I lived in Spur in 1969, I shined shoes at the barber shop, when the regular guys was out. I play pool right down the street , bought my first cowboy hat at the general store. seen a bloody movie at Halloween, at the movie theater. Had my first real girl friend from there. A lot of memories from that little town. I was thirteen at the time.
I live in a town that, while not quite in as dire a situation as Spur has seen mostly a decline in population since the 1930s to 1950s. We don't live in town, but outside in an old farmhouse. Route 66 is main street, and there are increasing efforts to revitalize and renew the city. But nearby, along Route 66 and other state highways, there are so many cool old towns that are in the same situation as Spur or even worse. We're 40 min and 1 hour from the two largest cities in the state, and housing is cheap. Some amenities are lacking, but in general it's easy to live here. I can't understand why people would spend double or triple the price on a newer construction home in the suburbs when you can get a better house on land in a small town. My wife's and my goal is to start a business in one of the historic route 66 buildings on main street and bring it back to some of its former glory. I love traveling on Route 66 and exploring old towns, but it's painful to see them dying slowly. My hope is more young people will see the charm of these old towns and come breathe new life into them before they're completely decayed and lost to time.
Thank you again for bringing vistas of America that we would never see otherwise - it really is an education in how immense the country is and how the changing economic conditions cause towns to rise and fall. Appreciate everything you do !
Merry Christmas and a happy new year Joe & Nic I love your videos they're so peaceful and informative Texas is a place I'd love to visit all the way from the UK 🤶 🧑🎄 🎄
My grandfather operated a cotton gin near Lubbock. I remember when we would go visit our grandparents during cotton harvest. My grandmother would load my sister and I up in their 55 Chevy Belair. She would visit cotton gins in many of the small towns in this area and pick up cotton samples that would be taken back for testing. The samples were in these long sock looking canvas bags with tags on them. By the time we got back home the trunk, back seat, back floor board and sometimes the front seat would be full of these bags. Along the way gin owners would gift us with gin branded ink pens, pencils, buttons, caps, miniature cotton bales, and often dimes and quarters for candy and a coke!!! Fun times!!! Wish I still had all those branded items as they are now collectors pieces.
@@Harpoon2theRescueclose but I’d have to say Georgia drivers. Specifically Atlanta are the worst. 80mph and bam the entire freeway decides to slam to an immediate stop. No coasting. Just… hope you got good breaks
I grew up in that area. Every August Roaring Springs would have the Old Settlers Reunion. In the 60s it was a big deal. Indoor dance hall with a live band. Outdoor dancing with a live band. Rodeo and full carnival with rides and games. I was playing Bingo for the first time. My father looked at my card and told me I had a Bingo. I asked him what I should do. The said yell Bingo. I was hooked on that game. Thousands of people would be there for the 3 days. Highway Patrol and Sheriff Deputies from all around the area would be there to keep order. Fun times
This year was the 100th anniversary of the Old Settlers. My wife and I moved here from California. We love living in Spur and really enjoyed the Old Settlers this year.
I live in a similar town. But we don’t have cops or local law enforcement. Every now and then you might see a sheriff deputy parked, sleeping under a tree or something. We have beer and weed here though. The rodeos are great and fairs just as good.
A lot of those small towns have consolidated school districts that play six man football which is a source of pride for the towns. Another resident of Spur, Texas who achieved a degree of infamy was Marshall Applewhite of the Heavens Gate cult.
I lived in Spur, Texas on a small ranch when I was about 15 years old. I enjoyed living there and watched the old timers play dominoes downtown. They would tell stories about their cowboy days….good memories….
@Roger...that! would be so cool. I wish ppl. myself included , had vids of when we were young. (like the 50/60's era..lol) Taping of the happenings in down town areas of our small quaint slow pace towns.
I noticed that the poverty level for children is 68%. There are likely 3 children in town, so that's 2 out of 3 children. And they are probably in the same family. Although it could be 4 out of 6, but in any event the sample size is too small for the "percentage" (per hundred) to mean anything.
One of the greatest high school prom dances I ever did was in Spur, May 11, 1979 (AmaChron The Z-93 Entertainers). The theme was "Saturday Night Fever" and the kids were enthralled with 'Disco Fever'. Started the dance with "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever", "Boogie Nights" and "How Deep Is Your Love". They danced to every song and a gave a huge round of applause at the end. Also did dances in Ralls and Dickens in later years.
Judge Henry Aldrich Carlos Brummett 1888-1965, he also had a son, Henry Aldrich Carlos Brummett Jr. 1915-1980 - born in Spur, Tx - served in WW2. Both are buried in Lubbock Co. Tx.
I'm currently in a smallish town in Mississippi - it was good for small business' when there was bigger industry - like a brickyard, fence manufacturing and lumber yard for homes. They all left but we do still have a nice sized grocery store, hospital and post office and 30 min to the nearest populated town... But, the main street looks a lot like those blighted towns with a few hanger on shops.
