Woodbine Cottage Experimental Rammed Earth Wall

Built in 1934. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

From the record

One of 44 National Register listings published here for Brookings County · listed in 1991 · category: Structure · built in 1934.

Sources: the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 structure as contributing to the listing.
Address. W of jct. of 10th St. and Medary Ave., South Dakota State University campus, Brookings, 57006
When was it listed? June 1991
Category. structure
City. Brookings city
When was it built? 1934
National Register reference number. 91000849 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

90 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 90 fires within 5 miles of Woodbine Cottage Experimental Rammed Earth Wall between 1999 and 2020, burning about 956 acres in total. None started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	35
Debris and open burning	22
Equipment and vehicle use	14
Misuse of fire by a minor	4
Fireworks	4
Smoking	3
Power generation/transmission/distribution	3
Arson/incendiarism	2
Railroad operations and maintenance	2
Other causes	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
7 September 2003	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	not named
4 September 2003	Debris and open burning	under an acre	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	not named
21 September 2012	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	4.3 acres	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	RYKHUS
30 August 2008	Power generation/transmission/distribution	under an acre	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	not named
21 August 2011	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	HWY 14 POWER POLE
2 August 2008	Other causes	under an acre	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	not named
1 August 2013	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Brookings County	WOGAN CENTER
1 August 2012	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression	SOCCER FIELD

Every fire recorded in Brookings County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 11 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 11 workings within 5 miles of Woodbine Cottage Experimental Rammed Earth Wall: 7 past producers, 4 producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Brookings Sand & Gravel	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
County Pit-Brookings	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Dupraz Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Mannerud Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Sand & Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Sand & Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Sand & Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Sand & Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Sand & Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Brookings County

