Present day appearances are deceiving, but 130 years ago this living ghost town was a thriving college town. Located in the northern part of the state, Humphreys, originally called Haley City, started life in 1881 consisting of 17 blocks of 246 lots. The town grew quickly and changed its name to Humphreys in 1882. James M. Stringer donated four acres of land in 1884 to build the large brick structure known as Humphreys College and Business Institute. By the end of that year the new town boasted four hotels, two drug stores, two dry goods stores, a church, a general merchandise, a millinery, harness shop and two blacksmith. Sadly, in 1893 a fire broke out in the college and it could not be saved.
Today the town has no businesses, the post office is set to close permanently and there are loads of abandoned buildings for a town this size. Part ghost town and part time warp, Humphreys is all but deserted with just 118 residents. Unfortunately, the old Humphreys Christian Church below, almost camouflaged by vines and brush, is just one of the many abandoned buildings in town.
Humphreys Christian Church, Stringer Street
This old abandoned farmhouse is also located on Stringer Street just a block from the church.
Humphreys College burned down in 1893. A new structure was built on the site but was razed in 1912. Per a 1951 newspaper article, bricks from the college were used to construct several of the business buildings around the town square. The only brick building that exists there today is the facade of the brick building you see above, or perhaps don’t see behind all the overgrowth.
When you drive around the few short blocks of what’s left of this once thriving town, you will find many more abandoned buildings than are shown here. Most are so overgrown, they are easy to miss. James M. Stringer, the founding father of Humphreys, who donated the land for the college and opened the town’s first general store, would be turning over in his grave to see his beloved Humphreys in such decline. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take a time machine back to 1884 to see what Humphreys was like in its heyday? If only.