A Forgotten Town in Northeastern Texas

A Forgotten Town in Northeastern Texas - On our way to film a Texas ghost town, we see a sign for an unknown town here in Northeastern Texas. Curious we hit the backroads to check it out. Upon our arrival we find a small town, streets quiet & empty, largely forgotten to the outside world. After poking around, we run into the town's mayor & learn some fascinating history about the wild reputation of this old Texas town. Find out what surprising historic bits we discovered about this forgotten place in this episode of SightseeingSally.
About me: I grew up in a small town the Midwest. Now I drive America's backroads exploring small towns, forgotten places, local history and more!
Don't miss out on another SightseeingSally adventure, SUBSCRIBE and start watching today: / @sightseeingsally
Attention music lovers and fellow creators... Like the music in my videos? I download all my music from Epidemic Sound. With a vast selection covering a variety of genres to set whatever mood you're looking for, an Epidemic Sound subscription is a must for those making videos! Use my referral link and get a free 30 day trial!
Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Like my videos? Buy some gas & get a shoutout as one of our Fellow Sightseers in a future vid! www.paypal.me/SightseeingSally
Or become a Fellow Sightseer on Patreon:
/ sightseeingsally
#forgottenplaces #texas #backroads

[@hawaii50th]

Well after you mentioned that cigar called Lovera, I did some searching, and found that the patent for the name "Lovera" expired in 2009. All that is left are old cigar boxes from 1959 for sale on ebay. And it looks like it was a Texas brand. It is so enjoyable, and I always learn something new about American history from you two, especially when you find something that you don't know anything about will send me searching. It's a lot of fun. I think every small town has it's skeletons in the closet. That old bordello would make an awesome home refinished, and brought back to life. Yes, if the walls could only speak, and tunnels in the old days were sure popular for shenanigans. lol

[@SightseeingSally]

Great detective work! Thanks for looking this up. 😄

[@hawaii50th]

@@SightseeingSally Your welcome, I enjoyed it, I like history. Every time I watch you two, you both put a smile on my face every time. Thank you for that.

[@DeeMoback]

@@hawaii50th shenanigans.... great word..... I use it extensively

[@hawaii50th]

@@DeeMoback It's an old word that comes in handy to describe things.

[@rachelcody3355]

you two have quickly become one of my favorite youtube channels. awesome job. The building that Marty liked looked a lot like some ice cream shops here in the northeast. I would say 1950's area. Looking forward to more. love you two.

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks Rachel! I was thinking it reminded me of an old drive in restaurant we had in the town next to the one we grew up in.

[@davidcarlisle6244]

The cool old building with the big glass windows, I've seen two in Michigan that were an old chain burger joint. Both kept the kitchen alive still serving burgers in the mid 1980s.

[@SightseeingSally]

Nothing like those old hometown burger joints!

[@DeeMoback]

Thanks for the tour......we enjoyed it

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks Jay!

[@duanelogan9633]

Wow thank you Sally and Marty when you show the picture of them old pews they damn near look metal but that just might be me by the way what happened to the Cheech and Chong car LOL remember stay happy stay safe 🏆🌺👍✌️

[@JohnShinn1960]

I was thinkin the same about the pews, if they are metal thats a first for me.

[@SightseeingSally]

@Duane Logan yep, that’s where their car went, and they probably thought they parked it in their driveway hahaha Thanks, will do. Same to you! ✌🏻😁

[@powlperc]

I caught myself smiling throughout the duration of this video….the humor, the history, your Wisconsin accents…most enjoyable!

[@jimjustice581]

You mean like, “aboat”, instead of about? Love it.

[@powlperc]

@@jimjustice581 precisely! 😄

[@roymichel1856]

Thank you marty and Sally for another wonderful travelogue. Keep up the good work!

[@david-lt9wj]

Nice job Sally and Marty.....i love your program.....

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks David, glad you’re enjoying our channel!

[@michaelwilliams374]

Love it 😀

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks Michael 😁

[@marksnyder8189]

It's been a long day. I'm going to Mingus now, and I won't even leave the house. In fact, thanks to Sally and Marty, I feel like I know the way.

[@jillcampbell5580]

Thanks for making the visit to Palo Pinto County, we are proud of our history.

[@daughteroftheking9027]

Love nd enjoy watching your videos. I learned a lot about the little towns I never knew about. You guys are one of my favorites on KZbin.

[@joep9667]

very good and very interesting ....

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks Joe!

