The past year has been a remarkable one for the community of Lead.
The former Homestake Mine was designated the future site of the national Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory by the National Science Foundation. Crews began pumping water from the mine, closed since 2001, for immediate construction of a state laboratory, where research is likely to begin this year.
Meanwhile, above ground, one of Lead’s most historic structures is being completely restored. The former Black Hills-Fort Pierre Railroad roundhouse, 107 years old, will become home to a restaurant, shops, a railroad museum, and a theater featuring a multi-media history presentation.
Into this activity, in January, stepped the staff of the Rural Learning Center, based in Howard. Black Hills Community Economic Development and the city of Lead joined forces to tap the Center’s expertise.
“The Rural Learning Center, formed in 2002 as a not-for-profit, partners with rural communities and regions around issues of community and economic development,” said RLC executive director Jim Beddow. “We pay particular attention to leadership and citizen involvement.”
He said in Lead he and his staff heard from close to 100 citizens who committed to intensive, hour-long interviews. “That would seem to confirm residents’ commitment to their community, and to their belief that they can shape an attractive future,” Beddow stated. “We heard from all age groups, and from a wide representation of professions—longtime residents as well as newcomers.”
The Rural Learning Center will be back this spring. Staff heard a lot of creative, constructive thinking about future directions, Beddow said, as well as concerns. “Now what we have to determine is, what are the critical issues that must be addressed before the community can move forward?”
Center staff likens those issues to holes in the bottom of a bucket. Until they’re fixed, the bucket doesn’t hold water, regardless of how much is poured in.
A decade ago some South Dakotans doubted Lead could survive if Homestake closed. An immediate indicator that it would remain on the map long-term was the housing market. Home sales have been steady since the closure, said realtor Mike Percevich, “and we saw no drop in values.”
Among topics residents brought to discussions with Rural Learning Center staff were Lead’s infrastructure, financial profile, regional identity and image, leadership at all levels, relationship with Deadwood, schools, YMCA, mining museum and opera house, and its roles as the underground labs become operational.
The Rural Learning Center has won wide praise for its work with small communities the past six years, BHCED executive director Jim Doolittle noted. It is currently working with communities in the Northwest Area Foundation’s Horizons program. The Center is based in Howard because that community, and surrounding Miner County, are recognized as national models for rural revitalization.
