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Dido is a ghost town in Tarrant County, near Pecan Acres in the U.S. state of Texas. The town is located near Eagle Mountain Lake and near the town of Saginaw.

History

Dido was believed to be founded circa 1848 after David Thurmond named the town for the tons of horse dung that lay on the trail leading to the town. ("Dido" was a slang word for horse manure in the mid-1800s.)

When setting up the small town, David offered to name it "Dido" out of his frustration. The town incorporated a post office sometime in the 1850s, making it officially named Dido.[2]

In 1887, small portions of land were donated by Dr. Isaac Van Zandt to build a schoolhouse, a church, and the Dido Cemetery.

Not much else is known about the history of the town but the Dido Methodist Church still operates today and there have been movements to restore the town to its former glory.[3]

Decline

Dido had a promising future until, like many other Texas ghost towns, it was bypassed by the railroad.

The conveniences of the town suddenly became obsolete as many residents moved to surrounding towns, notably Saginaw.

Additional Information

Although there remains unknown history about this charming ghost town, many residents of nearby towns, especially Saginaw and Eagle Mountain, have claimed to have more information.

Someone claimed that Dido is currently a small community of people trying to restore the town by holding picnics and community meetings, while another claimed to have been related to the founder of the town.[4]

Geography

Dido is generally located between Eagle Mountain, Pecan Acres, and Saginaw, although the boundaries of the former town remain uncertain. The town lies on Morris Dido Newark Road and Dido Hicks Road on the coast of Eagle Mountain Lake. Nearby towns include Saginaw, Pecan Acres, Avondale, Newark, Eagle Mountain, and Haslet.

References