Like so many other places in the United States, much of Minnesota was shaped by its rivers. Eager to make use of the power and transportation rivers allowed, early settlers chose to build towns along them. Many thrived and continue to do so to this day. But others, for one reason or another, failed.
That's what happened to West Newton, a former town along the Minnesota River in southern Minnesota. Steamboats made the town a trading hub in the 1800s. It grew in population, becoming a small but thriving town with a promising future. But that ended in 1873. That was the year a railroad bypassed the town, starting it on a path towards decline. Today, West Newton is nothing more than a ghost town. But one thing does remain: its general store. Let's take a look:
Harkin Store was built in 1867 by Alexander Harkin. He had arrived in Minnesota from Scotland 11 years earlier, in 1856.
The general store was also a post office. After the railroad was built, the town of West Newton managed to hold on to its general store and post office until 1901.
After 1901, the store was completely abandoned. Everything sat and collected dust from the day it closed until the store reopened as a museum 37 years later. The store is still full of treasures today. Old ledgers give clues to the daily lives of townspeople.
The shelves and counters are as full of merchandise as they ever were. Nothing is for sale today, but the store is a great reminder of the products and tools people once used that were important enough to keep in stock at the store.
Practical things like old cups, pitchers, and lanterns line the shelves.
And the store served fashion needs as well. Basically, anything you ever needed, you could buy at Harkin Store...
...including medicine. Not only did the general store sell essential tools and operate a post office, but it also provided remedies. Maybe it wasn't a drugstore as we think of it today, but it certainly helped people just the same.
The store also served as a place to gather socially. Since so many people went there to make their everyday purchases, it only makes sense that they stopped to chat with their neighbors. If those walls could talk, they'd probably have more than a few fascinating stories.
The Harkin Store officially opened as a museum in 1938. The Minnesota Historical Society has operated the museum since 1977. This last remnant of West Newton lives on for anyone curious about a time long past. You can visit at 66250 County Road 21 in New Ulm.
The Harkin Store is a fascinating piece of Minnesota history. It's a beautiful reminder of a long-abandoned ghost town that tells the story of its forgotten past. Have you been there? If you like learning about Minnesota's abandoned places, also check out this list of 11 deserted ghost towns in Minnesota.
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