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The Breaking of Small Town America

By
Real Estate Appraiser with Appraisal IQ (Real Estate Appraisal) in Austin Texas

Have you driven through a ghost town lately? One that was once a vibrant community and is now the shell of it's former self?

Today's photo is one of my absolute favorites that Alison took this spring. We were in Lockhart, Texas, home of Black's BBQ, shootin' the town.

Lockhart, fotunately, is NOT a ghost town - it's actually quite a nice one, and the 100+ year old buildings on the town square house popular local businesses and have an air of weathered elegance to them.

One building on the corner, however, with fantastic old architecture caught her eye. Three stories tall, with arched windows, it anchored the corner with stately calm. The bottom floor, however, was empty, with a smattering of pieces of left-over furniture, moving boxes and debris.

As she was seting up her shot, she spied a truck barreling down the street, much too fast for a small downtown.

With but a few second to focus and snap, this is what came home on the camera.

building in lockhart texas

Tom Horn
Thomas Horn, Real Estate Appraiser - Alabaster, AL
Appraising The American Dream

Orlando, I love this pic!  Goes well with you topic.

May 05, 2011 02:02 AM
Allen 2222
Austin, TX

Oooh, definitely one of my favorites. A photos is worth 1,000 words.

May 05, 2011 02:10 AM
Bill Cobb Appraiser
Accurate Valuations Group, LLC - Baton Rouge, LA
Greater Baton Rouge's Home Appraiser

Wow Orlando and Alison, I'm so glad to know professionals like yourself that are quick to the draw when the opportunity arises.  Very, very few people take heart to these small towns you're taking time out to photograph.....the people, the lives, the memories of years gone by, the goats....it all adds up to our heritage and those we have to thank for making America such a great land!   Thank you for reminding us.  I'm gonna have to make a road trip one Saturday and be there with you all on a shoot like this.  Bill  

May 05, 2011 04:53 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Orlando - What a great shot!  I love the topic of small town America and the bldg does have the air of historic to it.  However, I think the Wal-Mart truck kind of ruins the shot.  What do I know though, I'm not a photographer.

May 05, 2011 05:38 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Great shot!  I just realized I have looked at Alison's shots on your blog since you first joined AR.  I have to go see if I commented on the first post I saw ....

This shot could be all over the mid-west. One of our bigger suburb's city council just approved a Wal-Mart. I had not heard anything about it...  I was amazed.  Hopefully it is big enough city to support a Wal-Mart and not run all the local retailers out.

May 06, 2011 02:17 AM
Jennifer Cote
RE/MAX Properties Nashua - Nashua, NH
Realtor, Nashua NH Area Homes for Sale, Everything

Beautiful picture, and without words, makes a loud statement!

Jul 16, 2011 12:31 AM