Grain Silo ~ Aqua Vita Park ~ Nacogdoches

This old brick grain silo adds a decorative touch to Aqua Vita Park near LaNana Creek in Nacogdoches.

Looking from the inside out, the vine snakes its way up the inside walls of the silo 

and finally finds its reward of sunlight at the top.

Rust and Moss

An abandoned building across from the railroad tracks in Nacogdoches, Texas

Brick and Roses and Shuttered Windows

Grand Cane, Louisiana

Redland Hotel ~ Nacogdoches, Texas

Among the historic buildings in downtown Nacogdoches is the Redland Hotel.  It opened in 1907 and offered guests private bathrooms, steam heating, and a fine dining room.  It provided wagon and, in later years, bus service to and from the train depot.  William Jennings Bryan stayed at the Redland and made a speech from the balcony.  Located across the street from the Nacogdoches Opera House, the hotel was home away from home for many theatrical companies.  The Marx Brothers even began their comedy routines in the Opera House while staying at the Redland.  The original cost of construction was $30,000.  The building continued as a hotel until after World War II.  It is currently owned by the Godtel Ministries.  Redland is a rather common name in these parts I’m sure because of the color of our soil.

 

This side view of the hotel shows how large the building really is and also illustrates the fact that downtown Nacogdoches is built on a hill with the street on the side plummeting practically straight down.  Brenda of Brenda’s Arizona once asked whether there really were hills in this part of the state, so I had been looking for a picture which would show a structure built on a hillside.  A lot of people who aren’t familiar with the diversity of the Texas geography don’t realize that this state is not all plains and grasslands.  Here in the eastern regions we have piney woods, bayous (yes, with alligators), and rolling hills.

Revitalization ~ Center, Texas

It does my heart good to see an old building being brought back to its former beauty and functionality rather than torn down and left in a heap to rot or bulldozed and replaced by the vinyl and plastic of a characterless structure.  It will be interesting to see what purpose this new business will have.

Tranquil Day

Opera House ~ Henderson, Texas ~ Haunted?

Many small towns in Texas had opera houses around the turn of the century.  This beautiful refurbished example is located in Henderson, Texas, population 12,000 and county seat of Rusk County.  Built in 1885, irregular performances were held until 1918 when the building was sold to new owners who operated a general mercantile business. The second floor galley was partitioned as offices in the 1930s. Today the Henderson Civic Theatre holds seasonal performances.  There is also a local legend that the Opera House is haunted.  The story goes that at one time the third floor (although you just read that it's a two-story building!) was occupied by a doctor and a young woman named Daphne died while in labor in the doctor's office (which also seems a bit farfetched).  Some believe that her ghost wanders throughout the building. 

25/100 Strangers ~ Maida

I met Maida last month at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas.  She was a flower vendor with some of the most beautiful rose bushes I've ever seen.  Unfortunately, she did not converse well in English so I was not able to get too much information about her background from her.  Or maybe that's just the way she wanted it to be because when I first started talking with her she seemed to understand everything I said or asked.  Below are two beautiful examples of her roses.

This rose was called Playboy.

A note re yesterday's post "Little Shed in the Woods."  No, Tracy, that is not an outhouse.  It is a small storage shed behind the Libby Community Center, a meeting place for residents of a little village a few miles from where I live.

Little Shed in the Woods

Community of Libby

Nacogdoches County, Texas

Jennings Station ~ Lufkin, Texas

I dare say this is the best-looking bus station anywhere.  But why is it that clocks on historic buildings (or even new ones that just look like they might be historic) never seen the reflect the correct time?  This picture was snapped about noon on the day I was in Lufkin.

Postscript:  Re the earlier comments about the station being deserted, this picture was taken on a Sunday morning.  The station is used primarily for transit to colleges in the area and being Sunday there were no classes for students to hurry to.  

Chas. Hoya Land Office ~ Nacogdoches, Texas

The Chas. Hoya Land Office sits adjacent to the plaza square in historic downtown Nacogdoches.  The historical marker posted on the front (left side of photograph) reads as follows:  Built in 1897 by Charles Hoya (1848-1926), son of Prussian immigrant Joseph T. von der Hoya, and long-time Nacogdoches County surveyor.  Designed by Houston architect Frank E. Rue in Victorian style with gothic revival details, this was the first fireproof building in Nacogdoches and served as a model for other local structures.  After Hoya's death, the land office business continued under the management of son-in-law J. Roy Gray until his death in 1966.  Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1974.

There are 114 historical markers in Nacogdoches County.

Barn ~ Grand Cane, Louisiana

Grand Cane, Louisiana, population 191 (2000 census).  This barn sat so close to the roadway and within about 300 feet of the intersection of a four-lane highway, it made me wonder had it perhaps been moved here at some point (obviously when it was a bit younger and able to withstand a journey).

When Was the Last Time You Greased Your Car?

This old gas station in Henderson, Texas, appears to be sporting a fresh coat of paint.  I wonder what its present owners have planned for it.  I also wonder what its original owners would think of today's gas prices!

City Cemetery ~ Henderson, Texas

A few weeks ago I wandered over to Henderson, about 35 miles to the northwest, to do a little exploring.  I had been through there many times, but it had just been passing through on the way to some other place and I had never ventured into the downtown area.  I found it to be one of the most charming little towns in East Texas that I've visited, and I really felt like I hit the jackpot when I stumbled across City Cemetery on a hill adjacent to downtown.  This beautiful goddess statue is one of two spectaculars, in addition to many other tombstones that were reminiscent of a bygone area.  I've searched the Internet and cannot find another likeness of this statue.  If anyone has a clue as to which goddess this represents, please let me know.  The weather even cooperated with me during my walk around the graveyard.  When I first entered, it was somewhat sunny, but the clouds quickly gathered and became somewhat menacing.  I simply converted the image into black and white in Picnik and then backed the color toward the original about 50 percent to achieve this result.

Built Ford Tough

Fence No. 3

Camera Shy

Calvary Baptist Church, Henderson, Texas

Clematis

Blooming outside our door right now!