SDAN Member Gallery One - RonBacker
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Sylvan Lake Hotel
© Ron Backer

(oil/canvas, 18"x 24" framed)

$2500

Theodore Reger migrated from Pennsylvania to the Black Hills in 1877. He had some of the first sawmills in the Black Hills. The original hotel on Sylvan Lake, depicted in this painting, was built by him with the help of his brothers Charles and Cornelius. Theodore's wife Lizzie, who had no architectural training, drew the plans for the hotel. It consisted of 66 rooms, a dining room, a confectionary store, and a large kitchen. It opened in July of 1895. The lake, completed in 1892, was originally called "Custer Lake", later named "Sylvan Lake", and became part of Custer State Park in 1921. In 1935, the hotel burned to the ground. In 1937, the current Sylvan Lake Lodge was opened.

Trolley Stop
© Ron Backer

(oil/canvas, 16"x 22" framed)

$2700

Horse drawn street cars provided transportation in some South Dakota towns in the late 1880's. Pierre had their hayburners and Huron's street railroading took place 1886-1890. The Deadwood Street Railroad operated December 1888 to the summer of 1892 and Sioux Falls trolleys operated between 1887 and 1896. The Sioux Falls system eventually reached eight miles of track with fifty horses, six cars and fourteen employees. Rapid City's horse drawn street cars were installed to provide transportation down Main Street to the Elkhorn Depot. The initial run on September 10, 1886 did provide some excitement. At the end of the run saying "whoa" and applying the brake were not synchronized. Suddenly the air was filled with flying hoofs and gravel. It was still deemed a success. 

Fresh Snow
© Ron Backer

(oil/canvas, 18"x24" framed)

$1500

Fresh snow on an empty hill brings joyous shouts from the children. This is winter joy in the sharp clean air. Smiles flash as down the slope they glide and then the laughing children trudgingly pull their sleds back up the hill. Sleighbells ring as the carriages clatter by.

Fall Pastoral
© Ron Backer

(oil/linen, 22"x26" framed)

$2200

I just love the autumnal colors and I've always referred to cattle as my "friends".