Garen, Minnesota

Garen is an abandoned settlement in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. Garen was located south of Forest Lake, on present U.S. Route 61.

History

Garen was founded after a spark from a Northern Pacific Railway train ignited a fire in a peat bog located there.[1]

Local cattle farmers sued the railway, and as part of the settlement, the railway built a siding with cattle pens so farmers could load cattle into boxcars for shipment to the Saint Paul stockyards.[1][2] A boxcar was used as a station.[1]

The settlement was named for Frank and Sarah Garen, whose farm had been affected by the fire.[1][3]

Garent prospered during the early 1900s, and had a store, and a school that was used as a community center.[2] During the 1930s and 1940s, the Half-Way Inn was located there.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Peterson, Brent (January 12, 2018). "The Lost Community of Garen". Forest Lake Times.
  2. ^ a b c "Forest Lake". Washington County Historical Society. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Friedrich, Alex (November 14, 2015). "Washington County commissioners evaluate names for a soon-to-open library in Forest Lake". Pioneer Press.

Further reading

  • Elsie Vogel, The Forest Lake Times; Oct 31, 1991

45°13′30″N 92°58′54″W / 45.22500°N 92.98167°W / 45.22500; -92.98167


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