|
|
"These are
the only two remaining structures."
- Mike Cooley, Fort Worth, TX, June 18, 2005 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Carter was established
just after the end of the Civil War in 1866 – 1867. The name comes
from Judge W. F. Carter – one of three town founders. The three men
established the town around a business operation – a flour mill on
Clear Fork Creek. The town was granted a post office in 1888 that
remained open until 1907. The population dwindled in the 1920s due
to its proximity to Weatherford.
|
Cartersville
historical marker
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
Historical marker:
CARTERSVILLE
Founded in 1866
by Judge W. F. Carter, Henry C. Vardy, and Thomas Parkinson, Cartersville
was a thriving community for many years. At its height, the town boasted
two main thoroughfares, Main Street and College Avenue. Local businesses
included stores, a blacksmith shop, corn mill, flour mill, and cotton
gin. A post office opened in 1867, and the town also included homes,
a school, and two churches. The name of the town was changed to Carter
in 1888. By the early 1900s the town began to decline, and little
now remains of the community.
(1988) |
Cartersville
Texas Memorial
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
1894 Main Street
marker
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
The site of H.C.
Vardy Flour Mill
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
Stone marks the
site of H.C. Vardy Flour Mill, burned Nov 14, 1891
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
Seven
Rugged Riders marker
Photo courtesy Dustin
Martin, September 2016 |
|
"SEVEN RUGGED
RIDERS:
WILL CURRY, JOHN DOBBS, GEO. LINDSEY, PETE DOBBS, TOM BEENE, IRA
DOBBS, BRYANT PRATHER"
(Note: Dobbs and Prather are street names in Carter. - Dustin Martin)
|
Marker
commemorating a gun fight
Photo courtesy Dustin
Martin, September 2016 |
|
"A gun fight
at this location ended a cattlemen's feud in 1873 — The man
of the house was left dead in the yard while the other man, badly
wounded, rode away unassiste."
More Texas
Small Town Sagas
|
|
"W.H. McLAUGHLIN
SAW INDIANS PASS AND LATER LEARNED THEY HAD STOLE THE DAVIS BOY
AND GIRL"
|
|
"JOE HEMPHILL
OF THE CARTER COMMUNITY WAS THE LAST PERSON KILLED IN PARKER COUNTY
BY THE INDIANS JULY 1874"
|
Carter, Texas’ inclusion was suggested by Paul McCarty who wrote
the following e-mail:
“When I was a child, I remember a ghost town in Parker
County about halfway between Springtown
and Weatherford,
Texas on Highway 51. I am unsure of the name of the county road you
turn on to get to it, but the turn off is at an intersection with
a very old schoolhouse on the corner. I'm not sure of its name and
don't know if it is still in use or not. The road and ghost town are
to the North about 3-4 miles from this schoolhouse. They are near
an old church and cemetery.
All that really remains is a collection of stone markers and monuments
on the side of the road in several locations. Some you really have
to look for to find. They mark different locations and events that
happened in this town, which was apparently fairly wild. Several mark
the locations of documented gunfights or Indian raids.
I believe the church may be the old town church. Come to think of
it, I think the road is named Carter Road. At any rate, I have not
been there in many years, but last time I was there, the monuments
were still in existence. It makes a good trip for western history
buffs and is not very well known except to the locals.” |
Carter, Texas
Forum
"Carter
may be a ghost - but it isn't dead."
Carter, TX began its history with the creation of its first mill.
The town quickly sprang up around it, which at one time consisted
of a general store, saloon, church, and school There were frequent
Indian attacks, perhaps due to its close proximity to some Indian
burial grounds which still exist today. Many people lost their lives
here in the attacks, not to mention tornadoes, gunfights, and a
fire. While today Carter sits vacant and is more accurately described
as a ghost town, it is anything but dead. As a paranormal group
based in Tarrant
County, Tarrant County Investigators of the Paranormal has developed
a special fondness for Carter. Our ongoing investigations here have
produced results from catching orbs and EVP's (Electronic Voice
Phenomenon) to significant EMF (Electro-magnetic Field) readings
and even being touched. To date, we have captured at least five
distinctly different voices here and we are sure more are to come.
If you would like to hear some of our EVP's or just simply read
more about the Carter, Texas investigations, please visit our site
www.tarrantcountyparanormal.com - Tarrant County Investigators of
the Paranormal, June 13, 2006
Subject:
Carter, TX
After seeing Carter on your website, I decided to fire up the Harley
and ride out there. These are the only two remaining structures.
The one on the left is now a chicken coop and home to the biggest
chicken I've ever seen! - Mike Cooley, Fort Worth, TX, June 18,
2005
Subject:
Carter ghost town
I live one mile away from the Carter tabernacle. The reason that
Carter became a ghost town was because a tornado came through and
destroyed all the buildings in town. Carter is the name of the road
and the closest to it is Prather which was a man from back then.
The tabernacle has a church right next to it. The old post office
is now a house. The Red Dog Saloon is still there and the front
yard is a motor cross place. The land out here is still beautiful
in the summer. - Casey Wharton, November 22, 2004
|
 |
 |
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
