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Texas Ghost
Town
CARTER, TEXAS
aka Cartersville
Parker County,
North Central Texas
10 miles N of Weatherford
Population: 0
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Stone marks the site of H.C. Vardy Flour Mill, burned Nov 14, 1891
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
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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. |
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"These
are the only two remaining structures." - Mike Cooley, Fort Worth,
TX, June 18, 2005 |
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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. |
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Cartersville
historical marker (Click on image for close-up to read text)
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
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Cartersville
Texas Memorial (Click on image for close-up to read text)
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
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1894
Main Street marker (Click on image for close-up to read text)
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
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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
damned 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 building 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
Anyone wishing to share information, or photos of Carter, Texas,
please contact
us.
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