Well, it's been a while since I posted an entry so I thought I better jump in.  It's been a busy summer so far and I haven't been out to shoot as much as I was last year at this time.  One big reason for this is that my wife got a new job in June and now has every weekend off.  I used to do most of my rides while she was working.  However, I look at this as a really good thing because we've been able to spend a lot more time together and it's been great!!  We do take rides together now and then, but I don't put on the miles I used to. 

Another big factor is the fact that I've been helping to establish a Green Knights chapter for Dyess AFB.  We haven't had any type of group there for the last couple years, but we've been working hard to get this going.  The Green Knights, for those who don't know, is a Military Motorcycle Club that was started at McGuire AFB, NJ and now has about 70 chapters across the country and around the world.  Our chapter, Ch 63 has about 50 members already and is still growing.

Also, the weather here has been HOT!!  I know we'll get out more once the temps come down a bit, but in the meantime I've posted a few new pages of pics and should be all caught up for now.

Enjoy the pics, and let me know if you have any comments or suggestions of new places to shoot.

Happy riding!!

Michael

I went out with several riders yesterday with the intent of visiting the town of Peacock, TX.  We departed Abilene with 7 bikes, picked up 3 more in Hawley, and rounded out our dozen bikes when we picked up our final two in Hamlin.  From there we ride to Old Glory and had lunch at the Stars and Stripes cafe which I highly recommend.  Great prices for the portion you get, and yes, it's delicious!!

Once we left Old Glory, we headed toward Aspermont.  We knew that in Aspermont we would have a few folks breaking off to head back to Abilene for an event at Kent's HD, but I didn't realize that 9 of the 12 original bikes would break off.  That left Ghostrider(Kris), Razorback(Huey) and myself to complete the original itinerary.  I think some were tired of the photo stops and just wanted to ride, so I'm okay with that.

The three of us rode into Peacock and stopped for some pictures.  There is a little antique shop called "The shop at Peacock, TX" that was open.  We browsed around inside and talked with the owner, June Carlson.  She gave us some great insight into the town and revealed that her son is none other than Cody Carlson, retired NFL quarterback with the Houston Oilers and graduate of Baylor University.  Cody does wildlife photography and has a book available.  I didn't have room in my saddlebags to bring one home, but you can see some of his photos and purchase his book here http://www.mytexasbooks.com/codycarlson/

Thanks to June, we were able to find the old Oriana bridge.  Without her directions I don't think that would have been possible.  It's way back in the weeds so to speak.  Thanks June!!

Once we left the bridge and made our way slowly back to the highway, I split off for the long, solo ride back to Abilene.  Overall, it was a really nice ride and I got the chance to meet some new folks that share a passion for the past like I do.

Last weekend I went on a ride and made a good loop.  I started by going to Ballinger to catch the Santa Fe depot and then headed East on Hwy 67 toward Coleman.  On the way I passed through Talpa and Valera.  It was in Talpa that I struck it rich.  Not in any tangible way, but just as valuable.  While I was strolling around what is left of the town a gentleman in a pickup truck pulled up toward me and rolled down his window.  He asked if I was just sightseeing or if I was from there.  I explained that I wasn't from there, but enjoyed spending time in these old towns.  He told me that he was born and raised there and liked to come through to check things out from time to time.

His name is Harold Browning and we spent a considerable amount of time cruising down memory lane.  This is where I struck it rich!!  He was able to tell me about all of the buildings that are left and what they were.  The Barber shop, for instance, is completely unmarked and I wouldn't have known what it was without his help.  The same goes for the Saddle and Ranch store which started out as the movie theater and showed Gone With The Wind in color for it's first show.  It was later used as a variety store and was the hangout for the old timers in town.  He told me about the restaurant across the street and how they had beautiful wooden walls that were covered in brands from the local ranches.  He said they had a fire outside so the ranchers could heat their brands and leave their mark.  He talked about the Drug store and told me that the proprietor would wrap the neatest packages, no matter what you bought.  You could buy a box of aspirin and he would wrap it up for you.  Customer service at its finest.