These are old farming towns but farming has been automated and no longer needs large number of people to work the farms just a few guys and large machines so the young people move to the cities and only the parents or grand parents stay behind, and some modern day farmers mixed in. This is a story seen all over the world, from Germany, to Italy, to France to UK even China, Japan, it is everywhere in the world. Every advanced country and economy sees this play out however with Americans able to work remote, with services like StarLink and rural high speed internet programs this could all change over time as more people are able to work remote but time will tell if remote work stays around or it was just a short term COVID thing.
The Biden administration infrastructure bill provides $42.5 billion to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school, access health care, and to stay connected with family and friends.
The population of these localities would improve if companies allowed more WFH but it’s all reversing now due to county government greed over property taxes. They want everyone back in the office to rescue commercial property values.
The old train depot in Roaring Springs is beautiful! It was part of the Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railroad, and used until 1971; which is also the year Amtrak took over passenger service. The town purchased it the next year, and it's a Texas historical landmark. Can't get enough of historical Mission Revival train depots, simply beautiful!
If you can find a copy, check out The Quanah Route by Don L. Hofsommer (Texas A & M University Press), 215 p. of text with pictures, chapter-by-chapter notes, bibliography and index. It's good reading. Ed in Albuquerque
i like these tranquil and peaceful little towns. what is sad is all those disintegrating houses, broken doors, faded out paints, broken wood planks on the houses and so on. i would be worried if i was living there and had to see that all the time. better would be if they would repair these houses or demolish them. i would want to plant forests there, better is forests than nothing on the land. what work do the inhabitants in these small towns, Spur for example do to earn that income$ ? i want to see what is inside these buildiungs in these forsaken places.
I lived in Roaring Springs from 1988-ish to 1992, ages 3-ish to 6. We lived in my great-grandparents' house. I loved it there. It was so calm, peaceful, fresh air... just a beautiful place to live. Especially remember Elmer Parks who ran that Parks Welding Shop in your video 26:07 . He used to bail Alf Alfa that grew on our property. I used to watch him do it and I think a time or two he even let me ride with him. He also welded my Tricycle when the back wheels start to break off the rest of the frame. Nice man. I also remember Thacker Supply, where my mom would buy tools and whatnot to fix our super old home. You also pass the old grocery store, the lighter colored brick building at 26:59 next to the Fire Department building. I miss it so much even 32 years later. I still live nearby though, so I try to go to their Fourth of July event most years. The turnout is still pretty good!
My wife grew up near Spur and wanted to buy and open up that first building you showed (she also wanted to turn it into a coffee and tea shop). The population of Spur dropped because the private prison. The decline in all of these towns are due to the lack of infrastructure, which is driving people to Lubbock for goods, jobs, or homes. I grew up in Dallas, but have lived out here for twenty years and it’s sad to see these quiet towns dry up and die. We still live out here, but not sure for how much longer. The summers are getting too much for us to handle.
It's kind of funny to me, a friend of mine lived in San Antonio (I'm from Ohio, but living in Philadelphia since 1987), and asked me if I would be willing to fly out (at her cost) to San Antonio, and drive her and her very old dog, in her SUV, back to the city she loves, Philadelphia (this was early December 2021. She was only in San Antonio for a few years to care for her aging father, who had recently passed. Anyway, her timing was perfect, I'm single, I was 56, kind of bored since COVID crap had ruined my social life, so I took her up on the 26 hour drive adventure. I had never been in Texas, except for Dallas airport. I fully expected to see the dry and dusty terrain like in this video, but the route we took (I-35 and I-30) was beautiful, with lush farmland and green fields everywhere, I was quite surprised by it's beauty. I see now, having looked at Google Earth, that the eastern half (San Antonio, Dallas etc.) is green, the western half of the state (as this video represents) is all dry and dusty, like I pictured from the cowboy movies and such. I always thought all of Texas looked that way.
I probably would have agreed to the scenario. Sometimes adventures find us at the correct moment where we can say what the hey, let's accomplish something.
@@DIVISIONINCISION I would never have known that until I made that trip, Before that, I only saw Texas in cowboy movies (probably none of which were actually shot in Texas) and such. It was a fun adventure, beautiful views, and the people I met on the way were super friendly.
24:45 You could imagine the veterans from the wars returning to this this town. Fought their way across the Pacific or Europe, Korea or Vietnam. Anxiously waiting to see this train station meaning they survived and successfully made it back to home. We all come from somewhere.
- In a relatively short time a transportation corridor will come through the area and government backed investors will bulldoze that town and build stack n’ pack apartment buildings around chain retail. None of us will be around to tell the story of what was there. Watch a video on Russia, tall apartment building are all they build for housing there. We’re already heading in that direction and as population grows towns like this will be developed.
