Verdel, Nebraska is a tiny town in Knox County, in northeast Nebraska, with a population of 30 according to the 2010 Census.
It was founded in a different spot some miles away, but Verdel boomed in 1902 when the Chicago & North Western railroad reached this spot in the rolling green prairie carpet near the junction of the Niobrara and the Missouri.
Railroad passenger service lasted into the 50s and the last freight train went through Verdel in 1978.
Nanza (Ponca Fort), a fortified village built by the Ponca in 1700, is nearby.
This sewer opening was scary. Years of gutter runoff have widened the maw. A person could get swept right into this thing in a downpour if you lost your footing.
Shooting Verdel reminded us a little bit of another place… Kathryn, North Dakota.
We had only been in Verdel for a few minutes when a friendly lady stopped to see if we were looking for anything in particular. Terry told her we were just admiring some of the old buildings. She continued on to a home down the road and left us to our photos.
This church was the first thing we photographed when we arrived in Verdel. The only things as good as huge, majestic churches are these tiny little sanctuaries.
Like many midwestern towns, the Verdel area suffered through serious flooding in 2011.
These structures are all right along Highway 12, the main route through Verdel.
Verdel is just down the road from another very impressive near-ghost town, Monowi, Nebraska.
David R Morgan American Legion Post 223.
The old school waits on the hill.
Only the slab remains from some long gone structure.
Photos by Troy Larson and Terry Hinnenkamp, copyright Sonic Tremor Media LLC
