Ghosts of South Dakota Part 1

The location of the Spring Creek School was on a flat, nestled between the cliff on the north and the Little White River on the south. The river flowed in from the northwest, circled to the south of the school about a quarter mile and wended it's way east departing to the northeast. Though I never saw it in my day I imagine this was once a flood plain. Yes, at one time this could easily have been the scene of flash floods. The waters tumbling and sloshing their way across this insignificant piece of ground in a hurry to reach the exit. Time had slowed the waters and erosion had taken it's tole, leaving the west and south in twenty to thirty foot sharp sandy cliffs. The ground sloped to the east leaving a two foot drop off. A sandy graded road approached the large heavy duty bridge, crossed and continued on as a trail road. It's summer and the Little White River gently rolls from bend to bend. We are running back and forth across the bridge stopping now and then to lean over the rail and watch the Indian children splashing in the only deep spot. It was first comers got the choice spot. Big deal! Chest deep to a ten year old. We run off the bridge south. The graded road crosses a big culvert allowing a small spring access to the river where it fans out at the point of entry. We run through the crystal liquid turning it into chocolate and leaving dents in the once smooth sand. This is a child's paradise. Sand so pure, soft and powdery warmed by the sun. The deeper we dig the cooler the sand becomes as it is joined by the moisture below. Our mothers put limits on our water sports. First: we had to wait an hour after the meal to get in the water. Second: polio was a concern in our day and we didn't get to play as often as we thought we should. Third: we were not allowed to swim unless our mothers were with us. With the gardening, house keeping and canning, we were lucky if we got to swim two or three times a week. I guess that is why we spent most of our time on horseback. On the ridge north of the school stood a lookout tower. In the long evenings we would be found always outside, either sitting on the steps, running up and down the fire escapes or in the front yard. This was the only real green grass in the area. It was fenced to keep cattle or horses from trampling it into the mirrored image of its surroundings. This enclosure measured fifty by a hundred feet and was kept watered. A large tree provided the only shade