Otter Tail County
richdale
Richdale :46°33′17″N 95°28′30″W
est: platted in 1899
Pop: Unknown
township: Butler
Township pop: 256
Notes: Platted in 1899 and named after Watson Wellman Rich, a railroad engineer. A post office followed in 1900, serving the community until it closed in 1916.
Mostly located under the Highway 10 four-lane overpass built around 1975, with little visible today.
heinola
Heinola: 46°27′22″N 95°24′26″W
Est: Early 1900’s
Pop: Unknown
township: Otto, Newton, Deer Creek, and Leaf Lake
Notes: Heinola still holds some quiet reminders of its past. Once home
to a creamery, a local baseball team, and a hub for nearby farmers, Heinola was a gathering place for the surrounding community. Today, just a few residents remain—but pieces of that history are still standing.
More photos and history HERE
luce
Luce: 46°39′28″N 95°39′10″W
est: platted in 1884
Pop: 2
Township: Gorman
Township Pop: 456
The town of Luce no longer exists. It was largely erased when Highway 10 was constructed, leaving just one remaining home. This summer, I spent time with Donnie and Loren, who shared stories from their childhood growing up in Luce. The railroad still runs through the area, passing by what was once their family home.
A short distance north, the Otter Tail River was a familiar place from Loren’s childhood, where he spent time fishing and playing along the banks. This fall, I also spent time with August and his wife Betty. August (photographed above) showed me around the township and the former town site of Luce, sharing additional history and memories tied to the area.
For oral Donnie telling the story of why Luce never was incorporated go HERE.
carlisle
carlisle: 46°58′15″N 96°32′50″W
est: platted in 1879
pop: unknown (there were approx 1o houses in town)
Township: carlisle
township pop: 178
Notes: Stewart Ollila stands before a massive Boxelder tree planted in the late 1870s and once named the state’s largest by the DNR. Behind him to the right, an empty lot marks where the town’s gas station once stood along County Road 88, a trace of commerce before Interstate 94 rerouted traffic.
A post office operated in Carlisle from 1880 to 1960.
phelps
phelps: 46°22′50″N 95°49′14″W
Est: late 1800's
pop: unknown
Township : maine
Township: 665
Notes: Phelps grew around the mill along the Otter Tail River. Completed in 1889, Phelps Mill became the economic center of the area for decades, shaping the town’s early life and drawing people, work, and commerce to this spot.
Today the mill is a historic site and a place many people still visit. I grew up stopping here on the way to the lake and still do. The blue house once served as the general store during the mill’s heyday—and later as a small shop where I’d buy candy and Superman ice cream. The white house on the hill, seen through the mill window, is where the mill owner once lived.
A short video from Prairie Public offers a great overview of Phelps Mill and its history—click HERE to watch.
basswood
basswood: 46.4555155°N, -95.6933794°W
Est: late 1800's
Town pop est: 10+
Township: oscar
Township: 208
Notes: Jessie, photographed above, was tending to his cattle while sharing stories about life and farming in Basswood. I also met two of his children, who raise their own cows. The old general store, still standing, marks a piece of Basswood’s history. For an oral account of rural living from Jessie, go HERE.
maine
maine: 46° 24.738′ N, 95° 49.01′ W.
Established: Late 1870's
Town pop: 4
Township: maine
Township Pop: 667
Notes: Mike Zelinsky (photo above) lives in his childhood home, which he bought from his parents, and Kyle, who lives in Fergus Falls, was working on the roof of the old general store, once a hub of the town and later an antique store. I have fond memories of stopping at the store with my grandparents and my sister-in-law when we were at the lake.
For more on the history of Maine, including the township’s founding, the Old Maine Store, the stagecoach line, and notable residents, click HERE.
wall lake
wall lake: 46°17′27″N 95°57′53″W
Established: 1870's
Town pop: 4
Township: Aurdal
Township Pop: 1540
Notes: Terry, photographed in his yard, is retired after a long career as a trucker. Another photo shows John with his farm in the distance; he grew up in the area and has been farming most of his life.
Wall Lake took its name from the nearby body of water, and a post office opened there in 1870, connecting the community until it closed in 1906.
Information on this page sourced from Wikipedia , oral history.