle during this war. When the Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, the people of Larchwood expressed their joy and relief with a huge bonfire, which included burning of the grand stand at the ball park, many out-
After World War II, the demand for production of both agricultural products and industrial materials continued and employment was at a high level. Larchwood grew from this point on to the present time.
One hundred years is but a speck in the realm of time and man. We look back with awe and pride at the accomplishments and determination of those generations, who chose this Larchwood area to settle, raise their families and to prosper in spite of all adversity. The faith of those who in recent years have constructed new homes, new farm buildings, bought large farm equipment and the improvement of livestock breeding and feeding, assures us that the future is secure and in the hands of the same sturdy, determined type citizens who directed the progress in the past.
