Elberton Ghost Town WA
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Description: Elberton was situated within a valley where the North Fork of the Palouse River and Silver Creek converged. In 1886, Sylvester M. Wait plotted the town, naming it after his son Elbert. The year 1880 saw the construction of a rail line by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co through the valley. The town flourished starting in 1888, boasting a flour mill, post office, blacksmith shop, two general stores, grain warehouse, and a church. By the turn of the century, Elberton's population reached 400 residents. However, the early 1900s brought challenges—the closure of the sawmill, a devastating 1908 fire, and a 1910 flood—all of which precipitated the town's decline. In 1929, with the onset of the Great Depression and competition from neighboring towns, a significant number of people began leaving their homes behind, resulting in Elberton's abandonment. Presently, only a few remnants endure as witnesses to Elberton's history: the United Brethren Church, a cemetery, a railroad trestle, and a bridge.