Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Towboat and Barge - Sepia Saturday

"Towboatin' life, towboatin' wife, oh how life
yesterday it once was."


Sepia Saturday Post



Nininger, Minnesota

Part One
My Quest for Minnesota Ghost Towns.


To be, or not to be a ghost town?
That is my question.
(Ghost town- a deserted town with few or no remaining inhabitants)


Nininger, Minnesota- listed as, a Ghost Town.





Nininger, Minnesota from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


I'm admitting Nininger to my list of Minnesota Ghost Towns. 


Intriguing facts to consider yet, about Nininger.

Research revealed one charismatic founder of Nininger, Lieutenant Governor Ignatius Donnelly.  Quite an unusual character by many means.  Outside of his love for country and his home town of Nininger (not his birthplace) his real claim to fame arrived from his published books and lectures suggesting that Shakespeare's works were actually written by Francis Bacon.  Donnelly also wrote about his interest and beliefs in Atlantis being a real place in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that had been destroyed historically as Plato suggested.  

Sometimes to discover the actual person one must steer toward truth, away from biased beliefs and refer rather to sources cleverly recorded, and backed up by an ever lasting spine.  There's always something desperately waiting within the pages of reference books about individuals, if you take the time to research.



Nininger was originally founded by John Nininger, brother-in-law of territorial and state Governor Alexander Ramsey with the great hopes that one day it would be our state capital.  However, success of the town hinged on many events, and quickly that hope faded.  As soon as the post office discontinued business in 1889 after 33 years of service, the town's fate was sealed.  Virtually no trace of that promised city remains today, although it is populated with a good number of residents and the Nininger Town Hall is actively in business yet today.


A few decades ago-
Sparked by curiosity, Robert Schimke, a registered architect and lecturer in Minnesota, proposed an adventurous idea about the town of Nininger to his class at the University of Minnesota.



The History of Nininger, More Than Just a Dream?



Some town folks say this belonged to the Donnelly family.

I took this photo above and is just one of many relics still on his old property, depicting the days when Ignatius Donnelly roamed and raised his family, and was often called "The Sage of Nininger."













Wikipedia defines Nininger as a ghost town, a good number of Paranormal and Oddities Observation Practitioners, believe it to be a ghost town, with paranormal tendencies. 

SO, my Part Two will feature this-

In Regards to A Ghost Story.  True or false?

Apparently, like with all intriguing ghost towns, ghost often have a way of showing up when you least expect them.  

There are folks that swear real ghosts roam this very area that once was a bustling town of over 1,000 people.  It seems through their accounts that these ghosts can be seen and heard exactly where Ignatius Donnelly lived.  

I shall share in Part Two my own findings, and I'm hoping you return for the rest of the ghost story.


Thanks for sharing a bit of your time here.

Getting back into the swing of Sepia Saturday, I will expose and share the Ghost Towns of Minnesota, by way of foot and vehicle when possible.  I hope you join me as well.

16 comments:

Wendy said...

I'm not sure what value there is in being hailed as the Sage of Nininger when it couldn't survive. Doesn't say much for the Sage, does it? Shouldn't he have been smart enough to see the end coming and to stop it???

JJ said...

This is very exciting. I have visited a few Ghost towns out West, but never in Minnesota. My wife and I also lived in a haunted house years ago. I posted about it way back, and I'm planning to do so again. So don't dismiss the paranormal in your quest!

21 Wits said...

JJ - I won't by any means! I do enjoy a good test of my own though, it's so much more exciting than just believing what they say! I look forward to your story, do hurry with it! Please.

21 Wits said...

Wendy, somewhat true, but sadly Donnelly was no match for the neighboring city of Hastings that won the designation of county seat, and the panic of 1857, hit hard, and its fate was sealed that August of '57.

Jofeath said...

I hadn't thought about ghost towns that way, but I guess if there were many departed residents it's not impossible that some may have died in unusual circumstances that could give rise to ghost suggestions. It looks very cold right now, if your photo is a current one!

Cloudia said...

I love our wanderings under your guidance, Karen



ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=

Truedessa said...

This was interesting as I have a fascination with the paranormal and ghosts can be haunting.

Debbie said...

An interesting read!! I have never been into ghost stories, but the images are super cool!!

Mike Brubaker said...

Ghost towns are a great subject to feature. I suspect that state politics and failed land development schemes are the usual culprits for finishing off a town. I like the conceptual art of imagining such a city in the distant future. Where's my flying car?

DeniseinVA said...

I have never been to a ghost town. This looks like a fascinating place. Great photos Karen!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Ghosts require an active imagination, I think.
~

sage said...

Another "Sage", eh? I like your photos, and am curious about what you'll say about ghosts.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

so very cool. You outdid yourself. -Killroy

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

So cool! The boys and I are reading a book about a ghost town. I've been to a few out west, but it's been a while.

humbird said...

Wow, intriguing story I haven't heard here in MN. Waiting for your Part 2. :)x

Unknown said...

No ghost towns in The Netherlands as far as I know, although there are several cities and villages which have disappeared in the sea. I've never thought about ghost towns as towns with ghosts before :-).