This video reminded me of a movie from 1971 called "The last picture show". It showed about how bleak life in west texas could be. It was a good movie and this was another good video. Merry Christmas to you both. Sincerely, Jim Thornton
That movie hit very much dead center on small town life. I also enjoyed Texasville. It wasn't as good a movie but it was dead on describing small town folks.
I was born and raised in Ralls. I never knew we had a famous song writer from here. Ralls is drying up fast. We had about 2400 people in my day. I left at the start of 1999 to move to Houston. My parents are both buried there so I visit occasionally when I'm in the area. Live in Virginia now. I recognize several of the houses you drove past.
I wonder how so many town, like this one, can afford the electrical and water services. I see electrical service posts on various corners, as well as water service for fire trucks. The tax to pay for these services must be paid by citizens. Public schools for the children? At what point do these public services get "turned off"?
Red McCombs owned several large Ford dealerships in San Antonio. He lived in a very affluent superb, Olmos Park. I was a fireman there in late 70s. Insiders say ol Red was not a very nice guy.
My mom went to school with Red’s daughter Lynda. She said Lynda was the only kid in middle school who drove to school (Pat Neff). She also said that she was snobby. Wonder where she got that from…🙄🤔
Visit the old towns of Dell City, Pecos, Sul Ross-Alpine, Marfa, Fort Hancock,Fabens, Clint, Tornillo and Socorro. I moved out when I joined the service in 1989. I heard these little towns are thriving.
What's stupid is that most of those buildings are worth essentially zero. But when you go there and check prices, the asking prices are as bad as DFW/Austin.
👍Fascinating. The sun-bleached ocher oranges and the sandstone ashlar and the fire-trap whitened dry timber, under the still, deep-blue cloudless skies that are somehow low-hung -- and amid broad-stretch streets with not a soul to be seen on them other than the backwash of a fast passing vehicle, sagging chain-fences, junk-yard front lawns and intermittent witch-spindle trees -- all remind of the aesthetic of the (less violent moments) in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.👍
These old buildings are a great example of skilled masonry work. It’s a shame they are falling apart. If all these brick buildings were in California they’d be “quaint little tourist towns” selling artisanal cheese, coffee, chocolate, and wine.
Since I started watching your videos a couple of years ago, I hoped that your travels would take you to Ralls. When I saw where Spur was on the map I got hopeful that you would go to Ralls. Then I saw you travel north and my excitement built. When I saw you climb the Caprock, I was pretty sure you were going to Ralls. When I saw the windmills, I was convinced. I spent many memorable days in Ralls from the late 1950's to the early 90's. I witnessed the slow but sure change of the town. My Aunt used to meet her friends every day at Dairy Queen. She was real excited when they got their Dollar General. She has since passed away and the last time I was in Ralls was for her funeral about 8 years ago. One thing I always loved about Ralls was the flatness of the land and the fact you could see miles in any direction and maybe just see a tree about 5 miles away. Then they ruined the scenery with unsightly windmills. I was heartbroken to see that. It was like the end of an era. I really enjoy your videos! Thanks for going to Ralls!
Cool! Ralls downtown has amazing potential, and I think in the future the town will prosper because of its proximity to Lubbock. Lubbock continues to steadily grow and has never lost population.
I might be adding to Lubbock's growth. Im retired and living on Long Island. The cost of living here is outrageous compared to Lubbock. My cousin just moved from Lewisville to Lubbock. I'm seriously thinking of moving there. My brother is in Carrollton but that's pretty expensive as well. I like the flat open spaces and climate of Lubbock. There's an advantage of being at 3,000 ft.@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip
I think one of the major reasons little towns are disappearing, and not the only reason of course, is that modern cars are far easier to drive long distances. I remember 40 odd years ago how sore my back would be from driving old cars. You needed to concentrate a lot more as the steering pre rack and pinion was all over the place and the seats were crap, with very little support. Now we just jump in the car and drive all day and still feel fine and dandy at the end of it. 😀😀
Actually I think good cars are the only thing keeping a lot of these towns on life support instead of being Ghost towns. People can live in these little towns and drive to jobs, grocery stores, and medical care in bigger communities. Back before cars when the reason a town existed ended (like a mine playing out) everyone left quickly.
I said it before and I'll say it again. I don't see a huge difference between the average Russian and the average American. It's the governments that keep us from sharing friendship. Happy New Year Dan and Sue. From Southbridge, Massachusetts. USA. LETS PRAY THAT what keeps us apart fades I to history. That way all our sons and daughters can have it better than we did.
yeah its so sad. ive totally lost hope for our once great country. its just unreal how fast that a country can go down when so many people are trying to destroy it
Thanks for taking us along on this drive. I used to live in Lubbock before the pandemic. I got to go through Ralls and Crosbyton while there. Ralls is indeed pronounced that way. It's refreshing to see sunny weather instead of the foggy and rainy stuff up here in the Pacific Northwest. Population decline in the rural areas of West Texas has been a thing for years now.