[@robert8124]

You guys should do one on Tombstone AZ, then work your way up to Apache Junction up 10 to 17. Go up 17 towards Grand Canyons. There are all sort of interesting towns along that path. That I'm sure your viewers would love. No doubt. Great Utube channel you have.

[@SightseeingSally]

Haven’t been to the Grand Canyon yet, might have to take this route. We’ll see, who knows where we’ll end up. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@robert8124]

@@SightseeingSally oh and near Apache Juntion there's Superstition Mountains and gold mine a little way up 80. Hope you have a great time. But you really should check out Tombstone Az..AZ... happy trails.

[@robert8124]

@@SightseeingSally I see, you 2 have already been to Tombstone..... great videos...

[@LostOnLandAgain]

I've traveled thru Mingus. Thanks for the cool history lesson! Note on Thurber, did you know they have Thurber bricks in the streets of Fort Worth?

[@SightseeingSally]

Cool! I just learned something new becuz I didn’t know that, thanks 😊

[@susanwylie6360]

The streets of the Fort Worth Stockyards are lined with Thurber bricks.

[@scottsenatra1193]

You guys really shine at your work. It’s fun for me personally given I never get out of the city it seems. Secretly a country boy at heart but a city kid none the less. Enjoy your channel. 👍

[@MuseMeow]

Glad to see you back! Looks like KZbin forgot to alert me of your return, but at least that means several video for me to enjoy! Looking forward to the future stuff too!

[@darrellashby3906]

Another very interesting journey through time and space. Enjoyed the trip very much thanks to you two! 😄

[@bonniekaye]

I love these old towns and I especially love *Churches!* 🙂👍❤️

[@1954shadow]

Yep, Marty doesn’t mince words, lol.

[@SightseeingSally]

You got that right! Sometimes I wonder what goes through his mind tho 😂

[@markwilkerson9785]

Thanks for the journey. The two of you have a great gig!

[@mikerafone4736]

I hope you have as good of a time making these as i do watching them! Marty good luck with out cigs, i had to quit too. Sometimes have to do 1 hour at a time to stay clean.

[@128titanic9]

Thank you !

[@susanhiller1039]

Can't wait for the next one! Include your doggies 🐕 more!

[@SightseeingSally]

Ok, will do Thanks Susan

[@texan131396]

Although I wouldn’t consider Mingus in Northeastern Texas (just North Texas), it was a great video. Good job!

[@angelt.u5952]

Hola Saly saludos desde California

[@SightseeingSally]

Hola Angel 👋🏻

[@unrulyjulie4382]

OMG! I started watching, and there you were in Mingus! I live about 8 miles away in Strawn, where the first and largest coal mine was. With a population of about 600, Strawn is the second largest town in Palo Pinto County. We like to go over to the Deer Lease Bar in Mingus on the weekends sometimes. We drove through Mingus yesterday and noticed that someone is actually dismantling the old Methodist Church. I'm glad that it's not going to completely collapse into the ground. Thurber is an interesting place. Our 2 story house was built in 1920 entirely from solid Thurber brick. We've lived here about 7 yrs and wouldn't want to live anywhere else! Thanks for stopping by our little part of Texas.

[@donaldcawthon7588]

I worked as a contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2005 of and on until 2010. I am from Dallas and I met another fellow Texan while in Iraq. His name was Delbert Timmerman. We both worked with the EOD, [Explosive Ordinance Disposal] cats in Iraq. He and I admired those types of people that would go out and find mines, IED's, artillery shells, etc.. so others wouldn't die. He too lived in Mingus for years. Starting in 2014, Delbert started the first annual EOD raffle for widows of fallen EOD warriors. The first and the second year was/were held at the Deer Lease bar you visited, behind it is a covered pavilion where the raffles/donations/ guns/BBQ lunches/ Tshirts, anything and everything we would raffle, etc.. The first year we raised approx 11K for the widow[s] foundation!! Delbert was a person that would talk to a fence post if he could get a response, friendly typical Texas gentleman. I will never forget him. We saw some crazy stuff overseas and formed a bond with each other. Unfortunately, Delbert passed in 2020. His name still lives on with FB and his warrior foundation page. Seeing that 'Deer Lease' in your video brought back alot of memories! Thanks and have a good day!

[@hattyburrow716]

It’s so cool to have these faded places dotted about a vast country, the UK is so small that no space is as large as your open spaces, our deserted places are newer, and more to do with loss of industry, faded but still there.

