I know!
I was amazed too.
I like them (old building that is, not architectural historians), best when they haven't been all fru frued up.You know, sort of raw and lived in and leaning, preferable to the left but I'll take them leaning to the right also. Doors falling off, windows missing, grass growing on the roof, maybe a tree or two through the porch, you know dilapidated. JR and I tease ourselves that this is all we could afford. Which is sort of true but then we wouldn't want it any other way.
I go out of my way to find these little gems. On a recent trip to Austin I decided to give myself some extra time to meander the back roads. In doing so I came across what once was the small town of West Point. Okay, maybe it still is a town but from what I could see it is not what one would call thriving. At its zenith it boasted 300 people, four stores, two physicians, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, two cotton gins, a molasses press, and a cannery, according to the Handbook of Texas Online.
Here are some of my favorite photos of the town.
Not actually sure what these two buildings were in their former life but I lean towards a blacksmith and a store.
Here is what I would think was one of the stores is town.
We all can see what this was. It was the drug store. What I wouldn't give to have that sign but it is better whee it is.
And, my favorite:
The old school house.
Isn't it the best?
It has some of that southwest/alamo charm to it.
And, the windows on either side of the archway call to me. I love them so. The detailing is wonderful.
Someone is keeping hay in it now.
I'm thinking that this photo will become a painting in the future.
I braved a barking quasi mean looking dog to get this photo. If it wasn't for the dog I would have just let myself in the front door to have a little look around; braving all manner of critters. What I won't do for this hobby of mine. Sheesh!
There you go, a little trip through the remnants of a turn of the 20th century town in Texas.
Love,
M
I like the photos and I too am drawn to old buildings. I think just because you realize how much they did by hand and how much pride there is in those!
ReplyDeleteThat is an excellent point.
DeleteI really like that last photo, we get the adventure of driving through several towns in Wyoming that are declining because the interstate bypassed them. They hang on, but are not what they were in their glory days.
ReplyDeleteThose are my favorite types of towns. If you snap some photos I'd love to see them.
DeleteI love doors, so am partial to the second one with the screen hanging off its door. Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteThe old drug store was the post office many years. Then there is the Luck Store and Wessel's garage and black smith shop. My dad, his sister and brother went to school in the old school buidling and my dad's sister taught in the school as an adult.
ReplyDeleteThis information is so fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing.
DeleteI'm from Plum, just east of West Point, and I greatly enjoyed seeing your pictures! I've always wondered what the school looked like - I think it was consolidated with La Grange ISD in the '40s. Been working on a small project on this town for Fayette County's 175th Anniversary Celebration and found out that West Point also had a Chevrolet Dealership (owned by John Wessels), and Molasses Mfg. Plant, and a bank at one time. Also, the first roadside park in Texas was built near West Point on 71 in 1933. It was quite a happening and prominent town back in its day! Thanks again for sharing the pics!
ReplyDelete