Day 35 Wood Ducks, A monastery, classic homes and more.

 For a Sunday, that  (title) seems to be a lot to cover, but that did NOT include Beakfast at the " Fryin' Pan" where we ate the first night. Attending the First UMC services at 11:00 allowed a liesurely start to the day. We were warmly greeted and were pleasantly surprised to listen to a presentation from the man who runs a "Community Service " Center ("Tree of Life") on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. He and his wife have been there ten years, this being his final week. That mission (UMC) covers six counties and 14,000 clients where the unemployment is at 80%. There is nuch need there and this congregation assists in every way they can, to help. We also were treated to the YOuth Bell Choir and the Adult Bell Choir . They were excellent and played "Mighty To Save"by Ben Fielding and Rueben Morgan. It is a three octave choir wth 11 ringers and an added bass player.

The First United Methodist Chrch of Yankton, SD. Established in 1860 when the "circuit rider" used a paddle wheel boat to arrive. His first service on the banks of the Missouri was interupted by two drunks having an argument. It has been a continuous congregation since then.

After a healthy breakfast and a short exchange with  "Nick" our waiter , who is majoring in Special Education (Elementary level) at Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell SD, we changed clothes  and headed to do a "tour of the city".  That included the waterfront, some parks, a Monastery and many classic homes from the 1800's.

There were 15 or so homes that we photographed and there were dozens more that we did not. They were well kept , and manicured so to speak.
(See pictures at bottom)
As we had seen the Mount Marty (Mar-tay) College campus and the Chapel the day before, we wanted to go back again and see if we could get inside. We were able to, and a nun of the Benedictine Order (OSB) who was the sacristan, met us as we were walking inside. She greeted us and offered to turn on the chapel lights for us. Two of their sisters had died this week,  just 2 hours apart and they were having the wake this

Ruth chased this Wood Duck until it "stood  still" for her.

evening and the funeral Mass tomorrow. She was in charge of the arrangements.  This order  of ladies serves the Native American communites in the Dakotas as did the two nuns whose funeral will be tomorrow.

                                                                                          One of the dozens of classic older homes in
                                                                                                                    Yankton.

The last part of the day was the tour of the city looking for parks, where we found only the Wood Duck ona pond, and those classic 1800's homes. Most were built in the 1880's.

The Mount Marty name comes from the Bendictine  missionary Martin Marty who worked among the Native tribes in the Dakotas and Montana.  He became bishop of the Dakota Territory and was a leader in the catholic Church.


A wonderful view from the neighborhood of 
the Missouri River . These were huge, well 
manicured homes overlooking the River.

As the picture indicates, the Missuri River meanders and is very unpredictable in how it forms its banks and cliffs. It is easy to see how sandbars and oxbows can be formeed along ts course.


 In the sanctuary of the  chapel there is also a chapel in the lower level (used primariy as a confernce room and activity room). There were students practicing music there when we entered.
                                                                                         
                                                                                     The sanctuary of Mount Marty (Mar-tay) (sic)
                                                                                                  of the  Roman Catholic Chapel 

Tomorrow we will explore the Gavin Dam area and Lake Lewis and Clark.

The Baptismal Font at the Chapel

 Here are a few of the homes and I will let the pictures tell the story except that the one on the left is the tallest "Queen Anne" Building in South Dakota.

Use of field stone on this one.

                                                                                                    This is a garage that matches the house.