Powell, South Dakota
Posted by: 
NGComets
N 45° 17.295 W 099° 01.877
14T E 497546 N 5014972
A group of Welsh immigrants started the town, which is no longer in existence.
Waymark Code: WM8KPM
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 04/15/2010
Views: 5
The town of Powell was once located on SD Highway 45 about 10 miles south of Ipswich, SD., in Edmunds County.
All that remains is a park where the town once stood. A small grove of trees and an outdoor toilet (rustic) is visible from the highway.
A Welsh Colony of over 300 members put their roots down at this spot SW of Aberdeen in 1883.
These 30 families arrived in Aberdeen by railroad on 22 March 1883, and arrived at this spot on March 29th and built the 'Big Shanty or Shanty Mawr' where they all lived until moving to their respective homesteads. More families arrived from North and South Wales.
The 'Big Shanty' was moved to this site in 1883, and a post office was set up by 7 July 1883. A general store, a Methodist Church, and a Congregational Church, were organized and built. All but the Methodist Church and general store were disbanded because of death, discouragement, and hardship, and only the hardiest farmers remained.
On 2 June 1911, the Methodist Church was destroyed, and the general store badly damaged, and four farmsteads wiped out by tornado. The Church was immediately rebuilt and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1911.
On 8 June 1958, the decendants celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the establishment, to commemorate the faith and loyalty of those hardy Welsh pioneers.
Reason for Abandonment: Economic
Date Abandoned: 07/01/1948
Related Web Page: Not listed
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