Falsen School
McHenry County
Falsen School in Verendrye, North Dakota is all that is left of the town that once stood. Just a lonely, crumbling facade of the school remains. It is on clearly posted private land.
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Photo by Rat, copyright SonicTremorMedia.com
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Amazing picture! Just think of all the things that went on in that school over the years, and all that’s left is the facade.
My understanding is that the town of Verendrye used to be named Falsen. Does anyone know why and when it wsa changed?
Given the numbers of Norwegian immigrants in ND, I suspect Falsen was probably named after Christian Magnus Falsen, one of the chief political figures in Norway’s independence in 1814.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Magnus_Falsen
As for Verendrye, the town is probably named after the Québécoise explorer, who first explored that area.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gaultier_de_Varennes,_sieur_de_La_V%C3%A9rendrye
I stopped by the area about 10 years ago and took a picture of the school also on my way to the Verendrye monument. I have learned more about North Dakota while living in the state of Washington then while living in North Dakota. Thanks to all that have made the web site Ghosts of North Dakota possible.
It brings back good memories , I went to school there for my first 8 years , our house just a hop and a skip from the school.