Note that the HAHA member meeting is usually held the second Tuesday of the month, but is sometimes changed to meet volunteers' schedules. Please check this HAHA website (see below) or Facebook page, or send us an email, to confirm the date of any member meeting. Thanks! (HAHA's email is [email protected])
Saturday, January 11, 2025 -- HAHA members gathered for the annual board election and member meeting. The meeting was held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 386 Main Street, Hermosa. Potluck and conversation beginning 11 am, the member meeting commenced at noon.
Anyone interested in volunteering with HAHA is welcome to attend our monthly meetings, whether you would like to help throughout the year or just for an event or two. We'd love to have you join us to help with arts or local history events, or perhaps the Museum open hours, weekly through the summer months. You do not need to be a long-time Hermosa resident to join-- a number of our members are new to the community.
Saturday, January 25, 2025 -- Button Tree Art Class, hosted by Cathy Dahl A small group of participants created colorful button trees on canvas. See below for photos.
Monday, February 10, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the meeting room under the Hermosa Library.
Monday, March 10, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the meeting room under the Hermosa Library.
Thursday, April 17, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. This meeting was rescheduled for a Thursday because of members traveling on other dates. We will resume our second-Monday schedule in July.
Thursday, May 1, 2025 -- Deadline for applications for the Museum Operations Coordinator position.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. The meeting was changed from our usual second Monday in order to accommodate as many members as possible-- travel season is here.
Saturday, May 10, 2025 -- Museum cleanup day, starting at 9 am. We'll get the Museum clean and organized for the summer, and decide on a new display for our next events.
Saturday, May 31, 2025 -- The Museum was open from 4 to 6 pm for a group of bicyclists, sponsored by RASDak, who are using Hermosa as their staging ground for cycling trips in the area. We had snacks and drinks available for those who stopped by to see the Museum. HAHA members had some good conversations with those participating in Riding Across SD.
June -- the HAHA Museum was open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 4 pm.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. Again, we deviated from our usual second-Monday schedule, so that we could meet before our June 7 opening event for the summer.
Saturday, June 7, 2025-- 3 to 6 pm. -- HAHA hosted a BBQ and Branding Party in front of the Museum. Local ranchers brought their branding irons and burned their brands on rustic wood boards, supplied by HAHA. For a $20 fee HAHA will get a small plaque engraved and mounted, and the brand boards will join those on our Museum walls. HAHA served hamburgers hot off the grill, side dishes, and drinks for a free-will donation. HAHA sends s special shout-out of appreciation to Thrivent for covering the cost of the food. The Museum was open and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Ranchers unable to attend the branding on June 7 -- call Shelley at 605-290-9409. She will coordinate getting you a brand board for each brand you want memorialized. Take the board/s home, brand them, then bring them back. HAHA will have a plaque made and mounted, and will hang the boards on the museum walls. The $20 fee per brand helps fund HAHA programs. Thank you!
Saturday, June 21, 2025 -- HAHA Rummage Sale Fundraiser, 8 am to 3 pm -- On Saturday, June 21, the Town of Hermosa was bustling with the Town-Wide Rummage Sale and the Hermosa Huckster vendors (sponsored by Hermosa Connects). Many folks stopped by the HAHA Museum to pick up some treasures at our rummage sale fundraiser, a few toured the Museum. HAHA had T-shirts, hoodies and ball caps for sale to benefit HAHA. If you want to donate items to the HAHA rummage sale for June, 2026: please send a note to [email protected] or call Tam at 605 - 390 - 1807. Thank you!
July -- the HAHA Museum was open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 4 pm.
July 12, 2025 -- Christmas in July. Local folks and out-of-state tourists joined us at the HAHA Museum making Christmas ornaments for the HAHA Christmas Tree to be displayed at Custer State Park in December. The tree will be decorated to pay homage to the Rural Schools of Eastern Custer County. Ornament-making supplies were provided.
Monday, July 14, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum.
August -- the HAHA Museum was open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 4 pm.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum.
August 7-10, 2025 -- HAHA did not have a booth at the Custer County Fair this year, due to a shortage of available volunteers. Folks were welcome to stop by the HAHA Museum Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4 pm. We also had Christmas in August, when folks could stop by to help us make Christmas ornaments (with an "old-time rural schools" theme, materials provided). The ornaments will be hung on a HAHA-sponsored Christmas tree at Custer State Park this December. A fun time crafting!
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum.
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, October 2-4, 2025 -- HAHA hosted our Second Annual Plein Air "Art Out," find details here. Tuesday, October 14, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting was held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum.
Friday, October 31, 2025 -- Trick or Treat on the HAHA Museum front porch was cold but not stormy. Many of the kids who came by in costume were excited to get a non-candy item (cheese crackers, pretzels, granola bar) along with a chocolate treat. The candy chute was a crowd pleaser. Photos were posted on Facebook and appear below on this page.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting will be held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum. This meeting is one week later than our usual schedule, in order to accommodate members' schedules.
Just before Thanksgiving, 2025 -- HAHA volunteers will set up a Christmas tree at Custer State Park Visitor Center.
From Thanksgiving through the end of December, 2025 -- HAHA will have a Christmas tree on display at the Festival of Trees at the Custer State Park Visitor Center. HAHA's tree has the theme "Rural Schools of Eastern Custer County." Stop by to enjoy the trees and vote for your favorite.
Saturday, December 6, 2025 -- HAHA volunteers will join with other community members to set up the Christmas Carnival at the Hermosa School the day before the big event.
Sunday, December 7, 2025 -- The Hermosa Christmas Carnival and Craft Fair will be held at the Hermosa School, starting at 10 am (volunteers will assemble earlier to get the food ready). Soups, bread from Texas Roadhouse, and desserts will be served buffet-style. Games for the kids will run from 10 am to 1 pm. The Santa Store will be open until 2 pm for kids to cash in their game tokens. Santa and Mrs. Santa will be available for photos and chatting with kids (hours to be announced). A Craft Fair will be open from 10 am to 1:30 or 2pm.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 -- HAHA member meeting will be held at 6:30 pm in the HAHA Museum.
This class took place at the meeting room under the Library, due to lack of running water at the HAHA Museum. (We were working on getting heat for our water pipes in the crawlspace.)
A small group of participants gathered and enjoyed creating a fun button tree-- canvas and buttons supplied by Cathy Dahl.