[@1954shadow]

You can almost imagine, ladies in their Sunday finest, on a hot summer Sunday, fanning themselves during a sermon.

[@SightseeingSally]

I like this image, I can totally picture it!

[@dorindakay5069]

Thanks!

[@SightseeingSally]

You’re welcome 😉

[@SightseeingSally]

Thank you Dorinda for the super thanks, this was very generous and kind of you :)

[@DeeMoback]

That odd building that Marty liked.....years ago I think there were some DairyQueens or DairyDreams or something built this way.....over the years I have seen florists, small diners, a toy store in buildings like this...... AND.... in the 1950's-1960's my Father had his real estate office in south Florida in a building ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS BUILDING.....when I was young there was a DairyDream in Clanton, Alabama we went to sometimes for ice cream and it was very similar also......I don't remember the old DairyQueens ever having the slanted glass

[@glennjudd2467]

Welcome to Texas !

[@glennjudd2467]

You are correct ! Snow & chills in winconsin ! Not much difference here ! Winter came fast here in Pacific Northwest !

[@glennjudd2467]

Interesting , secret tunnels to see the girls of the night !

[@SightseeingSally]

Lol yep, we asked the mayor if the tunnels still exist but he didn’t know. Hope you’re staying warm Glenn!

[@SightseeingSally]

Yeehaw 🤠

[@zuzannawisniewska4464]

Thank you Marty and Sally for another great travelogue. Thanks for the nice history lesson. Love Texas like I do.

[@davidkoehler136]

Ah, the good old days. the town brothel

[@SightseeingSally]

Hahaha 🤣 there’s always Nevada

[@davidkoehler136]

@@SightseeingSally Back here in Wisconsin , there were plenty of them.....Still are

[@garybryant6148]

Very good video Sally. since Mingus was a City with a City Hall and City Council, how many police officers did Mingus have? And how far away was the closest grocery store, and hospital?

[@michaelroucoulet3294]

the sally and marty show!!

[@SightseeingSally]

Woohoo 🙌🏻

[@williamshaffer9216]

Great Video!!!

[@badgerpa9]

You are missing out on 10 degree weather tonight. Be safe.

[@SightseeingSally]

These old bones are not really missing it lol but thanks 😊

[@cherylpearson1963]

Love your sense of humor! Really enjoy your vids🥰

[@SightseeingSally]

Yay! Thank you!

[@David-vh8ij]

That was very enjoyable

[@jackpalmer724]

Wish I was a cowboy back in the day.

[@SightseeingSally]

Aren’t you one now lol

[@johnthomas9830]

Love your videos

[@danieltillery7491]

Hey Sally, love y’all’s videos. I’m a 5th generation Texan and very proud of my family and Texas history. I live in Temple Tx. My GG grandfather is buried here (James Valentine Martin 1820-1912). He fought in the civil war, was 3rd sherrif in Beeville Tx, the district attorney. Anyway I lived in Longview Tx (1999-2003) they have Dalton Days fest we’re they recreate the Longview Bank robbery by the infamous Dalton gang. Just saying if y’all are in the area that you’d really enjoy that. Also in the area is azalea fest in Tyler, tomato fest in Jacksonville (best tomatoes in Tx) and Noonday (onions). Bless y’all ❤

[@MariaHemphill]

Thanks for covering Mingus, excited to see Thurber... We live in Gordon, just up the road... Hope you checked out Gordon and Strawn too.. We all have some cool little towns right here.

[@SightseeingSally]

Awesome thank you!! And yes, I agree, you some very cool little towns here!

[@phillipcameron2192]

My father was born in Thurber in 1910. My grandfather worked in the brick factory and my great grandfather and two of his sons worked in the Texas and Pacific Coal Company mines in Thurber. Family moved to Highland Park, Illinois in the early 1900’s. Thurber Brick was made from the shale and they made vitrified bricks which were good for street paving and can be found through the area.

[@cliveashley9364]

Beautiful ♥️ historical town nice 👍 watching fr jamaica 🇯🇲🌞🏖️😎

[@leonards.9112]

nice vid

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks!

[@rg1599]

I used to go dancing there at the old Trio Club. (Now closed)

[@JohnShinn1960]

Your subscriber count seems to be accelerating? Lookin forward to Thurber! Thanks you two! 👍👍👍

[@SightseeingSally]

Things are picking up, exciting times on the @SightseeingSally channel 😁 and thanks John always appreciate hearing from you!

[@mycozysanctuary]

I’m like 45 mins from Mingus. Thanks for the history.

