September 21, 2007
The movie "Into the Wild" based on the book by Jon Krakauer and adapted
and filmed by actor/director Sean Penn was premiered at the
Aberdeen film festival on September 21, 2007. Segments of
the movie were filmed in Carthage
in June and July of 2006. Into the Wild opened in theaters
nationwide on October 5, 2007.
March 7th and 8th, 2009 The Carthage Community Play Every year during the first weekend in March, the citizens of Carthage are entertained by locals performing the annual melodrama.
"Here Come The Cows" or "Never Say Moo In Mesa" was this years pick. There were approximately 700 who attended the two night event. After each performance free pie and ice cream are served. Free will donations are appreciated and proceeds from the two night event go toward town improvements and projects overseen by the Carthage Improvement Association. (CIA)
Coughlin Sign and other Historical Signs Placed in Carthage
Four historical signs were placed in Carthage. The main sign is on the south edge of Carthage. This sign tells about Charles L. Coughlin. The second sign was placed in front of the Coughlin family home on Main Street. The third sign was placed at the site of the future straw bale museum and the fourth sign is located next to the remains of the Carthage Roller Mill east of the railroad tracks.
Carthage is the birthplace of Charles L. Coughlin. He was born in Carthage on Nov. 10, 1885 and received a degree in engineering from South Dakota State University in 1909. Coughlin ultimately became president of Briggs & Stratton Corporation. He also donated the funds to construct the campanile at SDSU in 1929. Coughlin died in 1972. Coughlin's mother and father, James and Ellen, moved to Carthage in 1883 from Kansas. One year later, Coughlin's older brother, Carthage James Coughlin, was the first child born in the town. So Frank Ward, the city's founder, gave the Coughlin family a town lot. A 13-room house was built there and still stands today operating as the Coughlin House Inn.