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……
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……
Chapter 3
Rebuilding a Community
In the days following the fire, people traveled by wagon from neighboring communities to see the ruins of Utica…..
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……
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 father at the Ellsworth farm.
ABOUT THIS STORY
Story by Tracy Anderson
Location Utica Minnesota
Era: 1885 - 2026
Topics: Barn • Farming • Fire • Family History