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Murray County:
Murray County hosts
Lake Shetek State Park
and
nine other county parks
where some of our earliest history can be explored. Murray County
has something for everyone; Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Golf,
Shopping, Dining and several festivals and events scheduled
throughout the year.
Currie:
At the End-O-Line Park & Museum. Learn from the educational
exhibits, railroad equipment and history. Ride the manually operated
turntable. Children ride miniature Hilfers train. Reminisce in the
country school, general store and gristmill. See Veterans Memorial.
Access bike trail to Lake Shetek State Park. In Currie, visit the
unique Currie Corner Store.
 www.endoline.com
Buffalo
Ridge
The western edge of Murray County
is famous "Buffalo Ridge". The tip of the ridge is over 1900 feet
above sea level and is one of the highest points in the state. The
ridge is the dividing line between the two major watersheds in the
country, the Mississippi and Missouri River systems. Buffalo Ridge
was well known by the Sioux Indians. It was undoubtedly a place of
religious significance. Early explorers discovered several rock
outlines that had been made there by the Indians. Near the summit of
the ridge was once an Indian cemetery that was scattered over a mile
of ground. At the very tip there still remains an Indian Smoke Pit.
The earliest explorer to document our immediate area was Joseph
Nicollet. He was a French scientist that led a government expedition
through our area. On June 28, 1838, Nicollet described Buffalo Ridge
and Lost Timber in his notes that were later compiled and printed in
a book.
www.murray-countymn.com
Slayton:
Slayton was surveyed and platted in
1881 and named after Charles W. Slayton, a land agent for the St.
Paul and Sioux City Railroad. The village was incorporated in 1887
and became the official county seat in 1889. It achieved this
distinction after a heated and lengthy battle with Currie which was
the county's first county seat by virtue of being the only
settlement in the county at the time.
Located at the intersection of U. S. Highway 59 and State Highway
30, Slayton is the hub of the county. It still has three banks and
six churches, a high school and elementary school and a business
district that continues to hold its own.
http://slayton.govoffice.com
Fulda:
Fulda is located on Highway 59 just
15 minutes north of I-90 on the gently rolling prairie plains of
Murray County in southwestern Minnesota. The prairie of this area of
Minnesota provides a variety of high quality natural resources
including productive soils, many lakes, small streams, a multitude
of marshes, abundant wildlife and lots of clean air. Fulda
encompasses the north shore of beautiful Seven Mile Lake, a 177 acre
recreational lake. Fulda was established in 1881 as a railroad
community. America was stretching out into the rich agricultural
promise of the Great North American Prairie and immigrants from
Europe were pouring into the United States. Settled by German,
Irish, and Scandinavian immigrants, Fulda is still predominantly an
agricultural community even today.
Avoca:
Avoca,
Minnesota is located in the eastern part of Murray County. The
lakeshore of Lime Lake wraps around the north and west side of
Avoca. A monument at the wayside rest was built by the State of
Minnesota in 1959 and given to the City of Avoca to maintain. The
local Federated Women have added a picnic table and flowers on
either side. Inscription on monument reads as follows:
This town began in 1878 and, named
for a river in Ireland, became a key point for the sale of 50,000
acres of railroad land to Catholic Colonists in Murray County
through the activities of Archbishop Ireland and the Catholic
Colonization Bureau.
Dovary:
The unique historical fact about
Dovray is that in 1904 the town site was moved to be closer to the
railroad line. Originally, the town was one mile south and one mile
east of the present location. The town flourished until 1916 when
the "big fire" destroyed many of the buildings.
Hadley:
The prairie village sits on a hill
overlooking Summit Lake. The lake is 80acres and is the tributary
to Beaver Creek. The residents of Hadley can trace their ancestors
back to the first brave settlers who came from Norway when Native
Americans camped on the shores of Summitt Lake. Hadley
Buttermakers Baseball
is a rich tradition in Hadley and they have had some good teams. In
the 1940s they went to state four times, 1940, '42,'43, and '45. In
the late '60s Hadley was having trouble finding players and folded
from '68 to '70. In 1971 Hadley and Lake Wilson ballplayers again
started the team, eventually moving it to Lake Wilson where a
manager could be found. The Buttermakers are now back in Hadley and
made a trip to state in 2001.
Chandler:
Like many towns, Chandler got its
start with the coming of the railroad. The Southern Minnesota
Railroad completed a line through the area in 1880. A windmill was
built there and for years it was the lone edifice on the eastern end
of the Chanarambie Valley. Then, in 1886, G.W. Smith surveyed the
plat for the town site and a railroad station was built the same
year. The first store was owned by Samuel B. Rockey and, when
obtainable, eggs sold for 5 cents a dozen. The building had been
brought from Iowa and rebuilt here and was located where the
Chandler Cafe now stands.
Westbrook:
See restored 1906 Westbrook Hotel. Visit Heritage House Museum, a
restored depot stands on original site.
Lake Shetek
State Park: Access the 6-mile bike trail to the End-O-Line Park.
Camping, fishing, hiking, boating and guided tours. One of the
region's hot spots!
Lake
Shetek Website (DNR)
Jeffers
Petroglyphs: Native American drawings on red quartzite rock.
Carvings of human figures, weapons and animals are explained in the
Interpretive Center.
Jeffers
Petroglyphs (Minn. Historical Society)
Sanborn:
Spend the night in an authentic sod house at the McCone Sod House
exhibit. Gift shop with 1880's items. Phone 507-723-5138.
Red Rock
Falls County Park: Enjoy the waterfalls and dells. Also
fishing, hiking and Frisbee disc course at nearby Moundscreek County
Park.
Dovray:
Visit the nationally touted care run by volunteers.
Iona:
The history of Iona village and
Iona township are linked inseparably with the name of Father Martin
McDonnell. In 1878, he platted the village next to the Chicago,
Milwaukee, and Southern Minnesota Railroad. Visit Lundblad
Prairie, native prairie on the edge of Badger Lake, three miles
northeast of Iona.
Tracy:
Visit Wheels Across the Prairie Railroad Museum, which displays
artifacts from the pioneer days. Visit St. Mark's Museum.
www.tracymn.com
Murray County:
Visit the Murray County website.
www.murray-countymn.com |
