rust in peace

Another view of the abandoned tow truck.  I don't know how long it's been "parked" in Midway, but the license plate expired in 1969!!

Midway, Texas
1.25.2014

 

holy cows

 

In the Texico Cemetery, the Ortiz family plot abuts pasture land.  Tumbleweeds line the boundary between the cemetery and adjacent acreage.  The original purpose of fences in cemeteries was two-fold -- to protect the graves from cattle and define the family plots.  When the popularity of municipally owned cemeteries grew, fences and other borders became a way to mark a family's burial plot as well as to keep people from tampering with flowers left or to keep stray animals from wandering onto the grave. The type of border used depended on the financial resources of the family. The Ortiz family, perhaps of modest means, has simple iron posts topped with crosses.  In earlier times, the family could order ironwork in a variety of styles from pickets and hairpins or posts that were panel, square or scrolled.  In any case, the Texico cows are more interested in the photographer than the denizens of the graveyard.

 

Texico Cemetery

Texico, New Mexico

1.2.2014

gone and forgotten

 

The heyday of Texico, New Mexico lasted less than a decade.  The first settlers arrived in 1902, the site bustled with churches and saloons, and then the railroad located in nearby Clovis.  Many business moved lock, stock and barrel.  The cemetery just outside town has participated in the Cemeteries of New Mexico preservation project and has maintained its gravestones amid the arid landscape. "Unknown" marks the final resting place a forgotten early citizen.

 

Texico Cemetery

Texico, New Mexico

1.2.2014

 





"turn out the lights, the party's over"

Willie Nelson's song used as a tagline by Dandy Don Meredith describes the lonely building on the Slaton Highway. From the weeds and large "for rent" sign, the latest wanna-be Cotton Club didn't make a bumper crop. For over forty years the original Cotton Club at 50th Street and Southeast Drive stood as the most influential and diverse performance venue in the region. It was once the only profitable venue for a band to stop between Dallas and Los Angeles. The Cotton Club was unique because of its blindness to race, color and musical genre, presenting artists such as Little Richard, Elvis, and Willie Nelson among many others. Today only a Texas historic marks identifies the location.  After the old Cotton Club burned in 1965, Tommy Hancock decided to build a new club on the Slaton  Highway. He obtained permission from the founders of the old Cotton Club to use the same name. When the large metal building was completed, Hancock opened the new Cotton Club in 1967. The subsequent list of owners and managers of the Cotton Club reads like a who's who of Lubbock music -- Joe Ely, "Stubb" Stubblefield, Jug Little. Another entrepreneur leased the property in 2009 with big dreams of tall cotton (Cotton Club's return).  Apparently his $30,000 investment didn't pay off. 

 

 

original Cotton Club

 



Cotton Club

6410 E. U.S. 84
Lubbock County, Texas
1.25.2014

suicide doors

 

Midway Mike called this wreck a "gangster car" -- maybe because of the suicide doors.  The term "suicide doors" refers to the rear-hinged door configuration on vehicles, the theory being that anyone inside was on a suicide mission because of the design. The accidental opening of such doors meant that there was a greater risk of falling out of the vehicle compared to front-hinged doors, where airflow pushed the doors closed rather than opening them further. Suicide doors were especially popular with mobsters in the 1930s, supposedly due to the ease of pushing passengers out of moving vehicles. This heap might be a 1938 Buick which puts it somewhat out of the gangster era.  Maybe Mike confused gangsters with bootleggers -- might have been more appropriate for the county.

 

Midway, Texas

1.25.2014

tow no more

 

The former Bownds Body Shop tow truck occupies a prime location along CR 3860 in Midway.  It's one of the few vehicles on the gin/junk yard accessible without trekking through the weeds. The rusty 1950s era truck is a great example of Texas road art.

 

Midway, Texas

East CR 6950 and 3860

Lubbock County

1.25.2014

midway mike

 

My wanderings today took me to the east side of the county where I met Mike.  Midway is a wide place in the road at intersection of County Roads 6950 and 3860.  At the abandoned gin turned junkyard, I found Mike.  I asked him what Midway was midways of.  He replied that Slaton was about 10 miles yonder and Lorenzo was yonder about 10 miles.  He said never was much at Midway --used to be hamburger stand over yonder.  There is a store which is open everyday but Sunday (I regret not going in--maybe next time).  Mike offered me a cold beer, which I declined, and was cranking up the chainsaw to cut firewood as I left.  According to the Handbook of Texas, Midway grew near the McClung school, one of twenty-six Lubbock county rural school districts in the mid-1920s. In 1935 McClung school was consolidated with those of Acuff and Canyon to form the Roosevelt Rural School District.  I didn't know about the McClung school - learned a new fact and made a new acquaintance today.

