- Argyle, Utah
Argyle is a
ghost town located in Rich County,Utah ,United States . Lying some convert|3|mi southwest of Randolph on Big Creek, it was inhabited about 1875–1915.History
Around 1875, John Kennedy, Sr. settled the area with his three sons, who built homes and ranches along the various branches of Big Creek. Within a few years several other
Mormon families moved in and established a local church group. The town became known as "Kennedyville".cite book | last = Carr | first = Stephen L. | title = The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns | edition = 3rd edition | origyear = 1972 | origmonth = June | year = 1986 | publisher = Western Epics | location = Salt Lake City | isbn = 0-914740-30-X | pages = p.17] In 1885 the community organized a school system, and the mostlyScottish American residents voted to rename the town "Argyle" in honor ofArgyll ,Scotland .cite book | last = Parson | first = Robert E. | title = A History of Rich County | series = Utah Centennial County History Series | year = 1996 | month = January | publisher = Utah State Historical Society | location = Salt Lake City | isbn = 0-913738-02-6 | pages = pp.251–252] School was originally held in Kennedy's home until a one-room brick schoolhouse was built in 1895. The cold climate made farming difficult, and the population grew slowly. [cite book | last = Thompson | first = George A. | title = Some Dreams Die: Utah's Ghost Towns and Lost Treasures | year = 1982 | month = November | publisher = Dream Garden Press | location = Salt Lake City | isbn = 0-942688-01-5 | pages = p.183] There were 111 inhabitants in 1900, and just over 125 in 1910 when a second room was built onto the schoolhouse.Argyle declined as transportation improved and farmers no longer had to live as close to their fields. The school was considered inferior to the education available in nearby Randolph, and Argyle had no stores or other services of its own. In 1913 the local church organization was discontinued, and in 1915 the school itself closed and merged with the one in Randolph. Most of the residents moved to Randolph and kept their farms in the Argyle area.
Although the town is deserted, numerous buildings and walls still stand at Argyle. It is surrounded by
hay fields and closed to the public, but the ruins can be easily seen from the road.References
External links
* [http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ut/argyle.html Argyle] at GhostTowns.com
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