This Halloween, Roots & Riddles takes a spectral stroll through the shadows of Fillmore County’s forgotten towns. Elliota, Waukopee, Belleville, Clear Grit, and Beldena—once bustling with blacksmiths, millers, and hopeful settlers—now linger only in maps, memories, and moss-covered cemeteries.In this chilling episode, Lenora and Preston unearth the rise and fall of these vanished communities. From fires and floods to railroad bypasses and broken dams, each town met its end in a different way—but all left behind whispers of ambition, resilience, and mystery. What remains when a town disappears? And what stories still echo through the fields where they once stood?Gather ‘round for tales of pioneer dreams, eerie silences, and the ghostly footprints of Minnesota’s past.📚 Sources ReferencedPreston Republican, January 27, 1876 — “Around the County” feature on John Kaercher and Clear Grit (multi-column article)Chatfield Democrat, January 3, 1874 — Advertisement for Clear Grit Store (John Kaercher)The Preston Republican, February 19, 1880 — Notice on Bellville Post Office name change to MabelThe Rushford Star, February 19, 1880 — Report on Postmaster General’s standardization of town namesThe Minneapolis Morning Tribune, July 22, 1920 — Letter by Solon J. Buck on Waukopee name origin (“Wakapeya,” meaning “to excel”History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (1882) — entries on Beldena, Elliota, Waukokee, Carimona Township, and early settlementsFillmore County History Book (circa 1858 edition or earliest printing) — early organizational records and settlement notes History of Fillmore County (1984 ) — modern community histories and township recollections

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