Grafton, Utah (Ghost Town)

I love ghost towns; some are better than others.  I saw this one, Grafton, Utah, on the map and drove out there today.  It was a long, dusty, dirt road to a beautiful spot which was once a town called Grafton.  The only living thing out there was a pasture of cows.

There were a couple houses, some farming equipment, and a beautiful church/schoolhouse.  The house is being restored, as this site has been designated historic and is protected.

Grafton was established in 1859, to provide a settlement for people to grow cotton on the fertile plains next to the Virgin River. Frequent floods and Indian attacks caused problems for early pioneers, but some persisted and the town became quite successful, lasting until the 1930s when residents moved away to better land in Hurricane, 30 miles west.  There are still a couple large buildings including a two-story private residence and a combined church/schoolhouse built in 1886. 

This is a nice bridge you cross to get to Grafton.

 

Long, dirt road.

 

Nothing out here but some cows.  They have a nice view!

 

What you lookin' at?

 

The Church / Schoolhouse

 

A family home

The inside

 



 

Another little house.  This one you could go inside.

 

It was well-perserved inside.

 

Some old farming equipment.

 

Grafton Cemetery.  There are a few dozen graves from the period 1860 - 1910, with telling inscriptions that give some insight into the harsh life at that time, such as the three Berry brothers (and one wife), all killed by Indians on April 2,1866, or the five children of John and Charlotte Ballard, all of whom died young between 1865 and 1877, none living for more than 9 years. 

 

Indians

 

"Killed by Indians"

 

This 98-degree day calls for drastic measures - a snow cone!  This was a cute little place with the BEST shaved ice!

 

I love it that there are these community recycle bins all over Utah.  It's easy to just drop off your paper, plastic, and aluminium cans!