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Merry Christmas.
Please check back for more photos and information on Minnesota and Wisconsin lost towns, landmarks, stories, tales and more. New post to be posted weekly. Be sure to share your photos and stories.
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 One of the most endearing places in long ago and lost towns is the school. This school in Springstead Wisconsin is iconic and full of history. Now a private home, the school was active for many years and also served as the Town of Sherman Town Hall. My Mother and her siblings went to this school, one of my aunts taught there and my Grandmother cooked school lunches there. Many a community event was held in the school. Lots of memories. Those tall pines in the back were planted by my Mother and Aunt way back in the early 1940's.
 Tonight's sunset was stunning. Bright orange sky layered with pastel blue. Looks like a forest fire. Send in your photos to share, lost towns, historic buildings, abandoned buildings, sunsets and more.
 I've been to Randall Minnesota more times than I can count. The small, friendly town is approximately 10 miles north of Little Falls on Highway 10.
Recently, we noticed that a building located a block of Randall's Main Street looked like a former church. I'd never noticed the building before so had to get a closer look. We took photos and imagined the church's heyday. Thus far we have been unable to find any information on the former church. It's a good reminder that sometimes we take our everyday world for granted. I'll have to look closer when I'm out and about. Share your out and about photos with us.  .This past New Years Eve, the Godahl Store closed its doors for good. After 122 years in business, the store was considered the oldest community coop store still operating in Minnesota, the third oldest in the United States. Built in 1894, it was officially known as the Nelson and Albin Cooperative and Mercantile Association. The store is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The store straddles Brown and Watanwon Counties, just north of St. James near the intersection of #4 and #6. According to recent news reports the store has struggled for years. About 35 years ago suppliers stopped making delivery stops as it wasn't profitable. Many events, some annual, were hosted to keep the store open over the years but sadly, the decision was made to close the store doors this past December. The store was always a community center and it is hoped the building can live on as a community center in the days forward. You can learn more at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheGodahlStore 
Came across this wonderful real photo postcard. Manannah is in Meeker County, MN and was one of the county's earliest settlements. It had a post office from 1857 - 1907. The community was at the heart of the Dakota Conflict, and nearby four area men were killed in an incident that became known as the Manannah Massacre. A historical marker is at the incident site today. In its heyday, Manannah had three general stores, a flour and feedmill, a hotel, a cabinet shop, a creamery, a barber and more.  Lamson was located in Meeker County, near County Road #5 and 740th Avenue. The small community had a post office from 1897-1903. This real photo postcard shows the community in its day. The community is believed to have been named after Nathan Lamson who, with his son, killed Chief Little Crow during Minnesota's Dakota Conflict.  |
AuthorRhonda is a former history teacher and author of four books in the Minnesota's Lost Towns series. Wisconsin's Lost Towns will be out in Spring 2017 Archives
December 2017
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