I'm submitting a proposal for a category in the member's* section: Texas Ghost Towns.
Along the lines of the 'historical markers' thread introduced by Cowboy, the category could serve as a deposit and archive of ghost towns riders happen upon or intentionally visit. For some (perhaps it is already), it could be a new 'treasure hunt' like Gilke's and Janet's courthouses.
A few books in print list and locate ghost towns in Texas, but they are not complete. A short list is in the first several pages of the current "Roads of Texas" mapbook. I've been in a few over the last two months that are not mentioned anywhere. It's a big state with lots of territory and history; there are probably MANY ghosts towns that are less known, some perhaps lost in the memories of the old timers.
Regardless, I propose a criteria:
"A Ghost Town is a town or community that at one time had a commercial or population center, and is either wholly abandoned or faded greatly from its peak, and now is just a shadow of its former self." (1)
And classification (1):
"All ghost towns can be categorized into five basic classes based on what remains at the site.
· Class A...barren site
· Class B...rubble and/or roofless building ruins
· Class C...standing abandoned buildings (with roofs), no population, except maybe a caretaker.
· Class D...semi/near ghost towns. A small resident population, many abandoned buildings.
· Class E...busy historic community, yet still much smaller than in its boom years.
· Class F...Not a stand-alone class, but an addition to any of the above. This class usually designates a restored town, state park, or indicates some other “additional” status.
Riders must submit a photo of the location and/or any buildings, structures, ruins, or anything that occupies the space where the town once stood.
Other data required: location. Using roads and/or distances from nearby places, or GPS coordinates.
Something, anything, no matter how short or long, about the significance of the town: history, personal perspectives, anecdotes, even, yes, historical markers. Stories are welcome.
If a moderator is needed for this, I volunteer. I don't wish to add to the burden of those already donating precious time and energy on the forum.
* Does this mean that only members can view the thread? That's a shame. It would be really nice if visitors that are not members can view it.
(1) Source: Ghost Town USA’s GHOST TOWN CATEGORIES.
Along the lines of the 'historical markers' thread introduced by Cowboy, the category could serve as a deposit and archive of ghost towns riders happen upon or intentionally visit. For some (perhaps it is already), it could be a new 'treasure hunt' like Gilke's and Janet's courthouses.
A few books in print list and locate ghost towns in Texas, but they are not complete. A short list is in the first several pages of the current "Roads of Texas" mapbook. I've been in a few over the last two months that are not mentioned anywhere. It's a big state with lots of territory and history; there are probably MANY ghosts towns that are less known, some perhaps lost in the memories of the old timers.
Regardless, I propose a criteria:
"A Ghost Town is a town or community that at one time had a commercial or population center, and is either wholly abandoned or faded greatly from its peak, and now is just a shadow of its former self." (1)
And classification (1):
"All ghost towns can be categorized into five basic classes based on what remains at the site.
· Class A...barren site
· Class B...rubble and/or roofless building ruins
· Class C...standing abandoned buildings (with roofs), no population, except maybe a caretaker.
· Class D...semi/near ghost towns. A small resident population, many abandoned buildings.
· Class E...busy historic community, yet still much smaller than in its boom years.
· Class F...Not a stand-alone class, but an addition to any of the above. This class usually designates a restored town, state park, or indicates some other “additional” status.
Riders must submit a photo of the location and/or any buildings, structures, ruins, or anything that occupies the space where the town once stood.
Other data required: location. Using roads and/or distances from nearby places, or GPS coordinates.
Something, anything, no matter how short or long, about the significance of the town: history, personal perspectives, anecdotes, even, yes, historical markers. Stories are welcome.
If a moderator is needed for this, I volunteer. I don't wish to add to the burden of those already donating precious time and energy on the forum.
* Does this mean that only members can view the thread? That's a shame. It would be really nice if visitors that are not members can view it.
(1) Source: Ghost Town USA’s GHOST TOWN CATEGORIES.