 

Midway, Texas

CR 6950 and 3860

crappie house

 

When my brother-in-law lived at Lake Tanglewood, a gated community east of Amarillo, we would visit.  Weekends were spent fishing off the dock and drinking beer.  I'm not big on fishing but took lots of pictures.  No, this is not the crappie house after a few Coors Lights but rather its reflection in the lake.

whatever you need

 

A scene from the past:

 

The stretch of the Slaton Highway outside the city limits has always been the site for adult entertainment, as evidenced by the Lipstick Fantasy Theater in the background.  That club has had several versions; I think today it may be the Bunny Ranch.  This particular evening the billboard caught my eye -- glory may be a prayer away but Allsup's is there 24 hours.  And if you fancy a watermelon, there's a pickup load for sale.  (An interesting side note:  A few years ago when I was photographing local musicians as art, I met the artist who drew Jesus for the ad; he also had painted the Mexican musicians on the wall in Josie's on 19th.)

 

Slaton Highway

Lubbock, Texas

 



"empty chairs at empty tables"

 

I visited Las Vegas with friends years ago and came across this scene.  The lyrics from "Les Mis" are appropriate for the empty chairs at empty tables.  Such vignettes intrigue me with what the story might have been.  Who was here?  Where did they go?  Why are the empty glasses on the table?  Phantom shadows on the wall mark where friends sing no more.

 

Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas, Nevada

2003?

 



stripes

 

The empty storefront on Main Street makes an interesting study of stripes and shadows.

 

Main Street

Clovis, New Mexico

1.2.2014

winter landscape

 

A light coat of snow covered the St. John Fisher campus and made it a winter wonderland.  (This is the actual photograph of the scene--not converted to black-and-white).  I'm sure the amount of snow that fell during my visit didn't amount to much according to their standards--the fire hydrants were still visible!  Just enough snow to make the Texans' visit enjoyable and we left before the clipper came in with single digit temperatures.

 

St. John Fisher College

Rochester, New York
1.19.2014



salvatore's

 

Each morning on the way to the training venue we drove by Salvatore's Pizzeria. Locally owned by the Fantauzzo family, it's been in business since 1978 and expanded to 32 locations.  I thought this looked like the typical New York neighborhood pizza place.  Unfortunately we did not have an opportunity to eat at "Rochester's favorite pizza."

 

Salvatore's Pizzeria

East Rochester, New York

mount hope

 

Did you think I'd visit a city and not go to the cemetery?  Unfortunately, we arrived at Mount Hope at 4:51 p.m. and the gates closed at 5:00 p.m.  We really didn't want to be locked in over a cold, wintry night.  However, the quick drive-through was tantalizing and we needed more time. Mount Hope was established in 1838 as the first municipal rural cemetery in the U.S. Situated on 196 acres. the cemetery is the resting place of over 350,000 people.  It is one of the most remarkable Victorian cemeteries in America with thousands of marble, bronze, and granite monuments.  Susan B. Anthony is buried there but we only had nine minutes not an eternity to explore.

 

Mount Hope Cemetery

Rochester, New York

sjfc

 

This could be my college -- St. John Fisher (get it?) except I'm no saint.  Our training venue this week is SJFC in Rochester NY with over 200 students from the Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing.  The College was established in 1947 by the Basilian Fathers and is guided by its liberal arts tradition and its Catholic heritage,  In case you are not familiar with  St. John Fisher (1469 – 1535) he was an English Cardinal and was eventually the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.  Unfortunately he was executed by Henry VIII for refusing to accept the king as Supreme Head of the Church of England (end of history lesson).

 

St. John Fisher College

Rochester, New York



sea breeze

 

A village named Sea Breeze conjures images of warm wafts of air; in reality the January wind off Lake Ontario in 31 degree weather was more than brisk!  Sea Breeze lies between Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay near Rochester, New York and is home to the Seabreeze Amusement Park which features the Jack Rabbit, built in 1920, as the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in America.  

