♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "DAKOTA LIFE."

I'M YOUR HOST, MICHELLE VAN MAANEN.

WHILE THE WEATHER IS STILL NICE, WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TAKE A SHORT TRIP ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA TO SEE AN OPERA HOUSE, SOME PRAIRIE SPIRES, AND GO TO THE DOGS.

DURING THE NEXT HALF-HOUR, WE WILL VISIT WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN SOME VERY DIFFERENT PLACES.

BUT THAT IS WHAT "DAKOTA LIFE" IS ALL ABOUT, LIFE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

FIRST WE ARE GOING TO VISIT LEAD.

IT'S KNOWN FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL BLACK HILLS GOLD, AND, OF COURSE, FOR THE HISTORIC HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY.

BUT IT WAS ONCE FAMOUS FOR ANOTHER "JEWEL" OF THE BLACK HILLS.

FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LEAD AND THE SURROUND COMMUNITIES, THIS "JEWEL" WAS PRICELESS.

IT WAS THE LIFELINE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMIUNITY FOR SEVERAL DECADES, UNTIL DISASTER TOOK IT AWAY.

LET'S VISIT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THE LEAD OPERA HOUSE AND FIND OUT WHY THE COMMUNITY WANTS IT BACK.

>> IT WAS AUGUST 31, 1914.

AND FOLK IN THE SMALL MINING TOWN OF LEAD, TUCKED IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA, CAME BY THE HUNDREDS TO THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE OF AMERICA'S GREAT YEARS TENOR, AT THE BRAND-NEW HOMESTAKE OPERA HOUSE AND RECREATION BUILDING.

PATRONS WERE AWD, NOT ONLY BY THE PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO BY BEAUTIFUL CHANDELIERS AND RICH, COLORFUL ART AND MURALS.

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THAT 70 YEARS LATER, DESTRUCTION WOULD HIT THE OPERA HOUSE, DESTROYING THE BUILDING AND THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN THEY HAD THE MOVIES, WHY WE WOULD ALWAYS RUN TO THE VERY, VERY FIRST ROW, DOWN RIGHT BELOW THE STAGE.

WE HAD TO BE RIGHT THERE IN THE ACTION, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SEE THE COWBOYS UP ON THE SCREEN, AND, OF COURSE, CHASE THE GIRLS BACK AND FORTH.

AND AS WE GREW OLDER, OF COURSE, WELL, WE KEPT MOVING FARTHER BACK BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GET UP IN THE BALCONY WHERE THE BIG BOYS WERE, AND OF COURSE DURING HIGH SCHOOL AND AFTERWARDS, WHY, WHEN WE WOULD COME TO THE MOVIES ON DATES, WE'D ALWAYS BRING THEM UP THERE IN THE BALCONY.

>> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WHEN WE WERE KIDS WAS TO COME TO THE SATURDAY MORNING SERIALS, AND, OH, WE'D SEE DIFFERENT CEREALS, AND THE END OF THE SERIAL WOULD ALWAYS ENDS WITH THE CLIMB MAX AND WE'D HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT SATURDAY MORNING SHOW TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT.

WE USED TO WATCH, OH, TOM MICKS AND HOOT GIBSON, TIM HOLT AND THOSE OLD COWBOYS.

COWBOYS WERE A FAVORITE OF MOST EVERYBODY.

>> IT WAS BUILT IN 1914 BY THE HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY AS A GIFT TO THE EMPLOYEES.

NOT ONLY DID THIS MAGNIFICENT BUILDING PROVIDE CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT, BUT INSIDE WAS A SWIM POOL, LIBRARY AND A BILLIARDS ROOM.

>> KIDS MOTHERS WERE VERY ENVIOUS OF US BECAUSE WE DID GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN -- EVERYONE IN LEAD, WE TOOK THE LESSONS IN SCHOOL AND THEY INSISTED EVERYONE TAKE THE LESS ON AND LEARN TO SWIM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD R. -- PEOPLE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, A LOT OF CHILDREN NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT WAS FREE THROUGH HOMESTAKE, AND WE -- IT WAS FREE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> WE ALL LEARNED TO SWIM IN THE POOL, AND BACK THEN, OF COURSE, WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER KIDS, THEY SEGREGATED EVERYTHING.

THE BOYS ONLY CAME AT ONE PERIOD THE GIRLS CAME AT ANOTHER, AND THEN THE COUPLES ALWAYS CAME AT NIGHT AND DURING THE EVENINGS.