People pass away and the kids have grown up and moved away. People moved away, setup their new life and don’t look back. When the parents passed away, the house is either sold or left alone. It looks like a nice place to retire and take life nice and slow. Quiet and small community. Perfect place to have avoided Covid.
Enjoy all the places and videos presented by your channel. You may have people check their subscription. I had to subscribe again and reset notifications just saying RUclips ain’t is bad at it agin!
When the itinerary calls for a trip to Ralls, and someone says what in the dickens are you doing in Dickens, you hit the road, tune in some Motley Crue, and travel to Motley County. We enjoy and appreciate your videos very much; keep it up!
My Grand Parents on my father's side are buried there. In 1950 there was a Dirt Race track where the Race Cars came from far away to test their skills and speed. My mom and dad owned a diner there. One of the buildings you videoed was a "White Auto" owned by my Uncle Ronald Pierce. My Grand Parents were Alphie and Agnes Pierce
Yeah, I bet it was hard to get a fair trial in that tiny town back in that day. One lawyer town and a courthouse courtroom with jurors who know each other and know who is good and who is bad. Already know who is guilty before the trial even starts! I enjoy all of your videos of the various places you travel to, especially the ones in Texas. Thanks for sharing and a Merry Christmas to yaw. Ken
You saved the best for last, Ralls. The other towns are barely alive. Not one fancy mansion type home which tells lots about these towns. A great trifecta and cats which is always fun. Another good video. I drive a Fiesta ST which is lowered stock and it couldn't make it around the first three towns at all. Your 4 wheeled drive vehicle is indeed a necessity to do your job. Thanks for keeping us entertained, another great video, you've got the knack and I'm glad you don't usually sing much.
You might have grew up with some of my family. I'm a Anderson descendant. My great auntie Loletha was a school teacher there. My uncle BL Anderson was one of the founding members of Shiloh Baptist Church there in Ralls
So excited to see Ralls , Spur, Rolling Springs and Dickinson! I go thru there about twice a year going to Lubbock to visit family ! I would love to live in a small town. A lot of these people work and shop in Lubbock! Enjoying the history and information on every little community! I agree, your voice is very smooth and easy to listen to!
Just for informational purposes. There was a musician with the last name Frummox from Texas that sang a group of songs called the Texas Trilogy. One of the songs in that grouping was “The Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore”. This series of songs kind of laments the dying towns in Texas and was published/released in the 1970s. Certainly worth the effort to bring it up on RUclips and listening to it. It will put a musical touch to your documentation of those little dying towns. Certainly sad but it’s a sign of the times.
My stepfather was born and raised in Amarillo, he played back up stand up base for buddy Holly and did one Lubbock triangle tour with him when he was a senior in high school, I've driven through here while traveling, Mahalo y'all
Good video my late father was nicknamed Kenny after Kenny Rogers because he had big white beard and combed back mop of white hair I love both kinds of music country and western😅
I lived in Spur in 1969, I shined shoes at the barber shop, when the regular guys was out. I play pool right down the street , bought my first cowboy hat at the general store. seen a bloody movie at Halloween, at the movie theater. Had my first real girl friend from there. A lot of memories from that little town. I was thirteen at the time.
Very cool indeed. Thank you for sharing.
Bless you sir
Did you know Molly Barron? I went to school with her in Austin. She was from Spur. She would have been about 5 yrs older than you, Class of 1968
@@StevieWonder737 dont recognize the name
Why are there no people walking about
I live in a town that, while not quite in as dire a situation as Spur has seen mostly a decline in population since the 1930s to 1950s. We don't live in town, but outside in an old farmhouse. Route 66 is main street, and there are increasing efforts to revitalize and renew the city. But nearby, along Route 66 and other state highways, there are so many cool old towns that are in the same situation as Spur or even worse. We're 40 min and 1 hour from the two largest cities in the state, and housing is cheap. Some amenities are lacking, but in general it's easy to live here. I can't understand why people would spend double or triple the price on a newer construction home in the suburbs when you can get a better house on land in a small town. My wife's and my goal is to start a business in one of the historic route 66 buildings on main street and bring it back to some of its former glory. I love traveling on Route 66 and exploring old towns, but it's painful to see them dying slowly. My hope is more young people will see the charm of these old towns and come breathe new life into them before they're completely decayed and lost to time.
This is a nice comment, and I agree with you.
Thank you again for bringing vistas of America that we would never see otherwise - it really is an education in how immense the country is and how the changing economic conditions cause towns to rise and fall. Appreciate everything you do !
