Grasston, MN

At mile 11.4 we crossed the Kanabec County line, and then at mile 12.2 we turned north onto SH 107. Only 2.2 miles later, a sign along the highway announced GRASSTON, (1990) population 119. BINGO. West of the highway, the gap-toothed remains of a tiny town grinned at us in the Minnesota sunshine.

“Come on in.”

Being the consummate explorers we are, we accepted the town’s invitation, and entered the past. Grasston’s remains are scattered around the sidewalk-lined square block heart of the old agricultural town. Situated around that grassy central block is a handful of buildings and some foundation outlines. It is obvious even to a casual observer that this town was once larger than it is now. In 1930, 229 folks still lived here, but by 1970 that had dropped to 132.

Today’s remains include Grandpa’s Country Cafe, a bright white stucco structure with red trim that was not open at the time of our visit. Grandpa’s is housed in a converted gas station across the street from the 1960s era blond-brick post office building.

Other structures of note include the Grasston City Hall, which is housed in a clapboard sided Quonset hut-style building with a concrete block foundation, the Grasston Baptist Church, Hope Lutheran Church, a market, fire hall, “electric surplus,” an empty white false front, the old two-story brick former school house now occupied by the Grasston Christian Academy, an auto repair garage, the Doboy-Grasston Coop Feed Mill and elevator, and scattered homes. Some lived in - some not. Some well kept - some not.

East of the main highway along the railroad tracks are a loading platform, a few buildings, and the Grasston railroad sign. There was no sign of any train station.

Grasston’s story began in 1899 when the railroad built through the area, and for the next two years the town boomed. In 1909, John Runquist constructed a large building block housing a bank, a casket company, confectionary and a general store on the lower floor. On the upper floor was a doctor’s office and an opera house. The Runquist Building burned in 1946.

Other businesses in town included the large Swan Hotel (erected in 1901), a post office, school, livery stable, lumberyard, churches and other typical small town businesses. The flourishing town also had a 14-piece band and a men’s chorus.

So, next time someone asks you if there are any ghost towns in Minnesota, use your best Minnesota accent and say, “Ghost Towns in Minnesota? Yah!”

This was our GHOST TOWN OF THE MONTH for September 2002.

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FIRST POSTED: September 01, 2002

LAST UPDATED: March 20, 2005

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Gary Speck