(The photo above shows the town of Hermosa in 1912. The HAHA museum, still in use as a school at that time, is on the far right.)
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Hermosa Arts & History Association
Museum and Community Center PO Box 175 Hermosa, South Dakota 57744 
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Museum Hours
Due to ongoing renovations, the HAHA Museum is not yet open on a regular basis. Check our website Events Page for the dates of any open house, or send us an email to request a special tour. HAHA Meetings Members of HAHA gather at 6:30 pm, the second Monday of every month, at the Hermosa Town Office basement meeting room, next door to the HAHA Museum. (Occasionally the meeting is changed to accommodate members' schedules. Check our website Events Page, our Facebook page, or ask to be put on our email list to be sure you are notified of date and location.) New members are welcome! All new members will be encouraged to join one (or more) of the many active HAHA committees that keep the organization running. |
Find us in Hermosa
The HAHA Museum and Community Center is located at 25 North 2nd Street, Hermosa, SD.
You will find us on Main Street (Highway 40) next to the Post Office at the corner of 2nd and Main.
The HAHA Museum and Community Center is located at 25 North 2nd Street, Hermosa, SD.
You will find us on Main Street (Highway 40) next to the Post Office at the corner of 2nd and Main.
The HAHA Museum Building Timeline
1889 -- The two-story building was constructed as the Hermosa Public School, on the location of the present-day school, not far from what is now State Highway 79. The original building had a brick exterior and a bell tower.
1929 -- The building was purchased by the Masons to use as their hall, when the Town of Hermosa decided to construct a new school. The Masons removed the brick exterior and the bell tower, then moved the large structure, using many teams of horses, to its current location. The Masons somehow managed to keep the building's original windows intact during the move-- quite a feat. After the move, the Masons covered the exterior with stucco and added a false front to the north-facing roof peak, as that side faced the highway through town at the time.
HAHA members have been told of a photograph of the building being moved by horse teams; if anyone has such a photo, we would very much like a copy for the Museum.
1929 through 1999 -- The building served as the Masonic Hall for Battle River Lodge #92 and Chapter #142 and #55 of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES).
2000 -- The building was purchased by the newly-formed Hermosa Arts & History Association, when the Masons decided to build a new hall. The founding members of HAHA collaborated with the Masons and a local church to secure the deal, preventing the demolition of the structure. The Masons built their new hall on property adjoining the newly named HAHA Museum.
February 17, 2009 -- Placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Hermosa Masonic Lodge.
Click here for the Museum Renovations page to see the many upgrades HAHA has made to the museum building.
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1889 -- The two-story building was constructed as the Hermosa Public School, on the location of the present-day school, not far from what is now State Highway 79. The original building had a brick exterior and a bell tower.
1929 -- The building was purchased by the Masons to use as their hall, when the Town of Hermosa decided to construct a new school. The Masons removed the brick exterior and the bell tower, then moved the large structure, using many teams of horses, to its current location. The Masons somehow managed to keep the building's original windows intact during the move-- quite a feat. After the move, the Masons covered the exterior with stucco and added a false front to the north-facing roof peak, as that side faced the highway through town at the time.
HAHA members have been told of a photograph of the building being moved by horse teams; if anyone has such a photo, we would very much like a copy for the Museum.
1929 through 1999 -- The building served as the Masonic Hall for Battle River Lodge #92 and Chapter #142 and #55 of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES).
2000 -- The building was purchased by the newly-formed Hermosa Arts & History Association, when the Masons decided to build a new hall. The founding members of HAHA collaborated with the Masons and a local church to secure the deal, preventing the demolition of the structure. The Masons built their new hall on property adjoining the newly named HAHA Museum.
February 17, 2009 -- Placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Hermosa Masonic Lodge.
Click here for the Museum Renovations page to see the many upgrades HAHA has made to the museum building.
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