Winthrop in Sibley County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Eagle City, Minnesota

1851 – 1881

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

1. Eagle City, Minnesota Marker

Inscription. This is the approximate site of Eagle City which was settled in 1858 at the halfway point on the Henderson to Fort Ridgely Trail. This was the same year Minnesota became a state. A. (Michael) Cummings built a tavern/hotel which also became a United States Post Office. This post office is on display in the Sibley County Historical Museum in Henderson. Eagle City became a rest stop with food and drink for both stagecoach passengers and horses. The Cummings Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1862 during the Indian Wars. After the Civil War, Mr. Cummings rebuilt the tavern/hotel and again served as postmaster from his home located a short distance west of the hotel. From the 1870's to 1881, Ole Olson was the postmaster at his home located 2 miles north of Eagle City. It was in 1880 that the news came that a railroad would be built leading westerly through Sibley County. Settlers in the area immediately moved to assure that the railroad pass through the Eagle City vicinity. Erick and Brita Olson, who had homesteaded the land on which the city was platted, deeded 45 acres for the town site. The railroad bed was completed in the late

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fall of 1881, and the first train arrived on Christmas Eve in 1881. A railroad man, E.A. Campbell, named the rail station—Winthrop.

This sign placed by the Winthrop Community Historical Society in year 2006.

Erected 2006 by the Winthrop Community Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 44° 32.323′ N, 94° 22.141′ W. Marker is in Winthrop, Minnesota, in Sibley County. It is on Sibley Street 0.2 miles south of 4th Street West (Minnesota Highway 19), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winthrop MN 55396, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota and specifically in the Minnesota River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

2. Eagle City, Minnesota Marker

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sibley County, Minnesota Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Boyhood Home of Governor John Lind (approx. 5.9 miles away); Lafayette Township and Village (approx. 6½ miles away); Bernadotte Lutheran Church (approx. 6.7 miles away); Bernadotte Lutheran Church Monument (approx. 6.7 miles away); Bernadotte Co-op Creamery (approx. 6.9 miles away); New Sweden Creamery (approx. 12.7 miles away); District 6 School (approx. 13.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winthrop.

Also see . . . Winthrop, Minnesota. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on July 22, 2013.)

Bell by Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

3. Bell by Marker

Cast Steel

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

4. Bell

National Bell Foundry Co. Cin. O.
24

Plaque by Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

5. Plaque by Marker

Workmanship on the Eagle City Monument was done by Marvin Messner, Merlin Benson, Lee & Arlin Miller, David Ohland, George Grack. The bell was donated by the Emily Larson Family.

Fountain behind Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

6. Fountain behind Marker

The Harvest Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

7. The Harvest Sculpture

Nearby at 305 North Main Street

Close-up of Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

8. Close-up of Plaque

The Harvest
Winthrop Centennial Sculpture
1881 - 1981
Sculptor - George Bassett
Commissioned - 1980
Dedicated - October 30, 1983
This centennial sculpture is
dedicated to the courageous pioneers
who, with a vision of the
future, settled the
Winthrop area.

Sculpture Donor Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 20, 2013

9. Sculpture Donor Plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,268 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 22, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.