[@davepatrick7848]

Wow, you're not far from my weekend place! Welcome to Palo Pinto County!

[@agrivoltaics]

Not sure if you two would be interested in another long forgotten yet unfallen circa 1900 2 story old red brick historical beauty in Missouri off of 1-44 heading back to the Northwoods, but I welcome you two to reach out if you would like to learn more about the Phillipsburg Mo General Store, I am getting started with a complete renovation to maker her the gem she once was! I have a theater, Odd Fellows meeting hall, ex bank, post office & general store all rolled into one stop!

[@agrivoltaics]

There is a quick exterior tour here on KZbin at Ozarks Country Store new video 1 for a peek, keep up the fantastic insightful visits to a time not long ago!

[@paulgardner5079]

Ive been to tht two restaraunts right off the freewayn and they aree both awesome

[@Revolver1701]

Enjoy the milder temps. Smart strategy.

[@Anthony-ot8vl]

Have y'all been to Mineral Wells? The famous Baker hotel is being restored. Drink some crazy water!

[@bgwenlawrence]

That building he loved so much was Johnnie's liquor store

[@SightseeingSally]

So did the sign for the liquor store get moved across the street?

[@christinatweet6580]

Go East a ways into LA, find Gibsland, where Bonnie & Clyde met their final, deadly ambush. Is right off I-20, near Minden. We enjoy yr work----thank you SS Sally & Marty....🥰

[@shuttlemanjack]

Palo Pinto played an interesting part in the story of Cynthia Parker. Granbury has the remains of of "the Colony", and Acton has the smallest Texas State Park, the graves of the wife and 2 children of Davy Crockett. Small Texas towns can be fascinating. There is a great app for state historical markers.

[@jimjustice581]

I want to buy a Sundry.😁

[@ChrisLee66]

"I am going to Mingus!" 😂

[@kd5inm]

Palo Pinto county is actually in North Central Texas, not north east Texas. East Texas actually starts at Dallas and goes east. If you are west of Ft Worth, you are in Central Texas and Palo Pinto is north Texas.

[@markfletcher8084]

Mingus has a great cafe, Mel’s Diner. Good food and ambiance.

[@gregorysarmas692]

I like your commentary and factual information of sin city.The Baptists are legendary sinners!

[@gregelliott5016]

According to the 2021 census there was 230 people

[@candaceyoung8549]

So mingus my home town lovera"s was a gro store in Strawn & that was the owners name . County barn was hotel depot I believe . The little building by post office was originally a barber shop, then a bakery & they tried a drive thru like thing but closed for good after couple months .... & There wasnt a tunnel to brothel under Rd.

[@michaelhumphries5853]

you ought to go Jonesboro, Tx on the Red River

[@DeeMoback]

Marty, in the Rosiclare video st 15:28 minutes there is a picture of a 1940 Dari Dream !!!......take at look at the structure.....though smaller, it is similar to "your building"....yup..... I think I remember these

[@SightseeingSally]

Dari Dream! No wonder Marty was so attracted to this building 😂

[@DeeMoback]

@@SightseeingSally LOL

[@bman5333]

Like traveling around with you guys. Some of the towns in NM and TX I've been to and had relatives living in Kingston NM through the 40's and 50's. I grew up in west Texas. I now live in North Central TX about 50 mi. from Mingus. Mingus was a wild and wooly little town in the 80's and early to mid 90's. At the start of your vids it would help some of us if you would mention the City, County and State and general location of your visit and maybe give it a quick pin point on the google map. Thanks.

[@henryrodgers1752]

Oh... it's over near Mineral Wells! Now I know how to get to Mingus. (if I wanted to, that is.)

[@joeblack7497]

A number of my family are from Strawn; My mother, Paternal Great Grandparents and Paternal Grandparents as well as other family members, are buried there. My Great Grandfather was a butcher and owned a butcher shop there for years, His name was Lonzo Fincher. An interesting fact is many Italians are buried there, they worked the coal mine area of Thurber..

[@kitdriscoll1288]

Y'all should visit ghost town ... Manning, Texas. 😊

[@bobbywanger8123]

👍👍👍👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥🚛

[@toniamclellan5724]

Did you go eat at BJ’s pizza? Best pizza!!

[@larszchzsche9070]

The brick was not layer for large over head doors but for large thick sliding doors.

[@vickiwalters1529]

Did you make it to Mary's in Strawn?

