River Sioux Park

  Centennial Mill...A grist mill, located near the Hunter bridge east of Jefferson, was moved up the river around 1869 by L. N. Crill.  The mill was moved east of Richland for convenience since there was a ferry crossing there.  The site between known as Riversioux Park.  Mr. Crill was a popular miller in a large area because of the excellent product he put out and his hospitality toward his customers.  In a short time he developed a fine business at this mill.   In 1876 Crill built a three story mill and barn at the Riversioux location, naming it Centennial Mill. Around 1910 his son began a seed corn business shipping a carload a day and, it has been written, would ship two carloads a day if there were enough cars.

The dam itself, with its flume of two water wheels provided the power for the flour mill and later  was the source of electric power.  It was an imposing sight to see the wheels going with the long, strong, wire cables running from the flume wheels at the river to the wheels in the mill proper.  These wheels were probably six to eight feet across.

Legend has it that Riversioux Park was born when area farmers danced to the fiddle of Louis Crill as they waited for the Crill Mill to grind their grain into flour.  A  dance pavilion was built in 1907 (enlarged twice) and later a roller skating rink was added. There was  also a beach for swimming where suits could be rented.  Fourth of July celebrations and the Old Settlers' picnics were held there for many years and drew large crowds. 

  Summer Resort...Riversioux  Park was also  a summer resort with cottages occupied by families from Elk Point, South Dakota and the surrounding area.  Promotional stationery proclaimed: "Riversioux Park, on the Sioux at Crill's Mill, Season May 15 - October 15, the Ideal Summer Resort, Cottages, Camping, Outings, Fishing, Boating, Bathing, Dancing, Picnics, Swings, Merry-Go-Round, Baseball, Bowling, Tennis..."  It was prestigious to own one of the 15 cottages north of the pavilion, or perhaps even to rent one.

  The Pavilion...Crowds of 5,000 and 15,000 persons once gathered at his small amusement park across the Big Sioux River from Westfield, Iowa.  They came to hear Lawrence Welk and his five piece band play once a month at the pavilion.  There were old-fashioned dances on Tuesday nights, modern dances on Friday nights, and roller skating on Sunday and Thursdays.  The open air pavilion could be quickly closed in during rain storms by bringing up wooden shutters over the large window openings.  The pavilion was a landmark when it was enlarged, with the addition built around large cottonwood trees, with openings in the ceilings for them, and some of the booths built around them.  This 1913 photo show the pavilion before it was expanded to encircle the cottonwood trees.  Pictured in the left corner, standing in one of the window openings, is Louis Crill III. 

L. N. Crill served as Secretary of Agriculture for South Dakota from 1927 until his death.  Other early day names include: Dickerson, Brammer, Swoyer, Clementson, Squires, Chamberlain, Bihlmeyer, Webber, Holden, Seward, Fate and Stoddard.

 Sources
 Akron, Iowa Centennial Book  1882-1982
Elk Point, South Dakota Quasquicentennial Book 1859-1984
The Early Settlement of Union County, South Dakota by W. H. H. Fate