 

Lake Ontario

Sea Breeze, New York

gospel express

 

In mid-January, the Gospel Express City is adorned with garland but not necessarily left over from Christmas.  I've noticed the place wears the green stuff year-round; the red bows may be the Yule touch.  Public records list this address as a "single family dwelling" which got me to thinking about churches.  The Parkway-Cherry Point Neighborhood Association, lists 35 churches, including Gospel Express, on its webpage. That seems a lot in an area bounded by Idalou Highway, Loop 289, East Broadway and Yellowhouse Canyon Lake. That got me thinking about establishing a church and I found a website  "How to Start a Non-denominational Church" which outlines the process in 12 easy steps.  12 steps....which got me thinking....

 

Gospel Express City

3307 Idalou Road

Lubbock, Texas

1.10.2014

 

 

open concept

 

From the Dust Bowl to drought to urbanization, the rural demographics of the South Plains are shifting.  People are moving off the farms and into the larger towns and cities.  While the population of Hale County is relatively steady at around 36,000, those folks no longer live in the country or places like Cotton Center or Halfway.  Abandoned houses dot the landscape.  There was a uniformity of construction types in the 1930s and 40; many residences were lath and plaster.  As deterioration occurs, the layers are revealed --- from the exterior stucco to chicken wire to felt to wood lath.

 

County Road K

Hale County, Texas

 



number 23

 

The cattle in the herd don't have names because, hopefully, they are a cash crop.  Some have specific identification like No. 23, crooked ear and the crazy black cow but most are just cows.  When my brother, while in high school, bought his first herd Black Angus he named them Jethro, Too Tall, Lilly (remember those Dallas Cowboys?).  It was harder for him then to sell off friends rather than just black cows.

 

Hale County, Texas

1.11.2014

stare down

 

I rode along this afternoon to check the cattle.  Although seemingly fierce, this cow could actually be hand -fed (not by me -- my brother-- I was taking photographs).  They came running when the feed bag was opened.  Except the crazy black cow--she ran the other way.  There are two calves in the herd with more expected.  Most should be this Angus/Charlois mix.

 

Hale County, Texas

let's party

 

After a siesta, the Fiesta is ready to party.  The place started out as a bowling alley in 1971,  After bowling lost favor, night clubs occupied the space--in between periods of vacancy.  I've tried to shoot the place through the chain link fence and today the gate was open.  Freddy allowed me to take photographs.  He explained all the improvements to make the place an event center.  So if you require a venue for 3,000 guests, call him--or perhaps you only need a space for 700 wedding guests.  Whatever you need, Freddy can help.  Mark your calendar for January 18 when Grammy-award winning Tejano group "Intocable" will be in concert.

 

Fiesta Event Center

1902 East 4th Street

Lubbock, Texas

 

 

 



yucca rime frost

"Patchy, freezing fog" in the weather forecast this morning meant I awoke to cold sunshine but encountered quarter-mile visibility as I neared my dad's house 15 miles away.  The 100% humidity and 21 degrees coated vegetation with delicate ice crystals turning the landscape into a fairy scene.  Unfortunately, by the time we returned from breakfast, the sun was out and the magic gone.

 

Ridge Road

Lubbock, Texas

lumberyard cat

 

Prissy is the resident feline at Abercrombie Lumber.  When not sleeping under the counter, she perches on the four-foot partial wall to survey the business.  She allows customers a quick head scratch but doesn't really mingle.  This morning she was more interested in the breakfast burrito manager Tommy was eating.  Tommy said she just came in one day and decided that the lumber company was better than living on the street.  Resident shop cats may occasionally be found in Lubbock but are outnumbered by dogs.  Prissy isn't interested in trends--just her lumberyard.

 

Abercrombie Lumber Company

330 Buddy Holly

Lubbock, Texas

I be here

 

 

Just as a camera does not make a photographer, a spray can does not a sign painter make. For lack of a descriptive sign, I have no clue what kind of business this is just across the tracks from the main highway in Clovis.  I wonder if the proprietor is closed up inside and one has to call to be admitted; if so, the password isn't too secret if it's painted on the door.  Or perhaps he's at the beer joint or pool hall and if you need him, just  call.  In any case, he should read this blog entry on "How to create a professional sign with a can of spray paint."

