Ellsworth’s history is
mostly unwritten
The public archives hold just one old photo of Ellsworth. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.
The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗Early history: Ellsworth is located in Grand Prairie Township in the extreme southwestern corner of Nobles County. The township was organized in 1873, though settlers had taken up residence in the township as early as 1871. One of these early settlers is known in history only as "Uncle" Stillwell. Mr Stillwell made a claim to the land where Ellsworth now stands, and he established a small store on his farmstead, supplying the needs of local farmers. He also operated a peddler's wagon in the vicinity. Mr. Stillwell had great confidence in the future of the region, and often remarked that a town would one day be located on his property, or very near to it. However, Stillwell packed up and left the area two years before the town of Ellsworth was eventually established in 1884. Ellsworth sits on Stillwell's former claim, and the business district of the town is located less than 1/…
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Timeline
built from the dates on the items belowStart Ellsworth’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Ellsworth’s history is told.
1 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewEllsworth postcard 1910-1, 1910: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Ellsworth, decade by decade
1990s
Nothing in Ellsworth is on the National Register yet
That’s true of most small towns. It doesn’t mean Ellsworth has no history, only that no one has written up a nomination. The closest listed place is Siemer Silo and Barn in Grand Prairie, 4 miles away.
Ellsworth and the nearest listed places
How a place gets listed
Then & now
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as Ellsworth postcard 1910-1 (1910) and it appears here side by side.
🔁 Retake this view · +15Stories next door
nearby towns’ historyFrom Wikimedia Commons (3). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.