My Article re: the history of Small Texas towns

[Hornius Emeritus]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:




Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

 

[Ace Boogie!]

Dope!

I love it! It is excellent! Thanks for sharing

 

[rcy3113]

In the theater section, you might look at the Select Theater in Mineola, Texas. It's a great one that's been continuously operating since 1920.

https://lakecountryplayhouse.com/our-history

Select Theatre in Mineola, TX - Cinema Treasures

The Select Theatre was opened in 1920. It has a single screen and is in great shape due to preservation and a recent restoration. It rotates movie...

cinematreasures.org

Select Theatre, Mineola, Texas.

www.texasescapes.com

 

[Oilfield]

Love it.

 

[Rattler14]

Nice job OP !

 

[Hornius Emeritus]

In the theater section, you might look at the Select Theater in Mineola, Texas. It's a great one that's been continuously operating since 1920.

https://lakecountryplayhouse.com/our-history

Select Theatre in Mineola, TX - Cinema Treasures

The Select Theatre was opened in 1920. It has a single screen and is in great shape due to preservation and a recent restoration. It rotates movie...

cinematreasures.org

Select Theatre, Mineola, Texas.

www.texasescapes.com

Oh, yeah ...I've got some photos of it somewhere but Texas Highways basically said "cut it off at 40 photos" and even then I think there are 43 or so.

One of the biggest challenges was to sift through my collection of small-town Texas photos (I must have 20,000 of them at least) and try to come up with some that were geographically representative and would also display clearly on large computer monitors.

 

[rcy3113]

Oh, yeah ...I've got some photos of it somewhere but Texas Highways basically said "cut it off at 40 photos" and even then I think there are 43 or so.

One of the biggest challenges was to sift through my collection of small-town Texas photos (I must have 20,000 of them at least) and try to come up with some that were geographically representative and would also display clearly on large computer monitors.

I grew up going to the Select and my mom was in the theater during the 1962 tornado. Completely understand about space. Just bringing a nice option if you ever have the chance.

 

[STEAMYGUTPILE]

Thanks for sharing! It’s amazing that I’m 43 ( all in Texas) and there are still Texas towns I have never heard of. Also, many I’ve heard of but have no idea where they are located.

I enjoyed the courthouse photos, they were seemingly the pride of every small town. Still sad the one in Mason burned recently.

 

[Texas1999]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

Thanks for all you do. Love your articles and pictures. The only thing I wished you added (especially on the courthouse pictures) is to note in the text whether or not those buildings are still standing and then when and if possible to see what it looks like today.

BTW, it is awesome to see your postings on facebook and twitter and see all my friends and family that follow you there. I feel like bragging on you that you are OBer and make those of us on here feel like we original followers

 

[lhk04a]

It’s a shame what the car has done to small downtowns.

 

[hornsup21]

great stuff @Hornius Emeritus .One day you may want to do some digging on Count Joseph Telfener from Italy who came over and teamed up with the Hungerfords and Mcays to try and build a railroad from Richmond to Brownsville. He brought over over 1000 workers from Italy to complete "the macaroni Line"

Towns like Edna and Inez were named after his daughters and IIRc Louise was named after McCAys wife.He ended up in a mansion in Victoria for a while and several pieces of religious art blessed in Rome that he owned are in some Victoria Catholic insitutions..at least they were. He had a big impact on Texas history

Really GREAT photos!!! I love your work!


https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/telfener-joseph

https://www.poggiorealeinamerica.com/count-telefener-and-the-macaroni-li

 

[Tom Paine]

Fantastic! These photos and your commentary are just great. I had some important work to do, but now I have some important viewing to do.

 

[drunk randoke]

Excellent. OP is a great dude and a Texas treasure.

 

[venivedivici]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

Good stuff.
Thanks.

 

[snoop9928]

bump for later. thanks

 

[HornPride33]

Foo

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

Cool article, but that’s not Gordon versus Strawn at Strawn, nor is it 1996.

If you want the actual opponent and date, I can probably determine that for you.

- Strawn Grad 00’

Hook’em

 

[Jetexas]

Because I grew up in Desdemona & Gordon this was a special article for me. Thank you!

 

[PuroPincheHorns]

Excellent work! Thank you for always including Far West Texas!

 

[Miamihorns]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

Great work...... Wish you could have included the Cliftex Theater in Clifton, TX. It's the longest continually operating movie theater in the state.

 

[The Bostitch]

So OP (a male) can post links to his pics on another site and invite people to go look but Lexy69 (a female) can't?