SO WE DIDN'T GET TO SEE ANY GIRLS IN THEIR NICE, FANCY SWIM SUITS BACK IN THOSE DAYS.

>> WE MET FRIENDS HERE, AND JUST NOT -- NOT JUST FOR THEATER, BUT BILLIARDS, I NEVER LEARNED TO PLAY THAT BUT I LEARNED TO PLAY CHESS IN THE ROOM, AND THEY HAD A TV BEFORE WE EVER HAD A TV AT OUR HOUSE AND WE USED TO COME UP HERE AND WATCH TV AND MEET WITH OUR FRIENDS.

BUT THE LIBRARY, MOSTLY, I STUDIED WITH FRIENDS IN THE LIBRARY.

>> THE OPERA HOUSE WAS TRULY THE JEWEL OF THE BLACK HILLS.

UNTIL THE NIGHT OF APRIL 2ND, 1984.

A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE ORCHESTRA PIT QUICKLY ENGULFED THE HIS TORIC BUILDING.

>> MY HUSBAND AND I WERE GONE AND WE HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT THE BUILDING WAS BURNING, AND IT UPSET ME SO BADLY THAT I WOULDN'T COME DOWN MAIN STREET OR ONE' COME ANYWHERE NEAR THE BUILDING.

WE CAME DOWN ONE-WAY STREETS, THE WRONG WAY, TO GET TO THE HOUSE, AND I CLIMBED OVER THE FENCE IN THE BACKYARD TO GO IN THE BACK DOOR SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SEE THE BUILDING BURNING.

>> IT WAS QUITE A TRAUMATIC DEAL TO REMEMBER.

OF COURSE, WE HAD A LADY STORE NEXT DOOR HERE, AND WE WERE WORRIED IT WOULD CARRY OVER TO OUR STORE, BUT IT WAS A TERRIBLE THING TO HAVE HAPPEN TO LEAD BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, THE OPERA HOUSE WAS A FOCAL POINT FOR ALL OF THE BLACK HILLS.

>> WHAT WAS A GATHERING PLACE FOR A COMMUNITY IS NOW A BLACKENED PILE OF MEMORIES.

THE SWIMMING POOL THAT WAS IN THE BASEMENT IS NOW FULL OF REMAINS FROM THE MAIN FLOOR, WHERE VIEWERS ENJOYED STAGE PERFORMANCES AND MOVIES.

THE BALCONY STILL REMAINS BUT NOT WITHOUT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

AND OFF IN THE CORNER IS ONE LONELY BOX SEAT WHERE PATRONS WATCHED WITH PRIDE FROM UP ABOVE.

>> RIGHT UP THERE WAS A BOX THAT WAS IDENTITY COOL TO THIS BOX RIGHT BACK HERE -- IDENTICAL TO THIS BOX RIGHT BACK HERE, BUT OF COURSE IT'S BURNED OUT.

I SAT THERE WITH MY GRANDFATHER AND WATCHED MY FIRST MOVIE, PROBABLY THREE AND A HALF, FOUR YEARS OLD, SAW THE WIZARD OF OZ, LOOKING AT IT FROM ALMOST AGAINST THE WALL RIGHT UP AGAINST THE SCREEN, UP HERE.

HE TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY, WE WATCHED FROM THAT VERY DISTORTED VIEW, AND THEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS DONE, WE WALKED OUT OF THE BOX AND DOWN AND SAT RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THEATER AND WATCHED IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

SO WE COULD SEE IT.

>> NO MORE MOVIES, SWIMMING LESSONS OR STUDY SESSIONS GO ON INSIDE, BUT THOSE DAYS ARE NOTZ FORGOTTEN.

A GROUP KNOWN AS THE HISTORICAL LEAD OPERA HOUSE SOCIETY IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE BUILDING.

IN 1984, THE ROOF WAS REPLACED IN HOPES OF PREVENTING WEATHER DAMAGE TO WHAT REMAINED INSIDE.

IN BONE 993, AN EXISTING CONDITIONS STUDY WAS DONE TO SEE HOW SALVAGEABLE THE BUILDING REALLY WAS.

EXPERTS SAID THE BUILDING IS A SOUND ONE AND THAT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $5 MILLION, IT COULD BE RESTORED.

>> THE FEELINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN STRONG, THE FEELINGS ARE SO STRONG AND HISTORIC.

