Mellette Association will be recognized at Acts of Excellence event

The Acts of Excellence program, sponsored by Sanford Health, connects us with individuals and organizations who are building a culture of excellence in South Dakota, one act at a time. Please join us and area inductees to celebrate this Act of Excellence on Thursday, April 15th, 2021, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm CT at the Lake Area Tech College, Event Center Level 4, in Watertown South Dakota.

Mellette Association Preserves State History and First Governor’s Home

Back in 1943, a group of Watertown area citizens faced a daunting task – save and restore the Mellette House. The Mellette House, built in the mid-1880s, was home to Arthur C. Mellette, last governor of the Dakota Territory and first governor of the state of South Dakota. Although the house had been an elegant structure when the Mellettes lived in it, after they left Watertown in 1895, the house slowly deteriorated in the years to come. By 1943 the house was in such sad shape that the fire department condemned it. That’s when concerned citizens stepped in. The Mellette House Association was formed, and they paid $500 for the house, beginning a decades' long project to preserve an important piece of the history of both Watertown and South Dakota. 

Today, thanks to the vision and work of the Mellette Memorial Foundation and its president, Prudy Calvin, the Mellette House is one of Watertown’s better-known tourist attractions, drawing thousands of visitors each summer. Calvin joined the board in 1995, became president in 1998, and worked tirelessly to move the restoration project forward. 

To say the task of restoration has been daunting would be understating things. Information from the Mellette House website says, “The appalling condition of the house cannot be overemphasized. One of the first purchases of the Association was $3.25 for nails and boards to nail up the house. There was little money and much work to be done.’’ The website describes the work as ongoing and never-ending. Thanks to a volunteer board and a community willing to help, the Mellette House is a part of South Dakota’s history that can be experienced and enjoyed by generations to come, thanks to the ongoing work to preserve this piece of history.