Fort Ritner, Indiana, Level 4 Ghost Town
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- Опубликовано: 23 окт 2023
- Fort Ritner, Indiana is a Level 4 ghost town located about 13 miles southeast of Bedford, Indiana. The town once had a population of about 1,000 people in the early 1900s but in the 2000 census the population was hovering around only 75 people. Today in 2023, the population could very well be south of the 75 residents that were living here in 2000. Here’s the story...
Fort Ritner was platted in 1857 and named for Michael Ritner, a foreman of the railroad that built the massive train tunnel just 1 mile west of town. When first platted, there were almost 290 available plots in town. Today, there might be about 20 homes inhabited.
One of the first merchants to open shop was William Holland who had a grocery store and a tavern. When he died in 1905 he was one of the wealthiest men in Lawrence County and owned quite a bit of land as shown in the plat book.
In its heyday, the early 1900s, Fort Ritner was home to two saloons, a railroad depot, at least 2 churches, possibly 3, a flour mill, a blacksmith shop, a saw mill, 2 grocery stores, a hotel, a telephone exchange, a post office, a doctors office, a grist mill, a barbers shop, a dress maker shop and a justice of the Peace. In 2023, all that remains of the commercial entities is the former Holland General Store built in 1913 which is now a private residence. Which places Ft. Ritner in the “Level 4 Ghost Town” category.
With the East Fork of the White River just 1/2 mile south of Fort Ritner, floods have always played a major roll in the history of the town. The 1913 Flood somehow triggered a fire in the grocery store of William Holland which resulted in his first store burning down to the waterline. The 1937 Flood was even worse forcing all of the residents to leave town or seek refuge in the Ft. Ritner Methodist Episcopal Church which sat on high ground.
A 2 story hotel once stood on Front Street almost directly across from the former Holland General Store. This was one of the oldest buildings in town, constructed in the 1800s. Unfortunately it burned to the ground in 1977.
On the morning of Monday, December 27, 1909, two freight trains traveling east and west on the same set of tracks approached the sharp curve just 1/2 mile east of Ft. Ritner. Due to the curve and the cliff on the north side of the tracks, neither engineer could see the other train coming until it was too late. Some trainmen were able to jump to safety before the collision but unfortunately 5 were killed in the accident making it the deadliest train wreck in Lawrence County history.
Four schools have been built in Fort Ritner but only one remains.
In 1855 the “Wildcat School” was constructed one mile north of Fort Ritner on the head of Wildcat Creek. The land was deeded by William & Sarah Foster on June 9, 1855 for school purposes. The school was in use for only 3 years until 1858.
In 1858 the Town School was built at the corner of Depot & Third Street on Lots 112-113 & 114 which were deeded by Edwin B. Fanning for school purposes. This school was in use until 1883. I couldn’t find any remains of the building.
In 1883 the two story, two room Clay Hill College was built and sat o the hillside and slightly west and north of the Winfred and Maggie Dixon home. The 1 and a half acres of land for the school was deeded by Martin & Mary Dixon. This school was in operation until 1911. It looks as if a newer home has been built on the site of where the school may have once stood.
In 1911 the last Ft. Ritner school was built on Lots 83-84-85 & 86. The one story, two room school was in operation until 1952. In 2023 it is being used as a private residence.
A post office once stood on the west side of the 1913 Holland General Store and then was moved inside the store. In 2023 the remains of the Post Office can be found at the Lawrence County Museum of History in Bedford, Indiana.
Today Fort Ritner, Indiana is only a shell of it’s former self. Less than two dozen houses make up Fort Ritner with a population of only about 50-65 people. Will anything be left in Fort Ritner 100 years from now? Only time will tell.
GPS Location: 38°46'14.2"N 86°16'50.2"W
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Don't know how long that store has been closed, but I'm sure I remember it being a dark brown building and having stopped there for a coke back in the late 1980's.
That's about when I discovered it.
Great job Satolli and crew.🧢🇺🇸
Thanks John!
Cool ghost town, seeing the old photos of what it used to look like is awesome! Thanks for sharing this wonderful place and its history with us! 👍
Glad you liked it!
Great video, I love the then and now photos.
Thanks! I like them too.
Liked the explanation. Thanks
Good! Glad it made sense.
Imagine all the life that began and ended in this sweet little town over the past 140 years
Exactly!
Great video as always Satolli!
Well I have to give you credit for giving me the inspiration to cover Fort Ritner. It was on my radar but it wasn't at the top of my list until you showed me those pictures. Thanks!
@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 No problem! SHAARD has pictures and information about pretty much the entire state, it is a great resource
EXCELLENT AS USUAL
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
I am a long time viewer, but I am a slacker in replying to your videos. I quietly have watched your videos for the past few years and totally enjoy them. The length of them are perfect and I truly enjoy the content that you put out. For instance, this Town is a very interesting Ghost Town. You can definitely see how at one time it was probably full of children and activities and it is just very intriguing to watch how you display the town as it is now compared to what it was. Keep up the great work. I will try to be more diligent in commenting and likes! I do have a question about this video. At the corner of Front St and Ft Ritner there was a raised foundation. It also had steps leading up to the foundation. Did you happen to find out what that foundation once was?
Thanks for the comments. That foundation belongs to the store that once stood there. At time stamp 6:08 you dan see the store in the center of the photo along with the steps and foundation.
Deep Indiana....Thanks!
You're welcome!
Where's Susie Selleck? I hope she's doing OK. Great video! Love what you guys do!
Amazing research. How about scipio,,Hayden, brewersville,holten,Nebraska?
I know, its a lot to research.
However you did an amazing job on this little hometown.
Frog legs on Thursday or Friday.
All you can eat. Don't know if they are still in business but it was awesome the people were like family.
Couple decades ago.
They are all on my list! It just takes time...
This my first time seeing one of your videos, you did an excellent job. Is the train tunnel there still used at all? I figure probably not but wanted to ask anyway.
Yes the trains run through the tunnel daily. Glad you liked the video.
Enjoyed your video. What I also noticed were the lack of empty houses. How did they pay to have them removed? The small towns around here are littered with burnt out and abandoned buildings.
I have no idea.
Did you get to check out the abandoned ft ritner bridge ?
Yes! I even did a video about that bridge a couple of years ago: ruclips.net/video/fF1n-WtS2DI/видео.html
I live here and this place has lost its way for sure. My mom was the last postmaster there which I think was 2009 or 2011? Ether way there was a house fire in 2011 on the second floor of the post office and we moved out.
I just live further down fort ritner road.
Would be a great town to dig out old privys!
I agree.
👍👍
Spooky is an abandoned farm with a rusty swing and a creaky gate,
Definitely.
My freind in bloomingron had a company weddle foods that used to deliver to that store on his route i went on with him.
Cool!
@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 I have made a video on Facebook also of the abandoned bridge at ft ritner as well as up the road in sparksville
@historyinyourownbackyard2363 There's an abandoned bridge there that is cool as well ive made a vid about it and the one up the road in sparksville.
@@hobsonschoice8649 here you go...ruclips.net/video/fF1n-WtS2DI/видео.html
I don't like my house being on here please edit it 120 and 125 perry st, remove my houses please
But now you just told everyone where you live.