MY OWN PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT I WANT TO RESTORE IT THE WAY IT WAS, TO BRING IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS, NOT SOMETHING MODERN BUT WITH ALL THE ROCO DESIGN AND ALL THE CHERUBS AND PAINTINGS.

I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE DONE, BUT I THINK IF IT'S -- WELL, I THINK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WOULD BE BEHIND RESTORING IT THAT WAY.

>> SO FAR THE STAIRCASE TO THE BALCONY AND THE LADIES' LOUNGE HAS BEEN RESTORED.

VOLUNTEER WORK HAS BEEN DONATED TO CLEAN UP THE ENTRYWAY, REPAINT SOME OF THE MURALS PLUS SOME MINIMAL ELECTRICAL WORK.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING TO A VERY LONG AND EXPENSIVE JOURNEY, BUT FORS THOSE WHO GREW UP USING THE LEAD OPERA HOUSE, THEIR COLORFUL MEMORIES WILL HELP CARRY THEM THROUGH THE BLACKENED TASK OF REBUILDING.

>> WHEN I WALK INTO THIS PLACE AND REALIZE, OF COURSE, UPSTAIRS I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY BILLIARDS, AND THEN FURTHER UPSTAIRS, IN THE LIBRARY, I WAS ABLE TO READ FOR FREE HUNDREDS OF BOOKS, AND LEARNING HOW TO SWIM IN THIS SWIMMING POOL, AND -- SO THIS WHOLE BUILDING WAS LITERALLY -- AND I THINK IT'S THE BEST WORD YOU CAN USE FOR A MINING COMMUNITY, IT WAS THE AMALMAM, IT WAS WHAT HOLDS EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

( >> MEMBERS OF THE RESTORATION COMMITTEE SAY THEIR FIRST STEP IS TO GET THE BUILDING UP AND USABLE, FOR PLAYS, GATHERINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

DECORATING THE INSIDE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM WILL COME WITH TIME.

THE OLD COURTYARD THAT ONCE GREETED THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RESTORED, ALTHOUGH IT'S APPARENT -- ITS APPEARANCE IS DECEIVING, MANY HOPE THAT WHAT REMAINS INSIDE WILL PROFFER TO LEAD AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES THAT THE OPERA HOUSE CAN BE SAVED, AND WITH EVERYONE'S HELP, THEY CAN TRULY BRING BACK THE JEWEL OF THE BLACK HILLS.

>> FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER THE FIRE, THERE IS STILL NO WORD ON HOW THE FIRE ACTUALLY STARTED.

SOME SPECULATE ARSON BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT SUSPICION.

PERHAPS WHEN THE OPERA HOUSE IS RESTORED, WE WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO SEE THE COMPLETED PROJECT.

AND IF YOU ARE TRAVELING IN THE LEAD AREA, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STOP AND SEE HOW THEY ARE COMING ALONG WITH THE RESTORATION.

NEXT WE WILL BE TALKING WITH SOME VERY UNIQUE DOGS... WELL, NOT TALKING WITH THE DOGS, BUT WE WILL TALK TO THEIR TRAINERS.

THESE SPECIAL DOGS ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING PEOPLE.

WHICH IS ONLY NATURAL; AFTER ALL, WE ARE THEIR BEST FRIENDS, AREN'T WE?

>> I'M GOING TO GET IT.

>> HE'S REAL LOVEABLE.

ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO GIVE HIM THE TIME OF DAY, HE'LL LOVE THEM FOREVER.

BASICALLY, HE'S MY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VET TAKING CARE OF HIM, GROOMING HIM KEEPING THE TRAINING UP.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AT HOME, THEY GO OUT AND PLAY WITH HIM ALL THE TIME, SO HE'S A GOOD FAMILY DOG.

>> TROOPER NICK VLASMAN AND LINDA ARE A TEAM, WORKING FOR THE SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL, SPECIALIZING IN DRUG INTERDICTION.

RINGO IS A BELGIAN, A DOG THAT MIGHT LIKE TO YOU LIKE A GERMAN SHEPHERD.

THEY'RE MORE AGILE THAN SHEP PERIODS.

>> THEIR NOSES ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OTHERS, AND THEY'RE EASY TO TRAIN, EASY TO WORK WITH, EASY TO HANDLE.

I KEEP THE TRAINING UP ANYWHERE TO FOUR TO SIX HOURS A WEEK, I TRY TO KEEP THE TRAINING GOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT ALL THE TIME.

