Monthly Archives: January 2012

The Feed Store: Elbert

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

Town was deserted–or at least appeared to be–the day I was in Elbert.  The sign on the feed store says “Open” and the gates are open.  I found it amusing that there is the fenced enclosure on the porch of … Continue reading →

Posted in Elbert, Texas | Tagged

Aunt Hester’s Farm Store: Elbert

Posted on January 27, 2012 by

One of the few remaining businesses in Elbert, population 56 or thereabouts, is the Farm Store.  My grandmother’s Aunt Hester operated it when I was a child.  There were two stores then, but Mama bought her groceries at Aunt Hester’s, … Continue reading →

Posted in Elbert, Texas | Tagged , , ,

Elbert School

Posted on January 22, 2012 by

Elbert is a small rural community in Throckmorton County.  I spent many days there during the summers, and it is where my mother grew up.  The last time I was in this school building, probably late 90s, it was in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elbert, school houses, Texas | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The only skyscraper in Breckenridge

Posted on January 18, 2012 by

I was photographing the interesting high school complex in Breckenridge on my recent visit to Texas and while seeking a better vantage point from the parking lot, noted the old pump–right in the middle of town.  There are actually several … Continue reading →

Posted in Breckenridge, Stephens County, Texas | Tagged ,

Albany: We’re done here now.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by

Albany, Texas has done a much better job than some of the rural towns in the area at keeping the historic downtown vital.  Not only have they preserved buildings, most of them remain in active use commercially. On the left, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Shackelford County, Texas

Throckmorton Fire Department building: a Works Progress Administration building

Posted on January 15, 2012 by

The building that houses the Throckmorton Volunteer Fire Department was built in 1937 as a project of the Works Progress Administration.  Its construction with locally quarried limestone is similar to most of the buildings on the square and main street.

Posted in Texas, Throckmorton, Works Progress Administration

Shackelford County Jail

Posted on January 14, 2012 by

The first permanent public building in Shackelford County was the jail constructed in 1877-78.  It is described as one of the few remaining examples of 19th Century Classic architecture. The architect was John Thomas of Thomas and Woerner Builders in … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, Ironwork, Shackelford County, Texas | Tagged , , , ,

Belle Plain revisited

Posted on January 13, 2012 by

Belle Plain was located six miles southeast of Baird in Callahan County, and was established in 1876.  It was the first county seat of Callahan County, and in addition to the stone jail, had several stores, saloons, fraternal lodges, lawyers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Callahan County, Texas

Working in Mound Bayou this week

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

I’m down in Mound Bayou with my class this week.  You can keep up with our trip here, and I’ll be back on Suzassippi at the end of the week.

Posted in Uncategorized

Works Progress Administration: Possum Kingdom Bridge

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

Politically speaking, the best of all landscapes, the best of all roads, are those which foster movement toward a desirable social goal. John Brinkerhoff Jackson, in Discovering the Vernacular Landscape  On my recent trip to Texas while researching the Eliasville … Continue reading →

Posted in Brazos River, Bridges, landscape architecture, Texas, Works Progress Administration, Young County | 1 Comment