As he pointed out each building and told me their history, to include who owned it by name, he had a constant smile on his face.  It appeared that he was enjoying the reminiscing as much as I was enjoying learning from him.  At one point he looked at me and said "There are a lot of ghosts around here."

He lived in Talpa through his Junior year of High School and then his family moved down the road to Valera.  Upon graduation, he entered the Navy and retired after 28 years.  He moved back to this area and lives near these two towns of his youth.  In fact, the reason he was driving through is that he was headed to Valera to pick up BBQ from Big O's to bring to his in-laws' Christmas gathering.......in SAN ANGELO!!  That must be some mighty good BBQ to drive a total of almost 90 miles to get it.

I've done a lot of driving over the past months to find these towns and enjoy the feel of them when I'm there, but nothing compares to getting that firsthand history from someone who calls it home.  Mr. Browning, Thank you for your faithful service to our country.  Thank you also for taking the time to share your story with me and for taking me down your memory lane.  God Bless

Last weekend I took a good road trip and put on over 250 miles.  I went to the following locations:  Hamlin, Tuxedo, Sagerton, Rule, Rochester, O'Brien, Knox City, Munday, and Bomarton.  It was a good day for photos.  Not a cloud to be seen other than a few wisps here and there. 

I've got a good friend that is a huge railfan and I've learned a lot about the history of the numerous railroad lines that used to run through the area.  With my interest piqued, I chose my route last week in order to try to find some of the depots that used to service the passengers and freight that travelled through the area as well as my normal taste for old homes and businesses.  Success!!  I located the depots in Hamlin, Rule, Rochester and Knox City.  The depot in Sagerton is no longer there, but there's a park that has a couple of the crossing signs and the town sign as a tribute to the line that formerly came through.

My favorite find of the day was Bomarton.  There is an abandoned Catholic church, St Johns, that was built in 1936, but was actually established in 1908.  I'm not sure when it was last used.  The sign doesn't give an indication.  There is also an old school that was built in 1907, but is now just a shell.  The roof is completely collapsed and the floor is completely rotted and gone except for what was probably the Gymnasium.

I've posted the pics for this trip and marked them as **NEW** on their respective pages.  Take a look when you get a chance, and I hope you like them!!

Michael

Well, I had a busy weekend of exploring!  I put on about 250 miles this weekend and added 9 pages of photos today.  Here's how the weekend went:

Saturday - I started out by driving down to Bronte and poking around a bit.  I've driven through there almost every week for the last two years, but never took the time to look around.  Bronte is a nice little town that really didn't offer me much in the way of photo ops.  I did get some nice shots of the old railway depot.  The depot was completed in 1911, two years after the first train came through and was originally owned by the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, but was sold to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Co in 1928 and discontinued operations in Bronte in 1967.  The depot is well maintained and is currently the Mason Lodge.  They also have a very nice veteran's memorial out front.
  

I also found the old Texas Theater, which isn't in use anymore.  Not sure the history of it, but the design is simple and appealing.


Bronte is a town that in general is small, but in good shape.  Unlike some towns I've been through, there aren't many abandoned buildings there.  Sure, there are a few, but nearly all seem to be in use.

Once I left Bronte, I continued south on Hwy 277 to the small "town" of Tennyson, named after British Poet Lord Alfred Tennyson.  There are a few buildings on the main drag and the old post office still stands.  I looked around and found one of the old schools that is now used as a community center.  It sits in the shadow of Mount Margaret, the highest point in the area and they still have an annual reunion.  Otherwise, there isn't much to see there anymore.
 

I rounded out Saturday's trip by stopping at Fort Chadbourne on my way home.  The fort was established on October 28, 1852 as part of a series of frontier forts established to protect westward moving settlers as they travelled through Indian territory.  At its peak, the fort housed about 350 soldiers.  It was also a stop on the Butterfield Stage Line that ran 2500 miles from St. Louis to San Francisco.  There are several ruins as well as a few restored buildings.  There are several ongoing projects including archeological digs and restorations.  Just over the hill from the site of the fort is the Fort Chadbourne Cemetery.  The oldest legible stone I found was from 1872 and the newest one was only a few months old.  There are a lot of stones that have no visible markings left. 
 

