The Big Frank Dickinson Homestead

Above is the house that Big Frank grew up in Dickinson. This is where his mother and step-father now live. It is also the home that his mother grew up in, and that his grandfather bought way back some 100 years ago or so. Two full families grew up, three generations, and now with the grandchildren visting, the house is into its fourth generation. The first resident (Big Frank's grandfather) came to Dickinson when it was still Dakota Territory. The house originally had a huge barn in the backyard for horses, carriages, etc. That was torn down when Big Frank was just a kid. The voices, the activities, drama, transitions of time and family love reverberate in the walls. Big Frank feels it.

BFG and DSU

Dickinson meets Dickinson when Big Frank headed up the hill to his alma mater - Dickinson State University. Without getting into too much detail, or any, for that matter, let's just say that there were a lot of memories surrounding Big Frank as he walked the corridors of Dickinson State. No welcome party was there to greet Big Frank, but he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Big Frank tours Dickinson

Big Frank is back in his hometown, his namesake, or is he its namesake - hard to say. In any case, he headed out to hit three well-known local spots to document. The first is the former St. John's Episcopal Church attended by Teddy Roosevelt between 1882 and 1884 when he was living in Dakota Terriory west of Dickinson. It is now a coffe bar: Bad Lands Brew. Above are a few shots taken outside and in along his family: Joan, Kathy, and BJ.

Next we all went to the library. Dickinson has one of those original Carnegie Libraries. This one was originally built in 1908, and now has a generous expansion to it gorgeously fitted out with period Mission furniture.