Enterprise, Minnesota facts for kids

Enterprise is the name of a place in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. It used to be a small town, but now it's an abandoned townsite. This means people once lived and worked there, but they moved away, and the town no longer exists as a busy place.

The Story of Enterprise

How Enterprise Began

The town of Enterprise was started by a man named Alexander Whittier. In the 1850s, he built three inns along the road. Inns were like small hotels where travelers could stop and rest.

In 1854, Nathan B. Ufford built a mill and a dam. A mill is a building where grain is ground into flour. A dam helps control water flow for the mill.

A New Name and Post Office

In 1858, a post office opened inside Luther C. Rice's general store. A general store sold many different things that people needed.

At first, the town and its post office were called Neoca. People believe Neoca was the name of a young Native American woman from the Winnebago tribe.

In 1860, the town's name changed to Enterprise. The post office also moved to Nathan B. Ufford's mill. He became the new postmaster, in charge of the mail.

Businesses and Decline

Enterprise had several businesses. The most important ones were the mill, a factory that made matches, and a lime kiln. A lime kiln is a special oven used to make lime, which is used in building.

However, a new town called Lewiston grew up about four miles north of Enterprise. As Lewiston became bigger and more important, Enterprise started to shrink.

Eventually, the post office in Enterprise closed in 1901. This was a big sign that the town was no longer thriving.

What Remains Today

Luther Rice's old general store still exists! It was moved about half a mile west from its original spot. Today, it is known as the Fremont Store.

A special club called a Masonic Lodge also started in Enterprise. It was called Harmony Lodge #43 and began in 1863. But just five years later, in 1868, it also moved to Lewiston.

Today, a rest area on Interstate 90 is named after the old town of Enterprise. This helps keep the memory of the former town alive.