6 man History

[CT6MFL]

I think Fairview was actually in Witchita County. 65 miles from Quanah. I haven't linked it all together but I'd say i'm within 90%.

From Geneology Records

NAME: Clara
COUNTY: Wichita
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 1
CLIMATE: hot
BEST TIME TO VISIT: spring COMMENTS: Clara is now populated by a possible 20-50 residents, mostly farmers. The Trinity Lutheran church is still active under the direction of Pastor Holladay. While you're there, be sure to check out the other ghost towns around the area (Bridgetown, Thrift, and Fairview) as well as 10th Cavalry Creek, slightly north on 287
REMAINS: Cemetery, Trinity Lutheran Church, rectory
Col. Herman Specht (not actually military, but by nickname)founded the town of Clara in 1888, naming the plat after his wife, Clara Vogel Lange. Specht advertised for immigrants already in the US to move to Clara where he planted a nursery and laid out the town's streets in 1886. Submitted by: Justin Dudley

In 1886, Col. Herman Specht, a German immigrant, moved from Galveston Texas to Wichita Falls and platted the town of Clara, named after his wife Clara Vogel Lange. His plan was to create a large farming community of mostly German immigrants from all over the United States. The town survived for many years during good times and bad. In the late 20's, the Clara High School won the state championship in basketball, however shortly thereafter, the school consolidated with the Burkburnett school system. Shortly thereafter, the town ceased to be. Submitted by: Guybrush Threepwood

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Then you can go to Google maps and look up Quanah and Map it to Bridgetown Rd. If you look just to the Right you will find Fairview Rd. and right above that Thrift Road.

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Bryan Eagle 29 August 1939, in the list for six-man you will see Fairview (Thrift)

 

[sinfonian]

I have found Clara, Bridgetown and Thrift on Google Earth.That's probably as close as I will get.

 

[Old Bearkat]

I think you nailed it down. That fits.

 

[CT6MFL]

It took a minute, haha

 

[CT6MFL]

anyone creating a google earth map of all these ghost towns?

 

[sinfonian]

I have created one. Some of the pins are approximate. I would love for them to be more accurate. I tried to attach it but it won't allow me to upload a kmz. file to this page. If you want it, I can email it to you.

 

[CT6MFL]

If you can load it to the online version and save it as one of your maps. You can then share it and it will provide you a "link" that you can cut and paste. Its been awhile so you may have to play around with it.

Heath

 

[CT6MFL]

You might want to make the towns that have ceased to exist with having only approximate locations in another pin color and annotate the map with it. Kind of like a legend.

just a suggestion..

 

[CT6MFL]

I talked to the Informer Star in Burkburnett out of curiosity and the lady said while they have been around for over 100 years. She knew of both Thrift and Fairview. She also said that the newspaper archives only go back to the 1940s and that it was mostly on the city of Burkburnett and not complete. Might be worth checking out by someone.

 

[Old Bearkat]

From Texas Escapes

Medicine Mound School

 

[CT6MFL]

is that a chimney? lol

 

[Old Bearkat]

Yep. What a lot of folks don't know is that the main fuel for heating buildings, including homes in Texas was coal until the late 1930's. Mostly imported, but there were (and still could be) some big productive bituminous deep mines near Thurber. The last time they were explored, there was still a lot of coal down there, but pumping them out and bringing them up to modern safety standards was too expensive compared to Wyoming strip mines.

They are also too deep to strip mine.

 

[Old Bearkat]

Kamay Valley View High School. Closed in 1969. They played 6 man for a while from 1939-1942, then 11 man until they closed.

Home of the Warriors.

 

[CT6MFL]

The bits i'm gathering says it was early oil area as well.

 

[Lou]

Does the below link show (the 2012 view) of the Kamay Valley View School? If so, it looks like it had a face lift prior to closing between the picture you posted and what it currently looks like. Even the edition of a gym... Just curious, it may not be the correct location but I know there's a historical marker placed next to it on the FM road, and thought it might be the same place...

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8740602 ... 56!6m1!1e1

 

[Little Doc]

These pictures bring back old memories from not just these schools but many more that have closed. I remember the first one I taught in had a crack in the wall, and while sitting at my desk I could see the tall weeds blowing in the breeze. Wish they didn't have to close.

 

[CT6MFL]

Where was that at?

 

[CT6MFL]

Deleted post. hahah I was clearly off by 10 miles

 

[Old Bearkat]

Does the below link show (the 2012 view) of the Kamay Valley View School? If so, it looks like it had a face lift prior to closing between the picture you posted and what it currently looks like. Even the edition of a gym... Just curious, it may not be the correct location but I know there's a historical marker placed next to it on the FM road, and thought it might be the same place...

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8740602 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Interesting. The place I found this called it Valley View High School in Texas

 

[CT6MFL]

Kamay Valley View warriors, I'm assuming you found their mascot in a paper or web.

I also found some Kamay Valley View annuals (1959 and other years) with the title Chieftains and a Big Indian Chief on them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-Valley...tain-1st-12-/161843630380?hash=item25aea1d12c