C.C. Carpenter house

In it's original glory

Charles "C.C." Carpenter's old digs. This home was originally on 13th and Phillips. The city directory states that C.C. and his family were in residence there in 1887. Occupants have included Charles W. Hubbard, A.E. Diver, W.H. Keon, and Kate McDonald who used it as a boarding house. It was later sold to Dr. W. A. Germain as a family home and moved to the lot on at the SE corner of 9th and Duluth for J.R. Devers and family. Oddly enough, C.C. Carpenter's family at that time lived on the SW corner of 9th and Duluth and got a nice view of their old homestead. This home was built in Queen Anne style to be elegant yet comfortable. It was built at an unheard of cost of $10,000.00.

C.C. Carpenter was an eastern banker with money to invest. He came to Dakota Territory to invest in what he believed would be a profitable venture. He invested in the Sioux Falls Stockyards, was a land developer and the Director of Sioux Falls Granite Quarries Co.

His wife, Frances Carpenter was the sister of Artemus Gale and Helen McKennan. After C.C.'s death, she built the "fireproof" Carpenter Hotel for $250,000.00. This was the first masonry hotel in the city built to rival the Cataract Hotel that had a history of fire.

Charles W. Hubbard, one of the previous owners, was the entrepreneur largely responsible for the quarry town that later became what we now know as the east side of Sioux Falls.  It was 6 miles due east of what was downtown Sioux Falls.  He built a company town for the quarriers that came mainly from Europe (English, Scotch and Welch.) bringing with them their craft and strong backs.  This company town tried to establish itself as the new town of "Ives" and later with its 600 residents became incorporated into Sioux Falls.

The house in it's current state.

Joseph Schwartz, the architect, also built the Carpenter hotel, the original Washington High School, the County Jail, Central Fire Station, Augustana's Old Main, The First Congregational Church, Manchester Biscuit company, The Coliseum, Lowell, the Cataract, Masonic Temple, Carnegie Library and Cathedral School. Oddly enough, Schwartz himself lived in a very modest home in the same neighborhood.

Joseph Schwartz's house

P.S. Cudos to The Old Courthouse Museum for the old photo of the C.C. Carpenter home. Special thanks to Adam for his continued interest and assistance with this project.

The Week in Review

What a busy week!

Monday: Root canal

Tuesday: I met with Dan Prendable with VOA/VISTA. We discussed my volunteering at the Bowden Youth Center. I have agreed and need to return to get with Ashley and work out a schedule for volunteering.

Wednesday: I had my interview with CASA and look forward to training. CASA is a nonprofit agency that looks after the welfare of abused and/or neglected children. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Wednesday evening I spent some time at Summit House with Social Work students from Northwestern College in Ia. Daniel Lee spoke of his time in the neighborhood. He purchased a home in Pettigrew Heights in 2006 and serves breakfast every Saturday morning. He works 3 jobs to support his family and this is besides the time he spends with the people in the neighborhood. He hosts birthday parties for children that wouldn't have them otherwise, and movie nights as well. He takes trips with children to places that they wouldn't have been otherwise. He sees firsthand the troubles that people in the neighborhood experience. He is far braver than I. Good work, Dan and wife Minnie!

Thursday: I met with April from the Whittier Neighborhood to discuss their events, our coalition and things that we can do to promote our neighborhoods. We also looked over the pictures from books that I brought on historical Sioux Falls. That was fun! I think that we could talk forever!
In the afternoon, I met with Margaret. Margaret is a white woman whose significant other is Native American. We discussed ideas that I had about making Native American families feel more comfortable in the schools - Lowell in particular. She is excited. So much seems to be coming together in this area. Some topics included the education of South Dakota teachers in methods of educating N.A. youth. There are very important cultural differences that need to be addressed. One example is making children look in your eyes. Teachers often do this to make sure the child is paying attention. Truth is, this is considered disrespectful for Native Americans. Teaching in families is done side by side, not face to face. Respect is also a big issue. If the teacher won't respect the child, they cannot expect it back. She also mentioned educating Native American families in things they need to do to help schools teach their children.
Other differences include the fact that when they have money enough to put gas in the car, they take long weekends to the reservation. Grandmas on the reservation get lonely and want to be visited. But, when they get to the reservation, there is often nothing to do. This is when some turn to drinking with old friends and family. But, the grandmas don't want them to do that, either. Sometimes the car breaks down. When this happens, they may not be able to get back to work on time and end up losing their job. They, like many of us, spend the money when they have it and return to living on a shoestring afterwards.
Alcoholism is a large problem, as is diabetes and fetal alcohol syndrome. I believe by embracing the culture, teaching the teachers, and welcoming the Native American culture into our schools, we will be able to provide hope to a group that has had the hope squeezed out of them. Perhaps we will be able to foster an understanding of their culture and build relationships and trust. Call me a dreamer, but I would like to believe it is possible.

