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The
site of H.C. Vardy Flour Mill
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
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 |
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. |
Cartersville
historical marker
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
Cartersville
Texas Memorial
Photo courtesy Sam Maddox, March 2006 |
1894
Main Street marker
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 |
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
Carter
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