Looking at a map of Box Butte County, you can still find Berea, Nebraska, at the crossroads of Highway 2 and Highway 385 right between Hemingford and Alliance. Occupied homes still breathe life into this unincorporated community whose pulse beats to the rhythm of the parallel railroad tracks.
Berea, Neb., began with the railroad in the late 1880s and continued to thrive into the mid-1900s. This photo shows the Farmers Union Station around 1940.
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Trains transported people and mail to the depot in the early years, then later hauled grain and potatoes out of Berea, Neb. The grain elevator is still in use today. Photograph is from 1958.
Mysteries on the Map is a monthly series that highlights a different ghost town and how it contributed to the rich history of Nebraska. Running through the summer months, it pays tribute to the pioneers who endured incredible hardship and paved the way so that we can now enjoy the good life called Nebraska. If you have suggestions or stories to share about a community that no longer exists, contact reporter Kristen Sindelar at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com. Write to the Midwest Messenger at P.O. Box 239, Tekamah, NE 68061, or call editor Janelle Atyeo at 605-681-7040.
Kristen Sindelar
Agriculture Reporter