Storms near this property

60 of 73 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Brookings, the town this property stands in, in 73 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 29 thunderstorm wind, 25 hail, 8 flash flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 12 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
May 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	12 hurt, $5,000,000	Very strong winds, likely the result of a downburst in a severe thunderstorm, destroyed an apartment building, five mobile homes, 15 garages, and 16 vehicles, and damaged many other homes and vehicles. 12 people were treated for minor injuries from the storm. The storm also caused considerable damage to some area farms and the roof of a motel.
June 2001	Hail	Brookings	$2,000,000	Large hail falling over an area 20 miles long and almost 5 miles wide caused property and crop damage. The hail damaged siding and windows of homes as well as vehicles. An estimated 60,000 acres of crops were destroyed or damaged. Hail was discovered piled up 6 inches deep in some fields 6 hours after the storm. The affected area included the city of Brookings, where some of the largest hail was reported.
April 2004	Hail	Brookings	$500,000	Large hail, accompanied by winds gusting to 50 mph, dented vehicles, cracked and broke windshields and windows, dented siding, and damaged roofs.
July 2000	Hail	Brookings	$200,000	Large hail broke windows and otherwise damaged houses and vehicles. The hail also caused significant crop damage.
July 2002	Hail	Brookings	$100,000	Large hail, driven by severe winds, damaged vehicles and crops. The amount of crop damage was not known.
July 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$100,000	no account filed
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines, power poles, and bent other poles and signs. The winds also caused roof damage and extensive tree damage, including numerous branches and at least one large tree blown down.
June 2010	Flash Flood	Brookings	$50,000	Heavy rain caused widespread street flooding in the city of Brookings. Water on numerous roads was high enough to block the roads, with the water quite deep on several underpasses. Yards, several basements, fields, parks, and part of a golf course were also flooded. .
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, and damaged the siding of a mobile home. The winds, along with large hail, also damaged crops, but the amount of crop damage was not known.
July 2010	Flash Flood	Brookings	$25,000	Heavy rain caused flash flooding of several streets and caused water damage to a few businesses.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$20,000	Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and caused tree damage, including several trees blown down. The winds also partially peeled off the roof of a commercial storage building.
September 2019	Flash Flood	Brookings	$10,000	Several streets around town remained flooded, with the underpass on 6th Avenue pooled to several feet.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds of unknown speed caused tree damage, with some branches damaging power lines.
July 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$10,000	no account filed
May 2009	Lightning	Brookings	$5,000	Lightning struck the roof of a house in Brookings, starting a fire which damaged the attic and roof.
May 2002	Lightning	Brookings	$5,000	Lightning struck the roof of a house, knocking a hole in the roof. The lightning shorted out attic wiring, television sets, and a stove. The lightning also damaged a gas line or meter, causing the house to fill with natural gas.
July 2001	Lightning	Brookings	$3,000	Lightning struck a garage, causing a fire in the peak of the garage roof which was quickly extinguished.
July 2001	Lightning	Brookings	$3,000	Lightning struck a house, damaging several appliances and lights.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	$2,000	Thunderstorm Winds of unknown speed blew down tree limbs.
May 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Three cars suffered broken windows from thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree branch along Faculty Drive.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Wind gust measured by South Dakota Mesonet station BKMS2 Brookings 2NE.
July 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	A tree branch 4 to 6 inches in diameter was downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a large tree limb.
June 2022	Hail	Brookings	-	An extended period of dime to quarter size hail occurred just north of Brookings.
May 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	The walls of a local business collapsed after the large south-facing doors failed.
May 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Numerous vehicles were blown over. Trees were snapped with widespread damage to houses and roofs throughout town, and most without power into the next day. The Brookings Marathon scheduled for a couple days later was cancelled.
September 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the South Dakota State Mesonet site 2 miles northeast of Brookings (BKMS2). Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
July 2018	Flash Flood	Brookings	-	Sixmile Creek at gaging site SMCS2 rapidly rose above flood stage at 0400CST and reached moderate flood stage at 0745CST. Rainfall of 6.83 inches was measured 2 miles northeast of Brookings. Numerous township roads were flooded north of Brookings.
July 2018	Flash Flood	Brookings	-	Multiple streets flooding in Brookings. Rainfall totalled 6.83 inches 2 miles northeast of Brookings, 7.50 inches on the southeast side of Brookings and 9.00 inches at Aurora.
July 2016	Hail	Brookings	-	Large hail caused an unknown amount of crop damage.
June 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a one foot diameter tree and several branches blown down.
August 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including some trees over 3 feet in diameter blown down.
July 2010	Flash Flood	Brookings	-	Heavy rain caused flash flooding of numerous streets and basements in Brookings. Knee deep water in several streets was slow to recede.
July 2010	Hail	Brookings	-	Hail was accompanied by heavy rain.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including up to 5 inch diameter branches blown down.
July 2009	Hail	Brookings	-	Hail was accompanied by estimated 40 mph wind gusts.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few trees uprooted.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several limbs and branches blown down.
June 2008	Flood	Brookings	-	Heavy rain caused minor flooding of the Big Sioux River for 3 days, with grassland and farmland along the river flooded.
April 2007	Flood	Brookings	-	Heavy rain at the end of March led to minor flooding along the Big Sioux River near Brookings for a few days. The flooding was confined to a few lowlands along the river.
March 2007	Flood	Brookings	-	Warm temperatures caused a rapid snowmelt which caused the Big Sioux River to rise above flood stage for several days. The flooding was minor to moderate and no significant damage was reported. The river crested at 2.9 feet above flood stage near Brookings on March 15th.
September 2006	Tornado (F0)	Brookings	-	A brief tornado caused no reported damage.
June 2005	Flash Flood	Brookings	-	Heavy rain caused street flooding throughout the city of Brookings. Basements and low areas were also flooded.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down. The winds also blew shingles off the roof of a house.
May 2004	Lightning	Brookings	-	Lightning struck an electrical cable, cutting off power to 180 Brookings customers for a half hour.
June 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including at least one large tree blown down.
June 2002	Flash Flood	Brookings	-	Heavy rain caused flooding of roads in Brookings. One vehicle stalled under a railroad underpass and had water up to the windows.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds damaged a barn, a silo, and tore the roof off a mobile home. The winds also caused tree damage, including fifty to sixty trees blown down on a golf course.
June 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including large branches blown down.
June 1997	Tornado (F0)	Brookings	-	A brief tornado observed by spotters caused no damage.
June 2022	Hail	Brookings	-	no account filed
July 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Brookings	-	no account filed
June 2016	Hail	Brookings	-	no account filed
August 2010	Hail	Brookings	-	no account filed
July 2010	Hail	Brookings	-	no account filed
July 2010	Hail	Brookings	-	no account filed
July 2007	Hail	Brookings	-	no account filed
April 2006	Flood	Brookings	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Brookings County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Wenona Hall and Wecota Hall	under 500 feet	1980
Woodbine Cottage	under 500 feet	1990
Coughlin Campanile	under 500 feet	1987
Coolidge Sylvan Theatre	under 500 feet	1987
Stock Judging Pavilion	0.1 miles	1978
Experimental Rammed Earth Machine Shed	0.3 miles	1993

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 91000849 in Record Group 79.
Brookings County	All 44 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.