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Dakota Life: Greetings from Springfield

Located near 80-foot chalkstone bluffs overlooking Lewis and Clark Lake on the Missouri River in southern Bon Homme County, Springfield sports a population of around 2,000 folks. A popular fishing and hunting spot, Springfield is home to the Mike Durfee State Prison. 

USD - Springfield

The University of South Dakota at Springfield was a state-supported university founded in 1881 and closed in 1984. Originally Southern State Normal School, it became Southern State Teachers College in 1947, Southern State College in 1964, and finally USD at Springfield in 1971. The rich history of the university and the relationship it still has with the community 37 years after closing is still evident today on the streets of Springfield.  Dakota Life visits with alumni, former professors, and residents of Springfield about the history of the college. 

Setting Sail

When he is not fixing cars, trucks, and pontoon boats at his body shop in Springfield, Greg Stockholm is dreaming of the open sea.  Since 2002 Greg has been working on a 72-foot sailboat destined for deeper waters. When completed the 30-ton aluminum sailboat will sleep 12 comfortably.  In 2017 Greg passed the midway point in his project. Check in with Stockholm on the progress, upcoming milestones, and his goal of sailing around the world. 

Tee Time

Golf and all its accoutrements are a huge part of summer recreation in South Dakota. Mr. Golfcart, which calls Springfield home, has been open since 1993 and supplies golf carts to courses and golfers all over the Midwest. Visit the thriving business and check in with the Springfield Golf Club established by 40 neighbors in 1957 with a beautiful course that overlooks Lewis and Clark Lake. It’s a scenic 9-hole golf course on the bluffs on the Missouri River, modeled after California’s famed Pebble Beach. One of the main goals of the group who helped to design and build the course was to leave the trees that were native to the area, utilize the river to build an irrigation system, and continue to volunteer for maintenance and run the clubhouse.

An all-new episode of Dakota Life premieres Thursday, Dec. 9 at 8pm (7 MT) and rebroadcasts Sunday, Dec. 12, at 1pm (noon MT).