[@jeffersonkee6440]

I imagine those fences made of railroad ties are from the spur that ran south to Thurber. Those "ghost rails" show up on Google Maps.

[@RioAbajoBelen]

Excellent video. Are you venturing into New Mexico from Texas? If you are looking for places to explore, let us know. We can direct you to some interesting places. Doug and Pam Belen, New Mexico U.S.A.

[@christinatweet6580]

Go wave at the VRailfan camera! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃

[@richardbeee]

Funny thing happened to me there. Was blasting through and saw this sign and thought it said "Texas Holdem". Me being a gambling man i spun around and came squealing to a stop. only to realize it said "Texas Hotel." Oh well.

[@SightseeingSally]

Hahaha sounds like a real bummer 😉😂

[@richardbeee]

@@SightseeingSally Love your humor.

[@robinstuyvesant7187]

Getting cactus at Mingus? Sounds like an Aussie localism going on a pub crawl.

[@SuzyThompson1212]

Since Fort Worth is "Where the West Begins", Mingus is definitely not in east Texas. Great video though!

[@jig88]

Long walk from Illinois to Texas

[@SightseeingSally]

Yes, it is!

[@jig88]

@@SightseeingSally I know a great homeless shelter in San Antonio

[@williamhickstein685]

I have never seen a hotel with a garage door.

[@SightseeingSally]

Maybe to hide the vehicles of anyone who didn’t want to be seen 😉🤷🏼‍♀️

[@victoriamaaske7420]

Sounds like wisconsin, 10 saloons and bars and a railroad. Ha .

[@SightseeingSally]

Hahaha yeah it does doesn’t it

[@DeeMoback]

@@SightseeingSally we used to say "gin mills"

[@rodgers6209]

I enjoyed this video as I have others of your travels. But on a Texas geographic not, Mingus is not Northeast Texas. What we consider Northeast Texas starts in the area of Mt. Pleasant. North from there to the Red River to the East till you reach the Arkansas/ Louisiana lines.

[@wayneparsons9093]

Mingus is in north central Texas not north eastern.

[@deskgamesix]

Mingus isn’t in NE Texas. Good video though.

[@stephenvo5655]

How is that northeast Texas? That town is west of Ft. Worth

[@shawnstephens1251]

Northeast Texas?

[@BlindViews]

LOL Marty... I have no idea.

[@SightseeingSally]

Typical Marty 😂

[@fredschwake1048]

If, Sally would look real close on the map.... Mingus is north central Texas,,,,, not north east texas. Ft. Worth is where"The West Begins',,,,,, east texas begins east of Dallas

[@SightseeingSally]

Is that what Rand McNally says or what you’re sayin? Cuz Rand McNally says Mingus is in Northeast Texas.

[@fredschwake1048]

@@SightseeingSally Ft.Worth is where the West Begins!!! Mingus is way west of Ft. Worth. I doubt that Rand McNally has ever been to Mingus, TX. I HAVE!!!! Have you?

[@culturedape279]

Mingus isn’t really in north east Texas. More like just north Texas.

[@tedwalker1370]

Texas had and may still have what was known as wet and dry towns. Wet towns were where you could buy and drink hard liquors. Dry towns where you could not buy liquors. Sin town and no sin town. LOL

[@SightseeingSally]

Nice way to put it hahaha

[@redarmysoja]

That ain't north east, it's north central.

[@SightseeingSally]

Take that up with Rand McNally

[@redarmysoja]

@@SightseeingSally Then you might want to get a better map

[@danielking2944]

@@SightseeingSally 15:56 There is a surprising stratification of cultures in Texas .I live in Paris Tx,about 150 miles east and we are barely east Tex. 25 miles east in Clarksville you hear a distinctive accent that is east Tex.That’s where the south begins.A very humorous and somewhat historical book (THE ORDWAYS) ,made into a movie in the 1950s ,gives some cultural context.

[@paulajones9956]

I've been to Mingus a million times, nothing interesting about that place at all

[@Texalicious]

Not really north east Texas, it is north central texas

[@tsorrelsins]

I would hardly call Palo Pinto County NORTHEAST TEXAS.... Maybe North CENTRAL Texas since you are WEST of Dallas.

[@SightseeingSally]

Tell that to Rand McNally, they have Palo Pinto County on their map as part of Northeast Texas

[@kevinc.5073]

That’s not NE TX

[@homeownerbuilderservicesll6777]

THIS IS NOT northeastern... sorry

[@svenswwis436]

Go Marty on your brickwork assessments.