The Watertown Area Community Foundation has awarded a third and final $30,000 grant to the Codington County Historical Society to complete the digitization of the Watertown Public Opinion archives.

With this third grant, the Foundation has now fully funded the $90,000 project in partnership with the Codington County Historical Society and the Watertown Regional Library.

To date, Public Opinion editions spanning 1870 through 1985 have been digitized and made searchable online. The first two phases, funded by WACF in 2024 and 2025, are already available to the public free of charge at:
https://watertownlib.historyarchives.online/home

The response has demonstrated just how valuable this resource is to the community. Since the archives first became available online in October 2024, more than 1,100 unique users have accessed the site across over 3,200 sessions. In 2025 alone, the website recorded nearly 53,000 page views.

“Website visitors are genealogists researching family roots, students completing history projects, business owners tracing company milestones, and community members rediscovering the stories that shaped Watertown,” shared Christy Lickei, Codington County Historical Society Executive Director.

For generations, the Public Opinion served as the primary record of life in our region, documenting births, deaths, weddings, civic milestones, and major historical events. By digitizing and preserving these archives, the Foundation and its partners have ensured that more than 150 years of local history will remain accessible for current and future generations.

This project reflects the Foundation’s commitment to stewarding not only financial resources, but also the shared history and identity of the Watertown area.

Because of your support, our community’s story is preserved, searchable, accessible, and here to stay.