St. Onge

Hubby and I did a geocaching road trip during our time in the Black Hills. We stumbled across the community of St. Onge, population 26, rural population of about 350. As I was preparing this post, I did some online research and have included several links at the end of my post. Check them out as two are of photos and another a commentary of a long-time resident.

St. Onge is along Highway 34, southeast of Belle Fourche.

"St. Onge is reported to be one of oldest communities in all of the Black Hills. It shows dates carved on beams of old buildings and root cellars go back to the 1830s. The town was named by French fur traders who settled in it to tap the supply of beaver skins from the Hills. Several stone buildings still remain along the main street of the old French community, which is southeast of Belle Fourche. Submitted by: Henry Chenoweth." ~ Ghost Towns of South Dakota

this is where Rosie brought her eggs to sell

(see link at end of post)

this is a HUGE produce building for the size of the town

not certain the use of the 'tower' on the produce building

not certain of the original intent of this large brick building

seems to be in use today, but not as an active business

this may have been a bar in its more recent history

looks like it may have been a hotel

but then Furios looks like it could have been a hotel, too

this is ranching country

St. Onge still has a very large & active Livestock Sales

But the reason we stumbled upon this hamlet was the cemetery and the stone house.

 green rolling hills make this spot a lovely final resting place

interesting head stone

close-up of small stones

I recognize rose quartz

I disliked learning and teaching the science unit on rocks

wish now that was not the case

another local stone covered headstone

THIS is what piqued my interest in St. Onge. I had seen a photo of this house posted with a geocache. I was tickled pink to know we were close by and I could take my own photos of this interesting and unique abandoned home. Who lived here? Were they ranchers? No other evidence of ranch buildings. What did they do for a living? Where are they now? Seems like a fancy house for a ranch.

north end

it sits on the corner of two county roads

about a mile south of town, close to the cemetery

west side

very symmetrical

the front door

notice the red brick arch over the door

and first floor windows

south end

I did not go through the gate to explore more closely

(photos below show that someone else did)

dormers on the windows on the second floor

this was quite the house in its day

it has beautiful views of the rolling hills

This area of the Hills was settled by Danish immigrants. We missed two other interesting St. Onge sites; maybe next time. Here several links to more St. Onge info.

St. Onge Stone House-Abandoned South Dakota

Rosie Ridley - Elders' Wisdom, Children's Song: South Dakota

Most Interesting Photos from St. Onge, South Dakota