Merry Christmas and a happy new year Joe & Nic I love your videos they're so peaceful and informative Texas is a place I'd love to visit all the way from the UK 🤶 🧑🎄 🎄
Merry Christmas and happy new year God bless both of you
I lived in Ralls, Idalou, and Crosbytown back in the 80's
So did I, came from Michigan and worked at Texas Instruments on University Ave...in Lubbock... memories@@melindacavazos4194
I produced a huge deuce watching this big as a subway footlong me hearties
My grandfather operated a cotton gin near Lubbock. I remember when we would go visit our grandparents during cotton harvest. My grandmother would load my sister and I up in their 55 Chevy Belair. She would visit cotton gins in many of the small towns in this area and pick up cotton samples that would be taken back for testing. The samples were in these long sock looking canvas bags with tags on them. By the time we got back home the trunk, back seat, back floor board and sometimes the front seat would be full of these bags. Along the way gin owners would gift us with gin branded ink pens, pencils, buttons, caps, miniature cotton bales, and often dimes and quarters for candy and a coke!!! Fun times!!! Wish I still had all those branded items as they are now collectors pieces.
Fun Texas fact . Texas is the state with the most counties, 254.
.....with the planets worst drivers.
@@Harpoon2theRescueclose but I’d have to say Georgia drivers. Specifically Atlanta are the worst. 80mph and bam the entire freeway decides to slam to an immediate stop. No coasting. Just… hope you got good breaks
@@Harpoon2theRescueeveryplace has the planet’s worst drivers.
I grew up in that area. Every August Roaring Springs would have the Old Settlers Reunion. In the 60s it was a big deal. Indoor dance hall with a live band. Outdoor dancing with a live band. Rodeo and full carnival with rides and games. I was playing Bingo for the first time. My father looked at my card and told me I had a Bingo. I asked him what I should do. The said yell Bingo. I was hooked on that game. Thousands of people would be there for the 3 days. Highway Patrol and Sheriff Deputies from all around the area would be there to keep order. Fun times
This year was the 100th anniversary of the Old Settlers. My wife and I moved here from California. We love living in Spur and really enjoyed the Old Settlers this year.
What kind of people are there that NEEDS that much law enforcement?
@@thehimself4056 1000s of farmers and cowboys drinking beer. this was before the fear of authority died.
I live in a similar town. But we don’t have cops or local law enforcement. Every now and then you might see a sheriff deputy parked, sleeping under a tree or something. We have beer and weed here though. The rodeos are great and fairs just as good.
@ratmadness. Thx for your comment. Awesome hearing about these towns from folk that reside in these areas. Luv hearing about it.
A lot of those small towns have consolidated school districts that play six man football which is a source of pride for the towns. Another resident of Spur, Texas who achieved a degree of infamy was Marshall Applewhite of the Heavens Gate cult.
I lived in Spur, Texas on a small ranch when I was about 15 years old. I enjoyed living there and watched the old timers play dominoes downtown. They would tell stories about their cowboy days….good memories….
Very cool!
@Roger...that! would be so cool. I wish ppl. myself included , had vids of when we were young. (like the 50/60's era..lol) Taping of the happenings in down town areas of our small quaint slow pace towns.
Did you know Molly Barron? I went to school with her in Austin. She was from Spur. She would have been about 5 yrs older than you, Class of 1968
I wish you would have the opportunity to speak with the locals. That would add a whole new level to your channel.
Good idea.
They pull the side walk in when he arrives-!!!😳 I've yet to see any humanoids-???🤔.
Crime is low in Spur because there's nothing to steal and nobody to hurt.
I noticed that the poverty level for children is 68%. There are likely 3 children in town, so that's 2 out of 3 children. And they are probably in the same family. Although it could be 4 out of 6, but in any event the sample size is too small for the "percentage" (per hundred) to mean anything.
One of the greatest high school prom dances I ever did was in Spur, May 11, 1979 (AmaChron The Z-93 Entertainers). The theme was "Saturday Night Fever" and the kids were enthralled with 'Disco Fever'. Started the dance with "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever", "Boogie Nights" and "How Deep Is Your Love". They danced to every song and a gave a huge round of applause at the end. Also did dances in Ralls and Dickens in later years.
Judge Henry Aldrich Carlos Brummett 1888-1965, he also had a son, Henry Aldrich Carlos Brummett Jr. 1915-1980 - born in Spur, Tx - served in WW2. Both are buried in Lubbock Co. Tx.
Red McCombs was also a brief owner of the Minnesota Vikings in 98 and sold the team to its current owners.. his catch phrase was" purple pride"! 😂
Yep, tried to move the team to san Antonio.
