7 things we learned from 'City of Hustle,’ an upcoming collection of essays about Sioux Falls
In the upcoming anthology, 'City of Hustle' (out Oct. 11), nearly 50 essays about Sioux Falls and its history, readers learn a lot about South Dakota's largest city. There are essays about the diverse communities in Sioux Falls, who immigrated to the area when the city was established by white settlers in the 1800s and more.
But the book isn't just about who came and who was, there are essays about the punk music scene, the importance of the Big Sioux River and iconic landmarks.
Here's seven things I, someone who moved to Sioux Falls in the last year and a self-described history lover, learned about the Queen City.
1. Norwegians loved Sioux Falls
There was a heavy influx of Norwegian immigrants into Sioux Falls during the 1800s. While the city was 63% American in 1880, according to the essay by one of the book's editors Jon Lauck, the remaining 37% were immigrants, the largest group from Norway.
Norwegians owned shops downtown and their descendants opened the Nordic Hall, as a way to remember and celebrate where they had come from.
Also, Augustana University was originally founded as a Norwegian Lutheran college and writer and farmer Ole Rolvaag's cabin is on the campus.
More: Augustana University plans to relocate 4 historic buildings to make space for hockey arena
2. Sioux Falls was once home to the second-largest brewery in the U.S.
Sioux Falls has had a history of loving beer. While we enjoy ales from Fernson's, Remedy and WoodGrain, they're only part of our brew-loving town.
The Sioux Falls Brewing Company, which before being demolished in the 1980s looked like a castle and had been a dairy factory after the brewery closed, was at one point the second-largest brewery in the United States.
The brewery opened its doors in 1875 and was originally known as George A. Knott and Company before changing its name to Sioux Falls Brewing Company in 1883, according to the essay by Austin Lammers.
At its peak in the early 1900s, the company was brewing more than 75,000 barrels a year, becoming the largest brewery in the U.S. next to Milwaukee.
3. The falls of the Big Sioux River were sacred to Native tribes
Before white settlers came to the Dakota territory and established residence along the Big Sioux River and near the falls, Native tribes held the area in reverence.
In the essay by Cheyenne Marco, detailing the history of the Big Sioux River, she writes the first inhabitants of the area lived nearly 10,000 years ago. A second group of nomadic people came to the area between 500 and 800 AD. Later, the Oneota and the Lakota arrived.
The Lakota called the area Watpaipakshan, "where the Sioux River bends," and the area below the falls Tchan-Kusundata, "thickly wooded river."
The falls were considered sacrosanct and tribes "developed a sort of law of nations, by which the banks of the creek are sacred and even tribes at war [met] without hostility," according to Lewis and Clark's interpreter, Mr. Durion.
More: 'City of Hustle' celebrates Sioux Falls history and explores a sense of place
4. Sioux Falls has had a healthy punk rock/DIY scene
Thanks to venues like The Pomp Room and Nordic Hall, rock lovers of all ages have had the chance to watch local bands and national headliners make their way across the stage.
Aerosmith and Metallica played at the Pomp Room in the 1990s between stops on their tours, in an essay about the famed bar by Patrick Lalley.
More: 'You have the memories:' Music fans remember the Pomp Room at sold-out documentary showing
A little band by the name of Green Day also made a stop at Nordic Hall as well during their first tour in the early '90s, according to Elinor Nauen. Green Day has since been nominated for 20 Grammy awards and won five, and has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
5. Who quarried the stone for the state penitentiary
The pink Sioux quartzite that makes up the South Dakota State Penitentiary was quarried by prisoners when the prison was originally the Dakota Territorial Prison in 1881, according to Marty McGoey.
But the prison isn't the only place that has used the strong-as-steel rock. From the Old Court House Museum to buildings along Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls has used the rock quarried over by Falls Parks for nearly two centuries.
6. The Statue of David was involved in two controversies
Believe it or not, people were not thrilled when the bronze replica cast of David was gifted to the city in 1970s by inventor Thomas Fawick. A minister wrote the Argus Leader at the time, saying David was "not art, but sin," because of his nakedness.
The "City of Hustle" essay by Virginia Olson, details when David was place at Fawick Park, he faced the 10th Street viaduct. The city in response to the outcry turned David to face away from the road.
But scandal wasn't over for David yet.
It turns out that the artist, Felix W. de Weldon, lied about having permission from the Italian government to make the bronze cast of David, as well as the Moses statue that stands on the Augustana campus.
Creating casts of David and Moses had been outlawed by the Italian government since the 1880s and de Weldon had used his own plastic casts of the statues, according to Olson.
7. Sioux Falls and the immigrant experience
Various essays throughout the book detail Sioux Falls and the immigrant experience, especially with recent immigrants from Central and South America as well as the Somali, Sudanese and Ethiopian communities.
Essays about Smithfield talk about how recent arrivals to the country work at the meatpacking plant. Other essays detail new businesses that have started in the city that represent these communities such as the bakery Manna and Nicki's.
David Wal Jal's essay "The Lost Boys" talks about how Sioux Falls has the largest group of Lost Boys, former child soldiers from Sudan who were forced to fight for the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Sudanese Civil War that started in the late 1980s.
The work that Lutheran Social Services does to help refugees resettle in Sioux Falls is also highlighted.
Where to buy 'City of Hustle'
The anthology is out Oct. 11. A book launch event is planned at Zandbroz Variety, located at 209 S. Phillips Avenue at 5 p.m. on Nov. 10th.
Folks wishing to buy the book can find it locally or wherever books are sold. People can also pre-order the book on Belt Publishing's website.
Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: 7 things we learned from 'City of Hustle,' Sioux Falls history essays