WE DO THIS THING CALLED CONFLICT TRAINING, THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IS CHANGE.

SO I MIGHT CHANGE EXAMPLES OF SUITCASES WE WERE DOING, I MIGHT CHANGE THE HOLE NUMBER FIVE AND MOVE THE SUITCASE BACK TO HOLE NUMBER ONE, WHERE HE DOESN'T CONSTANTLY GET LOCKED ON THAT.

I MIGHT USE PURSES ONE DAY OR INSTEAD OF USING A TRAINING DRUG I MIGHT USE MARIJUANA OR COCAINE ONE DAY.

JAZZ IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST FAMOUS DOGS, SEEN ON THE HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS, WARNING IF YOU BRING ILLEGAL DRUGS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, BE PREPARED TO STAY A LONG, LONG TIME.

>> DAKOTA DOGS WORK IN MORE THAN JUST THE FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MEET ALLY, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD LAB BRA DORIE TREEFR WHO WORKS AS A GUIDE DOG FOR JEFF KISECKER OF PEER.

>> HE'S PRETTY SERIOUS, ACTUALLY.

NOT VERY PLAYFUL, LOYAL TO ME MISSES ME WHEN I'M GONE.

HE WAS RAISED BY TWO ATTORNEYS SO MAYBE THAT'S WHY HE'S SO SERIOUS, AND HE REALLY LOVES TO BE WITH ME AND WOULD PREFER NOTHING ELSE BUT TO WORK.

>> LIKE HUMANS, DOGS NEED SPECIALIZED TRAINING BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A FULL-TIME JOB.

>> IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR TO SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING FOR TRAINING A GUIDE DOG.

ALLY CAME FROM THE GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION IN SMITHSTOWN, NEW YORK.

NEAR APPROACH IS THAT THEY TEACH THE DOG HOW TO GUIDE ON LEASH BEFORE HARNESS GUIDING, AND WHAT THEY TEACH THEM IS TO STOP AT EACH CURB, THEY TEACH THEM FORWARD -- THE COMMAND FORWARD, RIGHT, LEFT, HALT, WHICH WOULD MEAN TO STOP, OBVIOUSLY, HELP UP WHICH WOULD MEAN TO GO FASTER OR TO CONTINUE TO PROCEED.

>> AS WELL-BEHAVED AS ALLY IS, JEFFERY MINDS US THAT GUIDE DOGS AND SERVES DOG ARE USUALLY WORKING AND THERE IS A CERTAIN ETIQUETTE THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO REMEMBER IN DEALING WITH THESE TYPES OF ANIMALS.

>> IF THE DOG IS WORKING, AND -- IT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHETHER THE DOG IS WORKING OR NOT, BUT WHEN THE DOG IS WEARING THEIR HARNESS, THEN THAT MEANS THAT THE DOG IS WORKING AND SHOULD JUST BASICALLY BE IGNORED.

IT'S A DISTRACTION TO THE DOG'S WORK.

YOU KNOW, THE DOG NEEDS TO FOCUS ON WHAT HE'S DOING SO I GET AROUND SAFELY, SO THAT IF THEY'RE WALKING THROUGH A CONVENIENCE STORE, THAT HE DOESN'T BASH ME INTO A CARD OR A RACK SO HE CAN GO OVER TO SOMEBODY AND EXPECT TO BE PETTED.

>> THE WORK OF GUIDE DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS IS IMPORTANT AND THESE ANIMALS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

IF YOU FOLLOW HIGHWAY 281 NORTH OF ABERDEEN TO JUDE, NORTH DAKOTA, YOU'LL FIND A PLACE THAT TRAINS DAKOTA DOGS TO BRING INDEPENDENCE AND COMPANION SHIP TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

MIKE GOEHRING, THE EXECUTIVE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF GREAT PLAINS ASSISTANCE DOGS DESCRIBES THE WORK THAT GOES ON AT HIS FACILITY.

>> WE TRAIN SERVICE DOGS FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED, MOBILITY-IMPAIRMENTS.

WE TRAIN HEARING DOGS FOR THE HEARING-IMPAIRED AND THE DEAF.

WE TRAIN THERAPEUTIC COMPANION, BOTH FOR PRIVATE AND HOME USE AND FOR FACILITY-BASED USE, SUCH AS NURSING HOMES, BURN CENTERS IN A HOSPITAL, TRAUMA CARE UNITS THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE ALSO DO THE RESPONSE DOGS, WHICH IS THE DOGS THAT ARE TRAINED FOR EPILEPSY AND OTHER SEIZURE DISORDER.

