Pelan, Minnesota facts for kids
Pelan is a place in Kittson County, Minnesota, United States, that used to be a town but is now abandoned. It's located in Pelan Township, between the towns of Karlstad and Greenbush. It's like a "ghost town" where people once lived and worked, but now it's mostly quiet.
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Pelan: A Town That Disappeared
People started settling in the area around 1880. The town was named after Charles Pelan, a rich man from England.
Early Days and the Post Office
A post office opened in Pelan in 1888. It served the community until 1912. The first postmaster, Frederic W. (Billy) Clay, went missing in 1889. He disappeared with a bag of mail and was never found.
Becoming a Town and Then Not
Pelan officially became an incorporated town in 1903. This meant it had its own local government. However, the town stopped being incorporated just a few years later, in 1909. The post office then moved to Roseau County. It continued to operate there until 1917, when mail service to the area finally ended.
Pelan Park Today
Today, a place called Pelan Park stands where the old town used to be. It has a church, a cemetery, and a few other buildings. This wooded park is also home to a special bird called the Western Wood-Pewee. This type of bird has been seen building its nests in the park's trees.
