Check out The Rock burger at The Rock Sports bar & grill...
Hunting, Fishing & Camping are the attractions to Guide Rock. Visit The Barcelona Restaurant with its original tin ceilings and a large wall mural depicting early days in Guide Rock and hear Indian Legends of The Pawnee Tribe as told by locals. The restaurant is the hub of activity in Guide Rock. A local visitor recently commented to Jan, who owns the restaurant with her husband Pat, that she was "just like Aunt BEA of Mayberry" Indeed, this fits with their motto "Enter a stranger, leave a friend" So if you would like to visit "the Mayberry of Nebraska" Stop in Guide Rock, and be sure to thank the following local businesses for making this page possible.
This town is situated in the southeastern part of the county, on the left bank of the Republican. Its location is a good one, on the level valley lands. It is on the line of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska. It derives its name from the high and prominent rocky bluff on the opposite side of the river.
The town is small, having a population of a little more than three hundred, but being surrounded by a comparatively well settled country it is a good business point.
This town was the place of the first settlement in Webster County. The Rankin Colony had contemplated forming a settlement here, and had selected a large tract of land, and a town site was surveyed on Soap Creek, a little east of the present town, and called Guide Rock. Donald McCallum was the surveyor. The first settlers were Emanuel Peters and Donald McCallum, who made a settlement on April 19, 1870. These men remained here to look after the interests of the Rankin claim. Of the Rankin Colony seventeen persons came, but only these two remained. The others all left the country in a few days. Their first place of abode was in a dug-out, which they built soon after their arrival. They were not long to remain alone, for the next month they were joined by Silas, Joseph and Abram Garber, Albert Lathrop, A. M. Talbott, William McBride, Mrs. Sarah Micks, Mrs. Sarah Rich, and Mrs. Catherine Garber, who came with her husband, Joseph Garber. This party was pleased with the country, but under the lead of Silas Garber some of them left the settlement, after having helped to build a stockade, and pushed on up to Red Cloud. This was in July.
For the first two years the settlements gathered close around the Guide Rock stockade, but during the earlier years of its existence Guide Rock never grew to be a village.
The post office was established the fall of 1870, with A. M. Talbott Postmaster. Mr. Talbott soon brought in a few groceries and kept a sort of a store. This, however, he did not keep up long. The first regular store was opened in the spring of 1872 by Arthur G. Owen, on his farm, about one mile southeast of the present town.
The first school house was built of logs early in the spring of 1871. It was situated near the old stockade, on the southwest quarter of Section 2, Town 1, Range 9 west. The first school was taught by Miss Mary Kingsley, commencing May 1, 1871. The salary paid was $12 per month.
The first sermon preached was in the summer of 1871, at the log schoolhouse, by Rev. Mr. Kennedy. There was a congregation comprising nearly all the early settlers..
In 1872 J. L. Columbia and M. Stratton built and operated a saw-mill, but this was not kept up very long.
After the first few years of its existence Guide Rock grew to be a village, containing two stores, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and a post office. The village made no further improvement until the year 1880, when the southern line of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska began building, and it was certain that Guide Rock would be made a station thereon. As soon as this was assured, it began to build up quite rapidly. The railroad was soon built, and the town continued to build up, and has ever since continued to progress slowly but steadily.
The town now has good grain warehouses, a lumber yard, two hotels, and several stores, representing all kinds of business usually carried on in the smaller towns, having an extensive country trade. Business in all its branches is good, and Guide Rock is a thriving village.
There is a good flouring and grist mill on the south side of the river, about two miles southeast of town. It was built in 1880 by Bardette & Crow, who are now doing a thriving business, and manufacture an excellent grade of flour.
There is only one church building. This is a neat and comfortable church, built by the Baptists in 1880. The religious societies are well represented.