South Dakota Central Railway

The South Dakota Central Railway was a railroad that ran between the cities of Sioux Falls and Watertown. The railroad was organized and operated by local businessmen.[1] Sioux Falls lawyer Joe Kirby served as the railroad's vice president and attorney.

History

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Construction of the line began in 1904. The new towns were created along the line are as follows: Crooks, Colton, Huntimer, Chester, Nunda, Sinai, Lyons, Lake Norden, Ahnberg, Rutland, Badger, Thomas, Foley, and Hayti.[1] Frederick Maytag invested in the railroad in 1904. At about the same time he established the Maytag Company which made washing machines.[2]

The railroad suffered chronic financial difficulties.[3] It went into receivership in 1908 and was sold in 1916 in accordance with a bankruptcy court order. It was bought by the Watertown and Sioux Falls Railway, which itself was sold to the Great Northern Railway in December 1928.[4][5]

Maytag lost money on his railroad investment, and even reimbursed friends who invested in the venture on his advice.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b The Influence of Railroads Upon the Process and Patterns of Settlement in South Dakota, by James Frederic Hamburg (1970), page 266
  2. ^ a b Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders (1983) H-M page 875
  3. ^ "South Dakota Central, Lake Norden, South Dakota - South Dakota Historical Markers on". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  4. ^ US Interstate Commerce Reports (Valuation Reports) 1927, pages 207-208
  5. ^ Middleton, Kenneth R.; Keyes, Norman C. (Jr.) (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company: Predecessors and Fully-Controlled Subsidiaries". Railroad History (143). Boston, MA: The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society: 16, 18.