Theodore S. Shoemaker
Custer, SD
1933, 790, Hazelrodt, F-11, USFS Project Superintendent
1934, 2751, Oreville, F-16, USFS Project Superintendent
1935, 2760, Hill City F-16, USFS Project Superintendent
Forest Supervisor's Home was built in1927. It was built as the State Forester Supervisor's home located at 16A and 87 N. In 1920, Theodore Shoemaker was named Custer State Park Superintendent. In the 1930's, Shoemaker was the superintendent of forestry personnel in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and lived in the residence. He held that position for fourteen years.
Theodore Shoemaker
Birth: Nov. 10, 1874 Germantown, Adams County Pennsylvania, USA
Death: Mar. 19, 1953 Custer, Custer County South Dakota, USA
Theodore Shoemaker was from the Keystone and Custer area. He was one of 60 cowboys that were a part of Captain Seth Bullock's Cowboy Brigade that went to Washington DC in March or 1905 to ride their horses in the inaugural parade to honor President Teddy Roosevelt and was one of the earliest forest rangers in the Black Hills National Forest.
Mr. Shoemaker was a former sheriff of Custer County, SD. He resigned as county sheriff in 1918 to become State Forester. It was during this period that that he served as a guide to Gutzon Borglum and his party seeking a site for the carving of MOUNT RUSHMORE memorial which resulted in the selection of Mt. Rushmore.
Theodore Shoemaker was born in Germantown, PA and moved with his family to River Sioux, Iowa in 1879. He was married to Ethel Harold in Chadron, NE April 19, 1910.
He passed away at the Miller Convalescent Home after an illness of several years. His cause of death was listed as prostatic carcinoma.
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