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The town was
submitted by Stephen G. Masten who wrote:
“I know it was roughly near the site of the Renaissance Fair that
died in the 1990's. It was just SE of FM 114 and I-35W. It is currently
being built over.” - July 25, 2014
History in
a Pecan Shell
The town had been
named after Elizabeth Creek and was on the northern bank of the stream.
It is said to have been the first town in southwest Denton County.
Members of the Peters Colony settled here in the 1850s and the community
became a stopping point for cattle drives on the way north to Kansas
railheads.
The Harmonson family is credited with being the founders of the community
since they donated land for civic purposes. In 1859 the town had six
saloons, reflecting the fact that it catered to Kansas-bound cowboys.
Elizabethtown also had a post office, hotel and physician. The town
also had two blacksmiths (no waiting) and a wagonmaker.
The community was left defenseless against Indian attacks during the
Civil War and most of the population temporarily left until the men
returned.
At its peak in the 1870s, Elizabethtown had two churches, a school,
and four general stores. The town was once refered to as “Bugtown”
due to an infestation of insects that were drawn to a church meeting.
Although the Elizabeth Cemetery is still in use, the community
was bypassed by two miles when the Texas and Pacific Railroad crossed
Denton County in
1881.
Everything was moved to the newly created town of Roanoke,
leaving Elizabethtown another ghost town with railroad bypass being
the cause of death. |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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