Sol Star

Sol Star

Solomon "Sol" Star (December 20, 1840 – October 10, 1917) was an early resident of the town of Deadwood, South Dakota.

Star was born in Germany to Jewish parents. When he was ten years of age, his family moved to Ohio. When he grew older he moved to Helena, Montana, where he served as territorial auditor and personal secretary to the governor. He partnered with Seth Bullock in a hardware store, and in August 1876, the partners, attracted to Deadwood by the promise of a great deal of business stemming from the gold rush, purchased a lot there from Sam Schwartzwald and Henry Beaman, and opened the Office of Star and Bullock, Auctioneers and Commission Merchants. They eventually also partnered in livestock ranching as the S&B Ranch Company, and with Harris Franklin in the Deadwood Flouring Mill, in 1880, where Star was general manager. The duo expanded their business interests to the towns of Spearfish, Sturgis, and Custer.

Bullock and Star contributed further to the economic development of the region by convincing the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad to build a track, by offering them 40 acres (162,000 m²) of free right-of-way across their land when a speculator purchased the right of way to Minnesela and demanded a high price from the railroad. The railroad built a station three miles northwest of Minnesela, South Dakota, in 1890, and Bullock and Star were instrumental in founding the town of Belle Fourche there, offering free lots to anyone moving from Minnesela. Belle Fourche became the largest railhead for livestock in the United States, and stole the county seat away from a declining Minnesela.

Bullock and Star's hardware store in Deadwood burned down in 1894. Rather than rebuild, they built Deadwood's first hotel on the site, a three-story, 64-room luxury hotel with steam heat and indoor bathrooms on each floor, at a cost of $40,000. The Bullock Hotel continues to operate to this day, now incorporating a 24-hour casino.

Star was elected to the first town council in 1876, became town postmaster in 1877, and was elected mayor in 1884, serving ten terms for a total of 14 years. He also served as a Republican legislator after statehood, and as Lawrence County Clerk of Courts for twenty years, until his death. He was never married.