Over 150 Years of History to Go Digital: Final Grant Secures Watertown Public Opinion Archives
- Steve Jurrens
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The full history of the Watertown area is moving from dusty shelves to digital screens. The Watertown Area Community Foundation (WACF) has announced a final $30,000 grant to the Codington County Historical Society, completing the funding needed to digitize the entire Watertown Public Opinion archive.
This third and final installment brings the Foundation’s total investment in the project to $90,000. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the WACF, the Codington County Historical Society, and the Watertown Regional Library.
A Growing Digital Resource
Since the project began in 2024, the community response has been overwhelming. To date, editions spanning from 1870 through 1985 have already been digitized and made searchable.
The impact of making these records accessible online is evident in the numbers:
· Since the portal launched in October 2024, more than 1,100 unique users have accessed the site.
· Those users have logged over 3,200 individual sessions.
· In 2025 alone, the website recorded nearly 53,000 page views.
Preserving Our Identity
For over a century and a half, the Public Opinion has been the primary record of local life, documenting everything from major historical events to the daily “milestones” of births, weddings, and deaths.
“Website visitors are genealogists researching family roots, students completing history projects, business owners tracing company milestones, and community members rediscovering the stories that shaped Watertown,” said Christy Lickei, Executive Director of the Codington County Historical Society.
Foundation Executive Director Cammie Mengwasser noted that the project is about more than just data; it’s about identity. “This project reflects the Foundation’s commitment to stewarding not only financial resources, but also the shared history and identity of the Watertown area,” Mengwasser said.
How to Access the Archives
The first two phases of the project are already available to the public free of charge. Residents and history buffs can begin their search by visiting:
With this final grant, the remaining archives will be processed, ensuring that more than 150 years of Watertown’s story are preserved for future generations.
