C&T Publications Eye On Fine Art Photography - October 2014 | Page 58

I wandered around the town of Hinckley the day before, clambering over railway lines, looking for some sign
or link to the past. I set my camera up on the railway and took some shots of the northbound train tracks.
Some might say it was a somewhat ghoulish way to spend Labor Day, (and they did!). Some, like our beloved
editor and chief, Cindy Ackley-Nunn said "Oh My God - that sounds like something I would do!".
I wanted to acknowledge a historic event, I wanted to pay my respects, celebrate those that found sanctuary
in one of the 10,000 lakes Minnesota is known for and remember those that didn't. And that was the sad
part - on the 120th anniversary I don't think anyone else did remember.
There was no memorial service, no flowers at the memorial and mass grave and very little bike traffic on the
trail.
I wonder if it was too horrible to remember, even though those that could remember are long gone. I wonder
if it was so long ago and some much has happened since then, multiple wars, depressions, recessions and
revolutions.
Hinckley did rebuild. There is a huge casino on the outskirts of town, most likely the town's largest
employer. A far cry from the timber yards in their heyday.
There were some positives to come out of the tragedy. Forestry management practices were formed and
federal agencies that monitor and fight wildfires were developed.

Ruins of downtown Hinckley, Minnesota after the 1894 fire. Public Domain photo.

Hinckley Trivia:
The Ojibwe name for Hinckley was Gaa-zhiigwanaabikokaag, meaning "the place abundant with grindstones."
Hinckley was originally founded as the Village of Central Station in 1885.
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