Archaeologists are uncovering history in a Minnesota ghost town

HAWLEY, Minn. — Winnipeg Junction was once a affluent city in Minnesota.
It’s now a ghost city.
Highschool and school college students from close to and much are looking for out the story of the city throughout an archaeological dig.

Winnipeg Junction was a thriving group simply east of Hawley from 1900 to 1910. At one level, it was residence to over 200 residents. The story of the city’s rise and eventual downfall was related to a railroad controversy. It was a battle between railroads over land and a connection to Canada.

Amanda Butler, professor of anthropology at Minnesota State College-Moorhead, says they only determined to make their very own connection to Canada, therefore the title Winnipeg Junction. What they didn’t notice was the soil within the space was too moist to carry a rail line, forcing the railroad to whither away and the group with it.

Buddy Norman has been the landowner for the final 35 years. He has discovered historical past throughout his garden.

“I feel an important factor I’ve discovered is a 1903 Roosevelt commemorative coin that’s in simply actually good condition, as a result of Teddy got here via right here on the practice. He stopped in Dale really. So, I’m positive they have been campaigning,” he stated.

This month, college students at MSUM, together with highschool college students, are trying to find the finer particulars to find the consuming patterns in Clay County.

“Something that may inform us something. Like a hunk of glass is cool but when it doesn’t have phrases or any distinct patterns, you’ll be able to’t actually inform a lot from that. So discovering stuff with designs or distinct rims are useful to search out,” stated Eva Meerdink, an eighth-grade archaeologist from Illinois.

Butler says they hope they’ll reply some questions like, are there some consumption patterns which might be the identical, and in the event that they have been getting alcohol in the identical place.

The crew might be on the market for the following 21 days, hopefully answering the questions and uncovering the fascinating historical past of Winnipeg Junction.