Keeping history alive

Two of the Keystone Museum’s most important women have been awarded the West River Historical Society’s Sago Conservation Merit award.

Bonnie Zebroski, the Keystone Area Historical Society (KAHS) board treasurer and Bonita Ley, a retired teacher who began the Living History School program, were nominated for the award.

This is the third year the Sago Award has been given.

According to Joanna Jones of the West River Historical Conference, the award began after Bobbi Sago’s unexpected passing.

“Bobbi Sago was the special collections librarian and archivist at Black Hills State University where she was in charge of the Case Library for Western Histoory Studies and the University Archives,” Jones said. “There, (Sago) helped patrons with their research, as well as maintained the archives. She organized and described manuscript collections which included family papers and papers of professional historians.”

This year there were three nominees for the award. According to Peg Aplan, president of the West River History Conference board, the number of nominees varies from year to year.

“We were delighted Keystone submitted two nominations,” she said. “It has a very active historical society with the school and museum.”

The Sago Merit Award is given to “someone who actively supports and promotes the improvement of historical materials and the mission of the West River History Conference. Specifically, the conservation merit award may be given for outstanding and unusual service in photography or other historical area including artifacts, displays, products or projects. The nominees must actively support and promote the improvement of historical materials, demonstrate commitment to historical conservation, make a lasting impact through educational activities, support WRHC’s vision and purpose, and inspire others,” Jones said.

Award winners receive a plaque and certificate for their achievements, thanking them for “preserving the history” of this region.

Both women were nominated by Sandi McLain, a former KAHS board member.

“Bonita has foremost organized, along with the Black Hills Retired Teachers Association, the Living History School,” said McLain. The month long event, usually held in May, “teaches elementary students throughout the Black Hills what it was like during the early 1900’s with education. Students experience the 1900’s curriculum as taught by the teachers. Students and teacher dress in period clothing and attend class in the morning in the Keystone School. They write on miniature blackboards and perform lessons students would have done during this time period. Students learn the history of the 1900s, tour the museum and go on walking tour of Keystone. This program is designed to impact students on American history and is one of two programs that exist in the state. Bonita diligently has organized this program for many years.”

Zebroski has been a long time museum volunteer and currently serves as the KAHS secretary.

“Bonnie’s current project involves creating memorial displays for Bev Pechan who along with Bob Hayes were historians for the historical community of Keystone,” McLain said.

Casey Sullivan, the director of the Keystone Museum, said both women have been, “steadfast in their work for the preservation of history.” He adds, “both have contributed an unwavering source of effort and knowledge to the preservation of our state history and especially our small town’s history.”

The women were praised Oct. 10 at the West River History Conference entitled

“The Double Eagle Year: faces, places of the West.”

Both women were “honored” to receive the 2020 Sago Conservation Merit Award.

“We give our time to the Keystone Area Historical Society by our work at the Keystone. Both of us feel it is important to keep the history of the town, school and museum in the forefront for visitors and local history buffs,” said Ley.