Friday: I met with Margaret again to discuss more specifics. She knows some people that she believes would be willing to help teach cultural crafts and dance at the schools. She invited me to join her in meeting with Urban Indian Health Services on Monday!
I also met with Dan Prendable again at the Bowden Youth Center. Since Sioux Falls had school, Ashley wasn't available but Peter was. I was introduced to 3 of the students that were there.

More on the Shooting

An important point to remember is that there have been shootings in the city before. This is the first that I am aware of in the Pettigrew Heights neighborhood. They caught the perpetrator and hopefully this will remain an isolated incident.

Lowell Elementary

Lowell Elementary although not within the Pettigrew Heights boundaries is where a good number of elementary students in the neighborhood attend.  Lowell recently became a Sioux Falls school of distinction.  This is exciting.  They now specialize in Math, Science and Technology.  

Unfortunately, since the implementation of this new curriculum, Lowell has stumbled through a few obstacles.  The principal hired to implement the program became ill midway through the year and had to leave.  Another principal was pulled from retirement to take care of the day-to-day responsibilities of the school.  Now Lowell has a new Principal and is in the process of "rebirthing" itself.  Approximately half of the teachers are new to the school.  Looking at the dynamics of this situation is daunting in itself.  Teachers are not only establishing relationships with students, but with each other as well.  With a new principal comes a new vision and more adjustment.  Patty seems to be doing a good job and is on top of the game.  Of course, it will take time to choreograph the Math, Science and Technology program and reap its fruits.

Statistics present their own obstacles.  Lowell has a 30% mobility rate, thus a 70% stability rate.  Only 70% of the students are there for the year.  30% move away or go back and forth.  Compare this to the average district mobility rate of 13.5%.  Apparently providing these children with their basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter is the primary to the luxury of an education.  Parental involvement and parenting skills are scarce and sorely needed.  Ask any teacher how much parental involvement affects the success of the students.   The next statement needs its own paragraph:

The Lowell Elementary PTA has 4 members.

Lowell needs help to say the least.  Adult supervision is needed before school, after school, during lunch and at recess.  People are needed to assist children to develop their reading skills.  A good idea emerged from our volunteer meeting yesterday.  This was to contact the nursing home/assisted living/senior apartment dwellers down the road a bit and ask them if they would like to help.  I will do this next week.  Kids, Inc. is the structured after school program.  They have a limit of 30 kids and charge on a sliding scale.  Everyone pays.  The Y has a program that is also not free.  Some children go to Church programs or day cares.  Those who cannot afford any of the options are left unsupervised.  These unsupervised children are out of school with the unsupervised Jr. high and high school students that they are influenced by.  You may come to your own conclusions.

School activities that typically occur in the evenings - concerts, open house, fairs of sorts, etc. are not well attended unless they provide free food.  This tells us a lot.  My take on it is that parents DON'T feel comfortable at the school.  So, what can we do to change this?  Solutions that I think of are to begin holding neighborhood/city/cultural events in the school.  We are a very diverse neighborhood.  Why not embrace the cultures of the various groups in the neighborhood?  Why not ask leaders of these groups their opinion on how we could respectfully draw the families into the school and create a community via the school?  Ideas abound... Additional ideas are always welcome.  What do you think would work?  How can we build trust and help decrease the mobility, increase the stability and furnish the PTA with more members? 

This Week's Ponderings

What a week!  

I have been doing research on history but more important issues have emerged.  Yesterday I was at the Pettigrew Heights Neighborhood Volunteer Subcommittee when not half a block away, there was a shooting at Munchies.  This is, of course, a bit too close to comfort and perhaps a sign that the Pettigrew Heights crime groundhog did NOT see its shadow. 

We certainly hope this is not a sign of things to come.  

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This week's news includes that of the death of Millard Fuller, cofounder of Habitat for Humanity.  This is disheartening - especially since he was supposed to speak in Brookings the 23rd of this month.  I understand he was an inspirational speaker.  This is an unfortunate loss for the community of communities.

Much politics was involved in the running of the Habitat organization and Fuller was inevitably kicked off the board of the very organization he helped create.  Trying to avoid all politics and hurt feelings we will not go into this - I don't think Mr. Fuller would appreciate it having any air time anyway.  

Millard Fuller packed up his philanthropy and began a new organization - which, if you ask me has a better philosophy and dream.   Rather than raze homes and build the typical "here's your habitat" house,

 they RESTORE homes.  To me, living in this neighborhood with history abound, this is ideal.  Throughout my historical research this week, "razed" is the resounding verbage on hundreds of pages adorning beautiful buildings and homes.  This has been very disheartening.  

The Fuller Center, like Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical organization.  I realize that many people have a shut off valve in their ears where religion is concerned, I am guilty to a certain extent - I don't want it shoved down my throat.  To be an inclusive neighborhood we need to recognize and accept the work of others despite their affiliations.  What ecumenical means is unifying the churches and joining - in this case for the betterment of the neighborhood.  I'm in.