(Wild West) Wood Stage Station Sydney to Deadwood Trail ~ Hot Springs South Dakota
(*Just beyond the Historical Marker is the Colorado River)
Approximately 125 yards east of this spot the Wood Stage Station served as a stop on the Sydney to Deadwood Trail. This station offered the first glimpse of the Black Hills to travelers seeking their fortune in the newly opened gold fields. The station, in operation from 1876 to 1888 was run by Lt. William Wood and his wife Susanna (Friday) & their four children - Ruth, St. Clair, Paul, & Leo. Lt. Wood had served as aide-de-camp to General George Custer during his expedition to the Black Hills in 1874. After mustering out of the army in 1875, Wood got his start in the stage business by building a stage depot in Deadwood in 1876. This stage station, in addition to the standard facilities for handling the horses, stage coaches, & wagons passing along the trail, offered a dining room for the drivers & passengers on the stage line. During the height of travel along the trail in 1878-79, it is estimated that over 25 million pounds of freight passed the station on its way to settlers in the Black Hills.
***In 1874, because of its location on the railroad, the Sidney barracks became the supply point for all military & Indian Department supplies destined for points to the north in the Pine Ridge. The following year, gold was discovered in the Black Hills. A railroad connection was needed to bring supplies to the miners & more importantly, to carry gold to the banks on the coast. The trail to Fort Robinson was extended & the Sidney Deadwood Trail was born.
A large number of both failed and successful robberies led to the demand for increased military protection in the region. In 1878, Sidney barracks became Fort Sidney.
Sinful Sidney toughest town on the tracks, wickedest town in the WEST. These were just some of the names used to describe the town of Sidney, Nebraska....& with good reason.
In 1867, the Union Pacific Railroad was laying their tracks through western Nebraska to Wyoming border. Sidney just happened to be the division point & Lodgepole, Brownson & Potter were the local train stations. To protect the workers, supplies & equipment the United States Army stationed a company of infantry here in Sidney as a sub-post of Fort Sedgwick in Colorado.
(Wild West) Wood Stage Station Sydney to Deadwood Trail ~ Hot Springs South Dakota
(*Just beyond the Historical Marker is the Colorado River)
Approximately 125 yards east of this spot the Wood Stage Station served as a stop on the Sydney to Deadwood Trail. This station offered the first glimpse of the Black Hills to travelers seeking their fortune in the newly opened gold fields. The station, in operation from 1876 to 1888 was run by Lt. William Wood and his wife Susanna (Friday) & their four children - Ruth, St. Clair, Paul, & Leo. Lt. Wood had served as aide-de-camp to General George Custer during his expedition to the Black Hills in 1874. After mustering out of the army in 1875, Wood got his start in the stage business by building a stage depot in Deadwood in 1876. This stage station, in addition to the standard facilities for handling the horses, stage coaches, & wagons passing along the trail, offered a dining room for the drivers & passengers on the stage line. During the height of travel along the trail in 1878-79, it is estimated that over 25 million pounds of freight passed the station on its way to settlers in the Black Hills.
***In 1874, because of its location on the railroad, the Sidney barracks became the supply point for all military & Indian Department supplies destined for points to the north in the Pine Ridge. The following year, gold was discovered in the Black Hills. A railroad connection was needed to bring supplies to the miners & more importantly, to carry gold to the banks on the coast. The trail to Fort Robinson was extended & the Sidney Deadwood Trail was born.
A large number of both failed and successful robberies led to the demand for increased military protection in the region. In 1878, Sidney barracks became Fort Sidney.
Sinful Sidney toughest town on the tracks, wickedest town in the WEST. These were just some of the names used to describe the town of Sidney, Nebraska....& with good reason.
In 1867, the Union Pacific Railroad was laying their tracks through western Nebraska to Wyoming border. Sidney just happened to be the division point & Lodgepole, Brownson & Potter were the local train stations. To protect the workers, supplies & equipment the United States Army stationed a company of infantry here in Sidney as a sub-post of Fort Sedgwick in Colorado.