THE DOGS AREN'T PREDICTING SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS PICKING UP ON THE VERY EARLIEST ONSET OF SEIZE YOUR AND LETTING THE PERSON NOW, THE EARLIEST ONSET IS GENERALLY BEFORE ANY LAY PERSON WOULD REALIZE THERE IS A SEIZURE OCCURRING, INCLUDING THE PERSON THAT IS HAVING THE SEIZURE.

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN ODOR A SLIGHT ODOR CHANGE IN THE AURA THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GIVING OFF.

WE KNOW THROUGH SCIENTIFIC STUDY THAT WE ALL GIVE OFF AN ELECTRICAL FIELD, AND WE KNOW THAT DOGS PICK UP ON EMOTIONAL CHANGES, WE KNOW THAT DOGS ARE -- DOG FORCES AND WHATNOT PICK UP ON THOSE CHANGES, SO FOR A DOG TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING AS DRAMATIC AS A SEIZURE REALLY ISN'T THAT FAR-FETCHED AT ALL.

>> MIKE AND HIS STAFF USE A PRAISE-ORIENTED TRAINING PROGRAM AND HE SPEAKS ENTHUSIASTICALLY ABOUT TEACHING THE DOGS, USING AVOIDANCE TECHNIQUES AND CONDITIONING.

>> NOW, IS THE SEA MAMMAL FRANK, PARTICULARLY, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM WHAT THOSE GRIGS HAVE BEEN DOING.

YOU CAN'T PUT A CHOKE COLLAR ON A DOLPHIN.

>> SERVICE DOGS LIKE RENEGADE CAN DO A LOT TO EASE THE ISOLATION FELT BY SOME DISABLED PERSONS AND ENHANCE THEIR SENSE OF SELF-WORTH.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THEY'VE EITHER BEEN ISOLATED, OR IN SOME CASES, THEY'VE ISOLATED THEMSELVES, AND THE DOGS BEGIN TO SHOW AND DEMONSTRATE RI SIP ROW CALL TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS THERE, AND I GUESS ON A CERTAIN LEVEL, YOU COULD DESCRIBE IT AS LOVE, THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR THIS PERSON.

ONCE THAT DOOR IS OPENED, IT TENDS TO HAVE A SNOWBALLING EFFECT WHERE PEOPLE START REALIZING THAT THEY DO HAVE A SELF-WORTH.

>> WORKING WITH DOGS CAN BE DIFFERENT, AND NO ONE WHO HAS EVER OWNED A DOG CAN DENY THAT CLEANING PENS, GROOMING AND OTHER CHORES CAN BE TEDIOUS AND TIRING.

BUT MIKE IS ABLE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS LINE OF WORK DOES HAVE ITS REWARDS.

>> JUST A REALLY GOOD WAY, IN MY OPINION, A GOOD WAY TO MAKE USE OF THE ABILITY I HAVE TO WORK WITH DOGS AND COMBINE THAT WITH JUST A DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE OUT ALONG THE WAY.

I'M KIND OF OF THE BELIEF THAT IT DOES ME NO GOOD TO ADVANCE ME THROUGH LIFE IF WE'RE LEAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE DUST.

>> GOOD DOG!

>> DOGS REALLY ARE OUR BEST FRIENDS.

THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A WORKING DOG, REMEMBER, THEY ARE WORKING SO DON'T DISTRACT THEM FROM THEIR DUTIES.

AS YOU TRAVEL ACROSS THE STATE, YOU WILL OCCASIONALLY SEE A CHURCH SPIRE OFF ON THE HORIZON.

FOR SOME, THESE TOWERS CREATE FEELINGS OF NOSTALGIA.

FOR OTHERS, THEY MARK THE ARRIVAL IN A NEW TOWN.

IN OUR FINAL STORY, WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURES AND WHY WE HOLD THEM SO DEAR TO OUR HEARTS.

♪ ♪ >> THEY STAND WATCHING OVER THE LANDSCAPE, CENTURIES KEEPING GUARD AGAINST TIME AND THE ELEMENTS.

THEY ALSO CALL TO US, TAKING US BACK TO A TIME PAST.

THEY ARE THE SPIRES WE SEE ON THE HORIZON TELLING US THAT THERE'S A TOWN OVER THERE.

