The Oldest Independent Bookstore In Texas Is Also One Of The Most Haunted Places In The State
By Katie Lawrence|Published July 27, 2022
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
If you love visiting haunted places in Texas, you’ll want to add Barber’s Bookstore to your spooky bucket list. Open since 1925, Barber’s is the oldest independent bookstore in the state – and, like many historic buildings, has its fair share of ghost stories. Whether you’re a paranormal believer, bibliophile, or both, strolling through these storied shelves is an experience you won’t soon forget.
The oldest independent bookstore in Texas, Barber's has been every Fort Worth bibliophile's go-to since 1925. After moving locations several times over the years, the shop finally put down roots in a three-story building on the corner of Throckmorton and Eighth streets, where it has remained for some time now.
Dating to circa 1908, the building wore a number of hats, from hotel to café to (allegedly) bordello. In fact, on the third floor, hotel room numbers can still be seen above the doorframes!
Upon stepping inside, you'll be met with a floor-to-ceiling barrage of books that aren't organized in any particular way. The shelves are all different colors and sizes, and even more books are stacked in front of them.
The quirky disarray, along with the unmistakable smell of old books, are where the shop's charm derives from. You'll be swept back to the days of old, long before Kindles and tablets usurped the joy of holding a novel in your hands and feeling the pages turn beneath the pads of your fingers.
Along with every old building comes a few ghost stories, and Barber's is no exception. One resident ghost announces itself by making the lights flicker, throwing books onto the floor, and even walking up and down the stairs that lead to the old hotel. While the identity of the spirit is unknown, it's possible he suffered some form of ill fate inside the store - after all, that's usually what causes a ghost to be doomed to haunt a place for eternity.