Guelph, North Dakota is in Dickey County, not far from Ellendale. In 1930, the census said Guelph had 158 residents and that’s as many as ever called Guelph home.
The old Guelph public school is now an antique and vintage-type business.
Terry was photographing this school when he noticed a message from above.
This church has been super-nicely renovated and looks like it would make a great place for a wedding.
A remnant of Guelph’s legacy as a Great Northern Railroad town.
Photos by Troy Larson and Terry Hinnenkamp, copyright Sonic Tremor Media LLC
Ghosts of North Dakota 
When I was in the 5th grade the Oakes school and Guelph school combined and the 5th and 6th graders from Oakes were bussed to Guelph School. It was the 1st time I had ever ridden a bus to school ,as I only lived a half block from the school in Oakes, I remember the bus getting stuck a couple of times and I hated the hot lunch (I had never needed to eat at school before either) We moved in the middle of that year so My time in Guelph was limited but I was back there for a craft fair and turkey dinner a few years ago (held in the school) and it seems the same as I remembered it 🙂
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Wow! Blast from the past.
I rode those buses the first year they shipped the 5th & 6th graders over. I don’t remember which grade I was in, tho.
I remember the bus drivers, and how we’d race to get on the bus with the ‘nice’ one.
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My grandpa talks of Guelph frequently and I believe his mom was from around there or ellendale. She was Mary Wallace (Waite) and my grandpa is Owen Wallace.
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Beth, my dad’s brother married a Wallace from Ellendale.
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In1974/75 and 1976/77 I rode the bus from Oakes for 5th and 6th grade with Gary Opp, Gary Fitzgerald and Mrs. Beck the 3 teachers I remember. I think Mr. Opp and Mr. Fitzgerald would also drive the bus back and forth and then get out and teach AND coach after school! We hovered near the heating vents outside during recess in the winter. The place looks exactly the same as I remember–just a little older.
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I graduated from Guelph in 1958, On July 4, 1963 the school as I knew it burned and they built this school. The only thing they saved was the gym which was built in winter 1955/1956. Lot of sweet memories and always good to go back there for the turkey dinner in the summer when I can make it.
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Went to 5th and 6th grade out there. We had the BEST lunches since there weren’t as many students. I fondly remember the fresh pies the ladies in the kitchen would make.
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Ellendale High School held an after prom party here in the spring of 1989. They let us set up a cardboard laser tag (all the rage at the time) maze in a couple of the classrooms. We were very appreciative of having somewhere to go. I wasn’t interested in drinking and partying in high school, so the kids that had parents involved at TBC and a few others of us that weren’t originally from Ellendale or popular or athletes, hung out here that night. I was amazed how nice the building was. Glad to see that someone is using and maintaining it. We poked our heads into the gym, but they said we couldn’t use it. The wood floor was starting to buckle in places due to moisture from not being heated or cooled to maintain a constant temperature and humidity level, I assume.
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You were always a cool cat in my book. Maybe we can get in your car drive it through the church parking lot, turn off the lights, and pull the e-brake. That would be fun.
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I am researching the subject of railroad chapel cars and have come across a piece of information that indicates the baptismal font and lectern from the very first Episcopal chapel cars, The Church of the Advent – The Cathedral Car of North Dakota was installed in St. Mary’s Church in Guelph, ND circa 1901. I was wandering if anyone could tell me if the church pictured herein is St. Mary’s Church and if the font and lectern from the chapel car might still be in the church. Any information one might provide on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
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no the church that is pictured here is the Methodist church….. the Episcopal church was out in the country. it no longer exists….
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The church is Methodist and is still in use
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My name is Dennis Warner borne 1954 in this lovely town.Does anybody remember me or my beloved mother or my brother Willie?I used to sell fresh eggs to the ladies in the community.My dad was a hard laborer who worked hard for a living.Me and Willie tried to help until our house burned down and i ran away with the carnival at 15. You may remember me as Denny Warner.
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I was born in Guelph, Guelph, Ontario Canada, have your heard of it.
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My mother Evelyn (Burkdardt) Telin, aunt Wilma (Burkhardt) Raugutt, and three uncles Raymond (Buzz), Doyle, and Colin Burkhardt all graduated from Guelph High School.
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