WE HOLD THESE SPIRES IN A REGARD THAT IS KEPT FOR US MEMORIES OF A SIMPLER TIME, OF TRAVELING TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE OR WITHOUT THE WORRIES OF GROWING UP AND EVERYDAY LIFE.

BUT WHY DO WE HAVE THESE FEELINGS FOR THESE INSTRUCTION TUR OF BRICK AND WOOD?

>> WHAT MAKES THEM SO PROMINENT IN PEOPLE'S MINDS IS THE FACT THAT THEY'RE RECOGNIZED FROM ALL DISTANCES AND EASILY VISIBLE FOR LONG DISTANCES, AND THEY CAN GIVE PEOPLE, I THINK, A SENSE OF PEACE AND QUIET AND A SENSE OF -- WELL, WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO BE ARRIVING IN THIS AREA WHERE THERE IS AN IMPORTANT CHURCH OR -- AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS SORT OF MANIFESTATION THAT MOST PEOPLE FIND SOLACE IN A CHURCH SPIRE.

>> THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY HAS UNDERGONE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.

THE LOCAL CHURCH USED TO SERVE AS A SOCIAL GATHERING POINT, MORE SO THAN IT DOES TODAY.

>> PEOPLE TODAY ARE AMAZED BY THE FACT THAT HOW SOCIALLY IMPORTANT CHURCHES WERE IN THE TERRITORY, BECAUSE WITH THE EXTREMELY LIMITED SOCIAL OUTLETS THE DRUDGERY OF FARM LIFE IN ANY PART OF THIS COUNTRY CERTAINLY HAS BEEN FORETOLD A THOUSAND TIMES, AND THE LACK OF TOO MANY SOCIAL OUTLETS MADE THE CHURCH A VERY SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE LIVES OF VIRTUALLY EVERYONE.

SO THERE WAS A SORT OF A JOY IN SEEING THEM WHEN CHURCH SPIRES CAME INTO PROMINENCE, WHEN CHURCHES WERE ACTUALLY BUILT.

>> AND SOME OF THESE GREAT SPIRES WERE BUILT FOR REASONS OTHER THAN CALLING PEOPLE TO WORSHIP.

THEY WERE USED AS A RECRUITING TOOL.

>> AND THEN THEY SCANDALIZED SOME PEOPLE BUT IT HAPPENS TO BE A HISTORICAL FACT.

IT WAS ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT IN SMALL TOWNS, ESPECIALLY IN THE DAKOTAS, TO BE THE FIRST TO BUILD A CHURCH, TO BE THE FIRST DENOMINATION.

THOSE WHO BUILT FIRST CHURCHES COULD USUALLY COUNT ON GETTING THE MOST PEOPLE OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DENOMINATION, SO IN SPECIFIC TOWNS THERE, WAS ALMOST A RIVALRY IN MOST CASES TO BUILD THE FIRST CHURCH IN TOWN.

>> MANY OF THESE CHURCHES AND THEIR SPIRES HAVE BEEN LOST TO THE RAVAGES OF TIME.

BUT THE ONES THAT REMAIN ARE WONDERFUL EXAMPLES OF CHURCH ARCHITECTURE.

>> THIS ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH ACTUALLY WAS BUILT AT A COST OF $15,000 TO REPLACE ONE THAT WAS DESTROYED BY LIGHTENING.

IT'S A TWIN TOWER-TYPE CHURCH, IN FACT IT'S SORT OF A MODIFIED, ARCHITECTURALLY SPEAKING, MODIFIED OR GOTHIC CHURCH.

IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE TWIN TOWERS, AND PEOPLE PITCHED ROOFS AND LOTS OF WINDOWS, WHICH WAS CERTAINLY -- THIS WAS THE MOST PREDOMINANT STYLE OF CHURCHES IN AMERICA FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES OF THE 19TH CENTURY AND INTO THE FIRST 20 YEARS OF THIS CENTURY.

>> IN THE TOWN OF TABER IS UNIQUE IN SOME RESPECTS.

EVERYONE IN TOWN IS ALMOST 100% CZECH.

THIS IS WHY ST. WENCESLAS HAS BEEN SO WELL MAINTAINED BUT IT CERTAINLY IS A VERY HUGE PARISH.

IT'S A BASILICA-PLANNED CHURCH WHICH IS FAIRLY COMMON IN SOUTH DAKOTA, ALMOST A T-SHAPED WITH GOT THICK ELEMENTS.

