THE ELLSWORTH BARN

REBUILT AFTER THE GREAT UTICA FIRE OF 1885

Chapter 1

A Prosperous Farm

In 1885, Utica Township was considered one of the richest agricultural communities in Minnesota. Nearly every resident made a living from the land……

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Chapter 2

The Great Utica Fire

On the morning of May 15, 1885, at approximately 10:25 a.m., disaster struck. A fire broke out at Seefield's Elevator, reportedly ignited by sparks from a passing steam locomotive……

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Chapter 3

Rebuilding a Community

In the days following the fire, people traveled by wagon from neighboring communities to see the ruins of Utica…..

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Chapter 4

The Barn That Endured

The Ellsworth barn was built to last. Constructed using old-growth, "first cut" timber, its massive beams measure ten inches square and twenty-five feet long……

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Close-up of a wooden cabinet corner with visible nails in the wood.
Seven rusty nails laid out on a weathered wooden surface.
Close-up of a red barn with a white curved trim at the top
Close-up of a red barn with a white curved trim at the top

Chapter 5

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, nearly 140 years after the Great Utica Fire of 1885, the Ellsworth barn still stands just north of the village of Utica. The steam locomotives that once passed through …..

Tracy and her Dad Ellsworth Barn Utica MN

Tracy and her father at the Ellsworth farm.

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Excerpt from The Utica Fire report detailing additional particulars of a fire in B. Ellsworth's large barn, mentioning damage and source.
Excerpt from The Utica Fire report detailing additional particulars of a fire in B. Ellsworth's large barn, mentioning damage and source.
Photograph of Benjamin Ellsworth, a bearded man in late 19th-century attire, with a dark suit, patterned tie, and styled hair, in black and white.
Photograph of Benjamin Ellsworth, a bearded man in late 19th-century attire, with a dark suit, patterned tie, and styled hair, in black and white.

The Winona Republican, May 16, 1885

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A vintage illustration of a chestnut horse standing on green grass with the title "Gold Dust" at the bottom.
Ellsworth Barn Utica MN

ABOUT THIS STORY

Story by Tracy Anderson

Location Utica Minnesota

Era: 1885 - 2026

Topics: Barn • Farming • Fire • Family History