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- Bartonsite
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- With railroad talk in
the early 1900's, Mr. Barton, Mr. Norfleet, and other ranchers
from Hereford to Stanton were told the Panhandle-Short Line Railroad
was planning a route from north to south that would pass through
these ranches. Grading was started, but the Santa Fe Railroad
put in a route from Canyon to Lubbock first. Two railroads so
close together would not be needed, so the Panhandle-Short Line
route was abandoned.
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- A town was platted on
one of the two home sections of the Barton ranch in 1907. The
town of Bartonsite was located six miles north and eight miles
west of the present town of Abernathy.
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- The prospect of a railroad
created much interest in the town and it was not long until Bartonsite
gave promise of a thriving town. A number of business houses
were built, among which were a lumber yard managed by Al Horton,
The Bartonsite Hotel managed by J.K. Nance, Reed's Grocery Store,
a Blacksmith Shop, and the Post Office. Mail was brought daily
by horse and buggy from Hale Center. The town had a schoolhouse
and a church where all denominations worshipped together. Bartonsite
became a popular community center and by the end of two years
the population of the town had reached 250 people.
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- The change of plans of
the railroad was a death blow to Bartonsite. When Abernathy sprang
up in 1909, most of the buildings at Bartonsite were moved to
Abernathy. The Post Office of Bartonsite was continued for a
number of years, until 1921. It was never discontinued but became
inactive when the patrons of that office were served by a Star
Route out of Hale Center. The church at Bartonsite was moved
to Cotton Center.
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- Click
here to read
the offer sent to J.J. Barton to move buildings to Abernathy
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