 

Across the tracks

Clovis, New Mexico

1.2.2014



winter whites

 

My patio plants winter in the sun room with its southern exposure.  Today the geranium was blooming -- a nice counterpoint to the frigid temperature in the teens outside.  I like the strong light and shadows.

 

My Sun room

Lubbock, Texas

this way to ???

 

For my birthday, my friend gave me a book entitled "Going Going Gone" about vanishing cultural icons.  She said it suited me because that's what I photograph.  I'm drawn to old signs, dilapidated buildings and cemeteries.  This sign and a concrete slab stand at the crossroads of US 84 and 60.  There is a motel just north of the corner.  To see what the Crossroads Motel sign supposedly looked like in 2010, click here.  Honestly, after all the trips through Texico, I don't remember the sign.  However, according to an online realty ad, this is about the time you could have bought the Crossroads Motel for $65,000.  Now the sign points aimlessly nowhere.

 

I also learned a new word.  "Texico" is a portmanteau of Texas and New Mexico  so named because the town is on the border of the two states.  Only an imaginary line and a railroad track separates Texico from its Texas twin Farwell.  Follow the directional arrow on the cemetery sign to the Texico Cemetery where a barbed wire fence separates the tombstones from the grazing cattle.

 

Texico, New Mexico

1.2.2014 

 

 

high rise

 

When built in 1931, the ten-story Clovis Hotel was touted as the tallest building between Albuquerque and Dallas earning the nickname "Skyscraper of the Plains."  The hotel combined art-deco exterior ornamentation with southwestern Indian motifs. Each of the 114 rooms had a modern bathroom with hot and cold running water, a telephone, and an overstuffed Murphy bed. The elevator was the first in southeastern New Mexico; the lower floor housed KICA, the first radio station in town; and the post-Prohibition ballroom welcomed Louis Armstrong, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Hank Williams.  Just across the street from the train depot, the hotel fell in decline when Santa Fe discontinued passenger service.  After receiving a National Register of Historic Places designation in 1894, the hotel closed in 1985 and sat empty for decades.  Just recently the adaptive reuse of the historic hotel has turned it into lofts -- joining the Main Street revitalization efforts of Clovis.

 

Clovis Hotel

201 Main Street

Clovis, New Mexico
1.2.2014


elvis sighting

 

A mural of rock and rock greats adorns a wall in downtown Clovis.  Elvis is bookended by Buddy on the left and Roy Orbison way on the right.  I seem to run into Elvis in lots of different places so I did a google search on "Elvis mural."  11,300 pictures appeared (OK some were duplicates) but Elvis is everywhere!  I couldn't determine how many towns were represented but resolve to keep a better record of where I spy Elvis.

 

Card Crazy

522 Main

Clovis, New Mexico

1.2.2014



mesa theater

I headed out west this morning with a full tank of gas and a charged lithium battery seeking what I could see.  I ended up in downtown Clovis dragging Main Street.  A quick stop at the Norman & Vi Petty Rock & Roll Museum was very enjoyable.  One of downtown theaters which the Downtown Revitalization Committee has plans for is the Mesa Theater. Built in 1925 to show movies, the Mesa  later became home to local music legend Norman Petty’s radio station and recording studio. LeAnn Rimes recorded her hit “Blue” at the theater in 1994 when she was 12 years old.  The Committee would like to turn the Mesa Theater into the Norman and Vi Petty Performing Arts Center. Like most projects it requires money.

Mesa Theater
206 Main
Clovis, New Mexico

new year wishes from a former miss uniroyal

 

A "good year" for 2014 is the wish from the former Miss Uniroyal in Lamesa, Texas.  Now attired in a Lamesa cheerleader's outfit, the 16-foot Uniroyal gal started out in a red and white polka dot bikini as she toured around the country on a trailer to grand openings and sales at Uniroyal tire stores.  Sometime in the 1970s the advertising gimmick was to be phased out and Reid Bethel was on the ground floor to obtain her.  His $1.00 bid was successful, but the bikini was too risqué for Lamesa hence the cheerleader outfit.  When Gary Culp purchased the store in 1996 he kept "bertha bethel" as she is affectionately known.  According to a blog about muffler men and their female counterparts, there are only 12 Miss Uniroyals remaining.  Next time you're through Lamesa, slow down and wave at "bertha bethel."

 

Reid Bethel Tire Copmpany

810 South Dallas Avenue

Lamesa, Texas