It was a good ride, and the weather was fantastic.  Sunday was supposed to be just as nice so I planned another ride and took a more circuitous route.

I started out today by stopping at Fort Phantom Hill, another of the line forts like Chadbourne.  Fort Phantom was established on November 14, 1851 and eventually was used to establish Way Station number 54 of the Southern Overland Mail on the Butterfield trail.  Primarily, the only things left are the chimneys of the various buildings, but the Guardhouse and Magazine are complete buildings that have probably been restored.
   

From there, I continued north to Nugent.  There were a couple of buildings that I could shoot, but there isn't much to see at all.

I next rolled through Funston, which was home to a Cotton Gin at one time, and it still stands today.  The sign is very difficult to read and didn't come out on my photos, but it's there.

I made my way through Anson, stopping to re-shoot a garage that has deteriorated considerably since I first shot it just 3 months ago, and worked my way to the town of Noodle.  Noodle was interesting, but very small.  Another town that had a Cotton Gin, Noodle also was once the home of Crossroads High School, established in 1929.  The school is long abandoned and the property has become a graveyard for old cars.
 

As my last destination of today, Stith proved disappointing.  There isn't anything left, not even a sign to say you're there.  There are a few homes, but nothing significant enough to shoot.  Once I left there I called it a day and headed back to the house.  I'll be heading out again next week so stay tuned!!

All of the photos from this weekend are marked with the word NEW after the town name.  Check them out and leave a comment if you like.  Thanks!

Mike

Well, after being out of town for a week for business I'm ready for another ride.  I'll be going to Bronte next weekend and am hoping to get some good shots.  With the weather changing, I'm not sure how many two wheel rides I'll have left, but I'm outfitted with leather so I'm going to give it a shot next week.  Bronte is about 50 miles away so it will be a good test.

I missed two weekends in a row with my business trip so I'm itching to get out there.  I've been driving through Bronte almost weekly for a couple of years now and there are some areas I know I want to hit, but other than that it will be a matter of driving around in search of history.  I've located the old railroad depot which is now being used as a Masonic Temple.  The architecture is the same so it should be a worthy shot.  There's also an old barn as you go out of town to the south that I want to get.  Check back next weekend and they'll be posted.

Thanks for stopping by Lost Era Riders.  I started this site as an outlet for a couple of hobbies of mine that I've combined.  I enjoy motorcycling and photography and saw this as a way to combine the two.  I noticed on a trip home from Missouri earlier this summer that we passed a large amount of abandoned homes and businesses.  It made me wonder about the people that used to occupy these buildings and what happened that they left them.  I also noticed that many are in severe disrepair and may not be with us much longer.  In fact, the first photo I took was of a garage in Anson.  Since I took that photo in late July or early August, the rear of the structure has collapsed dramatically causing it to be raised off the front left footing by about a foot.  I'm going to shoot it again before it's gone. 

I named my photo project "Skeletons of West Texas" and have been taking photos while putting miles on my bike and car, depending on the weather, for a few months now.  My wife, Rhonda, has indulged me by going along on a few trips and we've had a great time of it and seen some amazing country. 

I call these buildings skeletons because they once held life, vitality, a kind of soul within their walls.  All that's left now are empty shells, some with personal effects left behind to rot and a history that few, if any, can recall.  Maybe in a way it's an acknowledgement of my own mortality and that at some point I'll be very similar to the subjects I shoot - an empty shell that some will remember and multitudes more won't.  Some of them were grand indeed, but by seeing what's left of the outside it's difficult to venture a guess as to what life was like inside.

I hope you enjoy the photos.  Please feel free to leave comments.  These photos mean something to me, and while they won't win any awards, I do hope you like what you see.

Mike

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