In North Dakota’s history, many towns have come and gone. The rush of the railroad to get across the state brought up towns in a matter of days, some of which are still thriving today, others that disappeared just as fast. Many towns are completely lost to history with no remains, even some that are deep under water under Lake Sakakawea, never to be seen again. But there are some ghost towns that have pieces still standing, though void of life.
Entering this specific ghost town is something you can only do if you’re brave enough. The shells of buildings, the emptiness of it all, is like something out of a scary movie, where who knows what is lurking in the shadows…
Along this dusty road and hidden among the overgrowth is the town of Sherbrooke, North Dakota.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This overhead view shows just how small it was, and how overgrown it is now.
Google maps The town is located in Steele County, and at one point was actually the county seat. That title was lost to Finley due to the fact Sherbrooke was not along a railroad and considered in an inconvenient spot. Today, it is just surrounded by acres of fields with nothing but other gravel roads connecting it to everything else.
In the tall grass and trees, there are buildings hiding. Houses, garages, even the foundation and falling brick walls of what might have been the county courthouse.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Andrew Filer/Flickr Pretty much the entire town has reverted to being nothing much more than the buildings shown. Many of the other original buildings are completely wiped out.
The only area still somewhat maintained today is the small cemetery in the town. The plot is fairly large, though there are not many graves to fill it.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Andrew Filer/Flickr
This 1928 map of the plots in Sherbrooke show what it once was - a thriving town
Brock and Company, Chicago/Wikimedia Even though it is empty today, at one point it was full of people. Not only was it county seat, there was a prominent hotel called the Sherbrooke House Hotel located there. Former president William McKinley once stayed at it in 1896 during a visit to North Dakota.
No one has lived in Sherbrooke for quite a few years, so it sits empty and rotting away as time passes. With the creepy, abandoned houses, buildings, and a cemetery being the only things that remain, and with the distance from any other towns or major roads, the ambience is hard to describe in any way other than eerie. Nothing but silence seems to lurk in the shadows of the empty homes, at least for all we know.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
Google maps
The town is located in Steele County, and at one point was actually the county seat. That title was lost to Finley due to the fact Sherbrooke was not along a railroad and considered in an inconvenient spot. Today, it is just surrounded by acres of fields with nothing but other gravel roads connecting it to everything else.
Pretty much the entire town has reverted to being nothing much more than the buildings shown. Many of the other original buildings are completely wiped out.
Brock and Company, Chicago/Wikimedia
Even though it is empty today, at one point it was full of people. Not only was it county seat, there was a prominent hotel called the Sherbrooke House Hotel located there. Former president William McKinley once stayed at it in 1896 during a visit to North Dakota.
Check out this other spooky ghost town in North Dakota. You never know what other places are hiding out there, all but lost to time.
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