Ellis Middle School, built in 1957, was named after one of Austin’s pioneer families. The school is located on the site of Evergreen Farm, where the Ellis family had settled in the mid 1850s. The family’s story is well told in this article from the April 28, 1909 Mower County Transcript:

“The fiftieth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Ellis was observed last Saturday, April 24, and between two and three hundred friends called upon them during the afternoon and evening to bring good cheer and kind wishes. No formal invitations were issued but all friends were free to come and enjoy the hospitality of Evergreen Farm.

The house was thronged. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were assisted in receiving by five of their six children, Dr. Sid A. Ellis of Boston not being able to be present. Those present were Mrs. W. W. Keysor of St. Louis, Mrs. J. H. Skinner of Austin, Miss Mattie C. Ellis of Peru, Neb.; Mrs. Roy P. Ingmundson of St. Paul and Chas. F. Ellis of Mandan, N. D. Judge W. W. Keysor was also present and Gertrude Ingmundson, a granddaughter.

The afternoon and evening were spent very socially, a large proportion of those present being pioneers and older residents…

Elaborate arrangements were made for serving all in the dining room. A fine luncheon was served, Mrs. E. H. Sterling being in charge with Mrs. Al. M. Smith, Mrs. Fred E. Gleason and Mrs. C. F. Cook assisting. The rooms were profusely decorated in potted flowers, daffodils, jonquils, snapdragon and others and there was also a generous supply of cut flowers…

Allen V. Ellis and Miss Helen Quain were married at 8 o’clock p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 24, 1859…

They have spent the fifty years of their married life at the Evergreen Farm, on the eastern border of Austin. They started in with 120 acres of low land and added to it until they had at one time 800 acres.

No one but the pioneers can appreciate all the hard work required to make this farm an ideal spot with it’s large collection of Evergreens which cover many acres, it’s fertile fields and it’s Holstein dairy.”

What’s Happening at the HHH

Monday: Board of Directors, 8:30 a.m.; Deadline to register for Social Concerns

Tuesday: Social Concerns: 100 Years Later — How Our Girls Are Doing by Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, 10 a.m.; Board of Trustees, 4 p.m. at the Town Center Building

Thursday: Tour from Minneapolis, 10 a.m.

 Coming Soon

“10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Hormel Family,” presented by Laura Helle and Dustin Heckman, director of the Mower County Historical Society, 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the HHH. This presentation is free to members of the HHH or MCHS and $5 to non-members. Register at the HHH office at 433-4243.

Kids Costume Dance and Spooky Mansion Tour with costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission is $1, concession stand available. Haunted House from 8 to 11 p.m., $5 admission. Hosted by the HHH and Mower County 4-H Ambassadors.

Home For The Holidays on Nov. 10, 11 and 12. Details online at www.hormelhistorichome.org.