Dale, Minnesota facts for kids

Dale is what we call a ghost town in Clay County, Minnesota, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now most of them have left, and the buildings might be empty or gone. Dale is located in a part of Clay County called Highland Grove Township.

History of Dale

The small village of Dale was started by a man named Andrew L. Jelsing. He bought a saloon (a type of bar) from a nearby place called Winnipeg Junction and moved it to Dale.

Andrew Jelsing was a very busy person in Dale! Besides owning the saloon, he also ran a general store, which sold all sorts of things people needed. He was also the postmaster, meaning he was in charge of the mail for the town. And he worked as a depot agent at the train station, helping with train arrivals and departures.

At one time, Dale was a lively little village. It had its own town hall, where important meetings were held, and even a jail. There was also a large building called a grain elevator, which was used to store grain from local farms. Many families lived in private homes around the village. However, over time, people started to move away, and the town became quieter. The post office, which was an important part of the community, closed in 1971.

Trains Passing Through

Even though Dale is a ghost town, trains still pass through it! The Empire Builder is a famous Amtrak passenger train that travels across the country. It goes all the way from cities like Seattle and Portland on the West Coast to Chicago in the Midwest.

This train uses the tracks owned by BNSF, and it goes right through where Dale used to be. However, the Empire Builder does not stop in Dale. If you wanted to catch this train, the closest station is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away in a town called Detroit Lakes.