I'm currently in a smallish town in Mississippi - it was good for small business' when there was bigger industry - like a brickyard, fence manufacturing and lumber yard for homes. They all left but we do still have a nice sized grocery store, hospital and post office and 30 min to the nearest populated town... But, the main street looks a lot like those blighted towns with a few hanger on shops.
Enjoyed the tour of Texas small towns. Thank you for sharing.
These are old farming towns but farming has been automated and no longer needs large number of people to work the farms just a few guys and large machines so the young people move to the cities and only the parents or grand parents stay behind, and some modern day farmers mixed in. This is a story seen all over the world, from Germany, to Italy, to France to UK even China, Japan, it is everywhere in the world. Every advanced country and economy sees this play out however with Americans able to work remote, with services like StarLink and rural high speed internet programs this could all change over time as more people are able to work remote but time will tell if remote work stays around or it was just a short term COVID thing.
The Biden administration infrastructure bill provides $42.5 billion to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school, access health care, and to stay connected with family and friends.
The population of these localities would improve if companies allowed more WFH but it’s all reversing now due to county government greed over property taxes. They want everyone back in the office to rescue commercial property values.
The old train depot in Roaring Springs is beautiful! It was part of the Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railroad, and used until 1971; which is also the year Amtrak took over passenger service. The town purchased it the next year, and it's a Texas historical landmark. Can't get enough of historical Mission Revival train depots, simply beautiful!
If you can find a copy, check out The Quanah Route by Don L. Hofsommer (Texas A & M University Press), 215 p. of text with pictures, chapter-by-chapter notes, bibliography and index. It's good reading.
Ed in Albuquerque
Best water in Texas at roaring springs!,
It’s so surreal to see these towns frozen in time
You think it’s frozen but it’s changed so much, since I was a child, growing up in dickens county.
@@hg1651for the better or for worse has it changed?
i like these tranquil and peaceful little towns. what is sad is all those disintegrating houses, broken doors, faded out paints, broken wood planks on the houses and so on. i would be worried if i was living there and had to see that all the time. better would be if they would repair these houses or demolish them. i would want to plant forests there, better is forests than nothing on the land. what work do the inhabitants in these small towns, Spur for example do to earn that income$ ? i want to see what is inside these buildiungs in these forsaken places.
A lot of places you visit are pretty scary. I give you a lot of credit for showing us. Good job
Good chance of finding a wife 52% female
I would live in Spur 🏚🏡 Why not they have ALL 3 dollar stores 😂 @Joe & Nic's Road Trip 🚗👍🚶🏽
I lived in Roaring Springs from 1988-ish to 1992, ages 3-ish to 6. We lived in my great-grandparents' house. I loved it there. It was so calm, peaceful, fresh air... just a beautiful place to live. Especially remember Elmer Parks who ran that Parks Welding Shop in your video 26:07 . He used to bail Alf Alfa that grew on our property. I used to watch him do it and I think a time or two he even let me ride with him. He also welded my Tricycle when the back wheels start to break off the rest of the frame. Nice man. I also remember Thacker Supply, where my mom would buy tools and whatnot to fix our super old home. You also pass the old grocery store, the lighter colored brick building at 26:59 next to the Fire Department building. I miss it so much even 32 years later. I still live nearby though, so I try to go to their Fourth of July event most years. The turnout is still pretty good!
Spur is where my family is from!! I’m from Lubbock…..❤
Brilliant video . I'd love to visit these kind of places . I'm in the uk , we have similar small towns like these . Something nostalgic about them 👌
My wife grew up near Spur and wanted to buy and open up that first building you showed (she also wanted to turn it into a coffee and tea shop). The population of Spur dropped because the private prison. The decline in all of these towns are due to the lack of infrastructure, which is driving people to Lubbock for goods, jobs, or homes. I grew up in Dallas, but have lived out here for twenty years and it’s sad to see these quiet towns dry up and die. We still live out here, but not sure for how much longer. The summers are getting too much for us to handle.
It got to 129 at our place last year
Thx unclejohn for your comment. It's awesome to hear from folks that are residing in these types of towns. It interests me.
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@@thehimself4056that is absolutely horrifying
It's kind of funny to me, a friend of mine lived in San Antonio (I'm from Ohio, but living in Philadelphia since 1987), and asked me if I would be willing to fly out (at her cost) to San Antonio, and drive her and her very old dog, in her SUV, back to the city she loves, Philadelphia (this was early December 2021. She was only in San Antonio for a few years to care for her aging father, who had recently passed. Anyway, her timing was perfect, I'm single, I was 56, kind of bored since COVID crap had ruined my social life, so I took her up on the 26 hour drive adventure. I had never been in Texas, except for Dallas airport. I fully expected to see the dry and dusty terrain like in this video, but the route we took (I-35 and I-30) was beautiful, with lush farmland and green fields everywhere, I was quite surprised by it's beauty. I see now, having looked at Google Earth, that the eastern half (San Antonio, Dallas etc.) is green, the western half of the state (as this video represents) is all dry and dusty, like I pictured from the cowboy movies and such. I always thought all of Texas looked that way.
