Fasken, Texas facts for kids
Fasken was a small town in Andrews County, Texas, that is now a ghost town. A ghost town is a place where most people have moved away, leaving behind empty buildings and a quiet landscape. Fasken existed for only a short time, from the early 1900s until the 1930s.
The Story of Fasken
How Fasken Began
Fasken was started in 1917 by a company called Midland Farms. They wanted to make money by selling pieces of a very large cattle ranch. David Fasken, a lawyer and businessman from Toronto, Canada, bought this huge ranch, which was about 227,000 acres (91,864 hectares). He planned to divide it into smaller farms for people to buy.
To make these farms more appealing, David Fasken had a railroad built to reach the properties. The town of Fasken was then founded right along this new rail line. The hope was that many new settlers would move there and start farming.
What Fasken Had
Soon after it was founded, Fasken had several important buildings. There was a train depot, a general store, a hotel, and even a barbershop. The town also had a school for children and a small zoo! Many of the town's building lots were sold. However, not many of the people who bought them actually moved to Fasken.
Why Fasken Became a Ghost Town
The town of Fasken faced a big problem in 1923. Heavy rains caused a lot of damage to the railroad tracks. Because of this damage, the train line had to be closed down. Without the railroad, it was very hard for people to get to Fasken or to transport goods. The town quickly started to decline. By the early 1930s, Fasken had become a true ghost town, with most people having left.