HAS THE FAMOUS ARCHED RIN DOSE AND DOORS, WHICH ARE ALWAYS PROMINENT, AND THE STAINED GLASS PANELS, OF COURSE, HAVE THE CZECH LANGUAGE, AND HAS A VERY NICE TALL BELL TOWER.

IT'S THE KIND OF CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE HARD TO REPLICATE TODAY.

IT'S THE BEST OF GERMAN CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THAT TIME FRAME.

HOLY TRINITY TEE, OF COURSE, WAS THE ONLY CHURCH IN THE CZECH COMMUNITY IN THIS SOUTHERN COUNTY, REALLY AN OUTSTANDING PIECE OF WORKMANSHIP IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WHEREAS THE EXTERIOR IS RATHER PLAN, THE INTERIOR MAKES UP FOR IT IN ITS RICHNESS.

IT WAS MOVED BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN KIMBALL IN 1982, I BELIEVE.

THE CHURCH HADN'T BEEN USED SINCE 1977.

>> ST. PAUL, THE APOST HE WILL, IS REALLY A LATE-COMER IN THE WORLD OF SOUTH DAKOTA CHURCHES.

WHILE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STRUCTURE IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT IT REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST IDEAL OF A MISSION THAT WOULD SERVE THE INDIAN PEOPLE, AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBORING WHITES IN THE AREA SINCE THE 1880S.

>> IT'S EXTREMELY LARGE FOR AN AREA IN SOUTH DAKOTA THAT WAS BUILT OF LIMESTONE AND SANDSTONE.

IT HAS INDIAN MOTIFS THROUGHOUT AND MURALS AND PAINTINGS, AS WELL AS GLASSED WINDOWS.

THEIR SPIRE IS VISIBLE FOR MANY MILES, INCLUDING ACROSS THE RIVER IN NEBRASKA.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE THIRD IN THE SERIES OF CHURCHES BUILD IN HOGAN, AND DATING BACK TO 1888, CERTAINLY.

IT'S AN INTERESTING FACT THAT IT'S THE ONLY CHURCH IN THE TOWN HERE, A TOWN OF 800 PEOPLE.

IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO BY MANY AS THE CATHEDRAL ON THE PRAIRIE BECAUSE OF ITS SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.

IT'S AN EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL CHURCH, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, PROBABLY, IN THE STATE.

IT HAS 130-FOOT TWIN TOWERS, ONE HAS A CLOCK, THE OTHER HOLDS THREE RATHER HEAVY BELLS OF VARIOUS SIZES.

THE CLOCK ITSELF CONTROLS THE BELLS, WHICH ARE USED ON OCCASION, AND HERE WE HAVE A TOWN OF 800 POOL AND IT HAS SEATING ITSELF FOR 1200.

A MAGNIFICENT MONDAY U, ACTUALLY A MUST-SEE FOR ANYONE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, CERTAINLY.

>> TIME DOESN'T PERMIT US TO SHOW EVERY SPIRE ACROSS THE STATE BUT KEN STEWART HAS SOME ADVICE FOR YOU WHEN YOU SEE ONE OF THESE CHURCHES OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

>> IF YOU'RE SCREAMING ALONG THE INTERSTAR A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND YOU HAPPEN TO SEE ONE OF THESE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO REFLECT, SOME TIME TO THINK SOME THOUGHTS.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH A VISIT TO A LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH OR COUNTRY CEMETERY, IT SOMETIMES LAST A VERY POSITIVE, SOOTHING EFFECT.

>> THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A PRAIRIE SPIRE LOOMING ON THE HORIZON, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, SLOW DOWN AND REFLECT UPON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LIVING IN A STATE THAT HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO PRESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE PAST.

WELL, THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "DAKOTA LIFE."

WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THE PROGRAM.

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THE SHOW, OR IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE OR SOME PLACE INTERESTING THAT YOU THINK MIGHT MAKE FOR A GOOD SEGMENT, YOU CAN CONTACT US BY EMAIL AT: DAKOTA [email protected].

OR YOU CAN CALL US AT 1-800-456-0766(V).

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE EXPLORE ANOTHER LITTLE BIT OF "DAKOTA LIFE."

FOR SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION, I'M MICHELLE VAN MAANEN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ CLOSED-CAPTIONING BY PARADIGM REPORTING & CAPTIONING; LISA RICHARDSON, RPR, CRR.