East Texas is forested, humid, very dense. West Texas is the complete opposite.
I probably would have agreed to the scenario.
Sometimes adventures find us at the correct moment where we can say what the hey, let's accomplish something.
@@DIVISIONINCISION I would never have known that until I made that trip, Before that, I only saw Texas in cowboy movies (probably none of which were actually shot in Texas) and such. It was a fun adventure, beautiful views, and the people I met on the way were super friendly.
The state where the dry west meets the wet east
Spur,Dickens,Roaring Springs, and Ralls,Texas WOW!
24:45
You could imagine the veterans from the wars returning to this this town. Fought their way across the Pacific or Europe, Korea or Vietnam.
Anxiously waiting to see this train station meaning they survived and successfully made it back to home.
We all come from somewhere.
In the volunteer armed services of today the majority of the personnel come from towns with populations under five thousand people
Joe, where the heck is everybody? There aren't any people walking around? There's nobody. Is this the dark side of the moon?
Yep, very few people about.
- In a relatively short time a transportation corridor will come through the area and government backed investors will bulldoze that town and build stack n’ pack apartment buildings around chain retail. None of us will be around to tell the story of what was there. Watch a video on Russia, tall apartment building are all they build for housing there. We’re already heading in that direction and as population grows towns like this will be developed.
This video reminded me of a movie from 1971 called "The last picture show". It showed about how bleak life in west texas could be. It was a good movie and this was another good video. Merry Christmas to you both. Sincerely, Jim Thornton
That movie hit very much dead center on small town life. I also enjoyed Texasville. It wasn't as good a movie but it was dead on describing small town folks.
Roscoe , Rotan , Roby , old towns .
I was born and raised in Ralls. I never knew we had a famous song writer from here. Ralls is drying up fast. We had about 2400 people in my day. I left at the start of 1999 to move to Houston. My parents are both buried there so I visit occasionally when I'm in the area. Live in Virginia now. I recognize several of the houses you drove past.
I wonder how so many town, like this one, can afford the electrical and water services. I see electrical service posts on various corners, as well as water service for fire trucks. The tax to pay for these services must be paid by citizens. Public schools for the children? At what point do these public services get "turned off"?
One of the best. We love the decay and roughness at the edges of society. Best for you and yours and be well in 2024.
Red McCombs owned several large Ford dealerships in San Antonio. He lived in a very affluent superb, Olmos Park. I was a fireman there in late 70s. Insiders say ol Red was not a very nice guy.
My mom went to school with Red’s daughter Lynda. She said Lynda was the only kid in middle school who drove to school (Pat Neff). She also said that she was snobby. Wonder where she got that from…🙄🤔
@@mjbankhead9063 Thanks! I remember Pat Neff.
How do 220 people in Roaring Springs support a fire department and a city hall?
Visit the old towns of Dell City, Pecos, Sul Ross-Alpine, Marfa, Fort Hancock,Fabens, Clint, Tornillo and Socorro. I moved out when I joined the service in 1989. I heard these little towns are thriving.
you forgot to mention that Spur was the birthplace of Marshall Applewhite…founder of Heaven’s Gate
Ship more blue collar jobs to China. We need more towns like these. Oh... Hold on: Maybe these people need to learn to code?
Folks die off with no heirs so houses are most likely abandoned.
That sounds about right-???🤔. Eventually the town council obtains the property. 😉.
What's stupid is that most of those buildings are worth essentially zero.
But when you go there and check prices, the asking prices are as bad as DFW/Austin.
Have a great weekend everyone!
The original words, You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel. 🎶 It was about a car accident.
👍Fascinating. The sun-bleached ocher oranges and the sandstone ashlar and the fire-trap whitened dry timber, under the still, deep-blue cloudless skies that are somehow low-hung -- and amid broad-stretch streets with not a soul to be seen on them other than the backwash of a fast passing vehicle, sagging chain-fences, junk-yard front lawns and intermittent witch-spindle trees -- all remind of the aesthetic of the (less violent moments) in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie.👍
What an epic comment.
You're amazing with words.
An amazing tapestry of words strung together by a gossamer thread of imagination and pen. The vocabulary is strong in this one!
These old buildings are a great example of skilled masonry work. It’s a shame they are falling apart. If all these brick buildings were in California they’d be “quaint little tourist towns” selling artisanal cheese, coffee, chocolate, and wine.
Red owns many car dealerships in San Antonio. Excellent vlog. Merry Christmas.
While I’m hesitant to mention it. Famous (or rather infamous) Heaven’s Gate founder Marshall Applewhite was born in Spur, Texas.
And Applewhite was raised here in Corpus Christi TX.
