Watertower, Walnut Grove, Minnesota
Posted by: 
NGComets
N 44° 13.465 W 095° 28.253
15T E 302645 N 4899767
Small town watertower.
Waymark Code: WM9NM6
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 09/09/2010
Views: 10
Located in Redwood County, Minnesota, on US Highway 14, Walnut Grove has a population as of July 2008 of 534. This is an 11% decrease in population from the 2000 census.
The area was settled by German, Norwegian, Swedish, English, and Irish peoples and the town was incorporated on March 18, 1879.
Walnut Grove is situated in a thriving agriculture area with plenty of recreational opportunities with many lakes, parks, golf courses, bike trails, camping, and museums. Walnut Grove is known nationwide today as the childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder and visitors can learn all about this famous author and her history in Walnut Grove.
The community of Walnut Grove began in 1870. The 1870's were exciting times. A nation, fresh from civil war, had literally been ripped apart. Its citizens sought new beginnings far from the settled eastern states. The Homestead Act of 1862 urged pioneers, sodbusters and immigrants to 'head west' and make their mark on the great expanse of the Plains. It was a time of change and progress in communications and travel. A telegraph system joined the country from coast to coast in 1861. East and West were joined by rail in 1869.
During the 1870's, the village of Walnut Grove grew. Pioneers settled along the banks of Plum Creek. The land was rich and game was plentiful. Hardships were common on the prairie. A grasshopper plague almost destroyed the settlement in the 1870's. Perseverance, hard work, and a strong Christian faith carried the community through the many hard times.
Lafayette Bedal, the village's first postmaster, opened his home to the children in 1873 conducting school classes in his living room. The Congregational Church was built in the village in 1874. Other buildings included: three general stores, hardware, drug, grocery, flour mill, feed stores, hotel, confectionery, lumber yard, fuel dealer, harness shop, shoe shop, blacksmith shop, meat market, elevator, a doctor's office, a law office, and one saloon.
Walnut Grove was incorporated on March 18, 1879. Its name came from the beautiful grove of walnut trees along the banks of Plum Creek. The first village officials were: Elias Bedal, president; T. Quartan, J. Leo and C. Clementson, trustees; F.H. Hill, recorder; W.H. Owens (William Oleson), treasurer; J. Russell, constable; and Charles Ingalls, justice of peace.
Courtesy of Walnut Grove Website.
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