Searching a Ghost Town from 1815 to 1846.

[camb1]

I am planning to detect an old ghost town soon. There are no foundations left of the buildings. I have located the locations of the Town Square, Tavern, City Water Well, Ferry Landing and Doctor's Office. The reason this town did not exist long was due to the court house burning and all records were lost. It was voted by residents to move the town to higher ground because of flooding. I was wandering where should I start searching?

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

Did that town start with an "S"

I might be able to provide an old map....heavy on the "might" ....digging digging digging for it now.....

 

[camb1]

I own this property and there are not many maps due to all records were lost in fire in 1843. The Town is called Brownsville. It's population was around 400 to 500. The maps I have are from historical societies and archaeological digs of the town done by S.I.U. & I.S.U. The digs were of a small area where railroad tracks were going through. They built the tracks over the bank and general store foundations.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Jackson County?

 

[laralucine]

Camb,
if you know the locations of the Tavern and the Ferry landing, I'd start there - depending on the history you can find (i.e.4th of July picnics, etc) the Town Square might also have had lots of foot traffic. Sounds like a great place!
Good luck and lets see pix of your finds when you make them!
LL

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Is this still there?

 

[laralucine]

You're so awesome, Gypsy

 

[camb1]

No, this is no longer standing. This was the last standing building that was torn down by previous landowner. You must be on Jackson County Historical Society web-site.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Actually its Chapter 51 of

A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
'A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People, and its Principal Interests'

BY George Washington Smith, M. A.

VOLUME I - III

ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1912

 

[camb1]

There are some records, but but nothing that gives you much info. I have a book called:
Old Brownsville Phase III Archaeological Investigations at an Early Nineteenth-Century Frontier Town and Seat of Justice Jackson County, Illinois. This is an 8 1/2" by 11" book that is over 2" thick. It has everything known about Brownsville and was put together by a friend of mine at the John A. Logan Museum. It has helped me a lot in my research. I hope when it warms up I will find some things around well and town square areas.

 

[arkhunter]

gypsy...great work.....as always