Mods are so sexist. The only solution to this hypocrisy is equal time for her nudez! Blast for equality...

 

[RobertGKemp]

That was Allsome

 

[fidozam]

Very cool. I grew up in Brazoria so small town Texas is in my blood.

 

[TreatyOakATX]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

Good stuff, I always wondered if you from that area because of your familiarity with it. We’re neighbors, I ran around that area when I was younger and I was raised in Williamson County. Drove 95 last week from Zabcikville to ATX after stopping at Greens. Your Twitter is one of my favorite follow.

 

[Hornius Emeritus]

Foo

Cool article, but that’s not Gordon versus Strawn at Strawn, nor is it 1996.

If you want the actual opponent and date, I can probably determine that for you.

- Strawn Grad 00’

Hook’em

I think it was taken at Gordon. Also, when somebody sends me a photo, all I can really do is take their word for it. Since the sender actually took the photo himself, I figured he probably knew what it was. Edit: Emailed him and he responded immediately. He says it was taken "in Longhorn Stadium in Gordon, Texas 1996."

 

[www67legend]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

Traces, this article is fantastic! If you don’t get nostalgic reading it and viewing the photos, you have no pulse. You will get a lot of postive feedback from the magazine and online readers. Congrats!!!

 

[MisplacedHorn]

Well done!

 

[Alejandro Stern]

Magnificent work.

 

[PDPickens]

Allsome stuff. thanks for sharing.

 

[TexMexman]

Hey y'all, I wrote an article for Texas Highways re: small-town Texas. Lots of historical photos of small-Texas towns. It was quite a bit of work and I'd be obliged if y'all would take a gander:

View embedded media

Any comments on the content (i.e. mistakes that I made or the way I wrote it) or the format would be most welcome as we're doing this in Wordpress and it's really hard to do it in such a way that it displays correctly on every possible device. Or if you just want to tell me to go to hell, well, that's okay, too. If you do have problems viewing it if you could tell me what kind of device you're looking at it on (phone, tablet, laptop, computer etc...) and what operating system you're running that would be super helpful.

I subscribed to the magazine because of you.

 

[Hoekem]

The San Augustine County Courthouse is amazing, I was there about a month ago and we got to have a personal tour of the Cullen House, the old Jailhouse Museum, and the Courthouse.

The interior of the Courthouse and the District Courtroom should be the backdrop of movies…it was in Bernie.

 

[HornPride33]

I think it was taken at Gordon. Also, when somebody sends me a photo, all I can really do is take their word for it. Since the sender actually took the photo himself, I figured he probably knew what it was. Edit: Emailed him and he responded immediately. He says it was taken "in Longhorn Stadium in Gordon, Texas 1996."

That’s cool and all, but he doesn’t know what the heck he’s talking about and/or he’s feeding you a line. The scoreboard in the back right is red and black with a greyhound on top of it; that’s Strawn’s colors and Strawn’s mascot, that’d be really odd to have a rivals colors and mascot on Gordon’s scoreboard. Gordon is Black and Gold and they’re the Longhorns. The team Strawn is playing is Orange and White, and there’s a tiger on the track to the left, which means it’s most likely Gustine, who Strawn has played regularly as well. @drunkrandoke can vouch for that being he’s a Comanche County guy……
The field in the photo wasn’t built until 2000. I played 6 years on the old field, from 1994 to 1999….. We were the last class to play on the old field…… Class of 2000.

The water tower and the radio antena are on the west side of stadium, you can access them via 2372 or Lake Tucker Road, this is the road that takes you to the newest state park in Texas, the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park…… nice spot, cool little lake…..

Just trying to offer some help.

Hook’em

 

[TXNLIVNNTX]

That was really cool Thanks for sharing!

 

[Hornius Emeritus]

Great work...... Wish you could have included the Cliftex Theater in Clifton, TX. It's the longest continually operating movie theater in the state.

It was just a matter of space. I've got hundreds of photos of old movie theaters, including a bunch of my own. I love the outside of the Cliftex but have never been inside.

Good stuff, I always wondered if you from that area because of your familiarity with it. We’re neighbors, I ran around that area when I was younger and I was raised in Williamson County. Drove 95 last week from Zabcikville to ATX after stopping at Greens. Your Twitter is one of my favorite follow.

If you stopped at Green's I hope you got a sausage burger!

 

[BattleshipTexas]

Look at the photo of the people in front of the Van Horn Depot. Two ladies have tennis racquets and the two kids on the ground to the left look like identical twins.

 

[GuyPie9]

Good read OP. There's something about the small town in Texas that is unique from other states.