Great setting for films.
Red McCombs also owned the MN Vikings
He purchased the team in 1998 and sold the team in 2005
It's possible that the former resident has passed away.
Hi Joe! I like your video so much. Its an addiction! Thanks
Awesome!
Since I started watching your videos a couple of years ago, I hoped that your travels would take you to Ralls. When I saw where Spur was on the map I got hopeful that you would go to Ralls. Then I saw you travel north and my excitement built. When I saw you climb the Caprock, I was pretty sure you were going to Ralls. When I saw the windmills, I was convinced.
I spent many memorable days in Ralls from the late 1950's to the early 90's. I witnessed the slow but sure change of the town. My Aunt used to meet her friends every day at Dairy Queen. She was real excited when they got their Dollar General. She has since passed away and the last time I was in Ralls was for her funeral about 8 years ago. One thing I always loved about Ralls was the flatness of the land and the fact you could see miles in any direction and maybe just see a tree about 5 miles away. Then they ruined the scenery with unsightly windmills. I was heartbroken to see that. It was like the end of an era.
I really enjoy your videos! Thanks for going to Ralls!
Cool! Ralls downtown has amazing potential, and I think in the future the town will prosper because of its proximity to Lubbock. Lubbock continues to steadily grow and has never lost population.
I might be adding to Lubbock's growth. Im retired and living on Long Island. The cost of living here is outrageous compared to Lubbock. My cousin just moved from Lewisville to Lubbock. I'm seriously thinking of moving there. My brother is in Carrollton but that's pretty expensive as well. I like the flat open spaces and climate of Lubbock. There's an advantage of being at 3,000 ft.@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip
Hi. Did you grow up in Ralls? If you did, you grew up with some of my family. I'm a Anderson descendant
@@craigblakes5499I’m related to the Slater Family. My aunt was Leona and uncle was Rex. I have lots of good memories of Ralls.
I think one of the major reasons little towns are disappearing, and not the only reason of course, is that modern cars are far easier to drive long distances. I remember 40 odd years ago how sore my back would be from driving old cars. You needed to concentrate a lot more as the steering pre rack and pinion was all over the place and the seats were crap, with very little support. Now we just jump in the car and drive all day and still feel fine and dandy at the end of it. 😀😀
Actually I think good cars are the only thing keeping a lot of these towns on life support instead of being Ghost towns. People can live in these little towns and drive to jobs, grocery stores, and medical care in bigger communities. Back before cars when the reason a town existed ended (like a mine playing out) everyone left quickly.
You should interview some people from the small towns
I said it before and I'll say it again.
I don't see a huge difference between the average Russian and the average American.
It's the governments that keep us from sharing friendship.
Happy New Year Dan and Sue.
From Southbridge, Massachusetts. USA.
LETS PRAY THAT what keeps us apart fades I to history. That way all our sons and daughters can have it better than we did.
I don't see that much of a difference, either. I swap e-mails with some of them.
From Albuquerque, NM
Thanks for the tour.
Instead of helping these small towns, we spend billions on windmills and foreign aid. Great job government.
yeah its so sad. ive totally lost hope for our once great country. its just unreal how fast that a country can go down when so many people are trying to destroy it
Amazing, the real US country side. Thanks for upload.
Really enjoy these old, small towns. Thanks for bringing us along.
I went to school with Connie McCombs (Red's daughter). Red owned car dealerships and a host of other money-makers.
I am going to buy a house here with my credit card
A lot of those towns got hit hard in the economic collapse we had back in 08
Yup, a collapse caused by conservative Republicans.
Looks like some good locations for the next chainsaw massacre movie.
Fn Dollar general on every corner know 😂😂
Thanks for taking us along on this drive. I used to live in Lubbock before the pandemic. I got to go through Ralls and Crosbyton while there. Ralls is indeed pronounced that way. It's refreshing to see sunny weather instead of the foggy and rainy stuff up here in the Pacific Northwest. Population decline in the rural areas of West Texas has been a thing for years now.
Co-ops ,Gins,Fuel Associations,schools ,county road crews, feed store and cafe or two is the last employers in these communities.
Bought several cars from red McCombs Ford in San antonio in the 70s
ACTIVA ESPAÑOL DESDE TU CANAL ...SPODA ..!
🖐️🙄🍷🌟✨⭐🎄✨🇦🇷🧉🧉
People pass away and the kids have grown up and moved away. People moved away, setup their new life and don’t look back. When the parents passed away, the house is either sold or left alone.
It looks like a nice place to retire and take life nice and slow. Quiet and small community. Perfect place to have avoided Covid.
I love America ,and i wish could living in there with my family.....❤ from Afghanistan
Enjoy all the places and videos presented by your channel. You may have people check their subscription. I had to subscribe again and reset notifications just saying RUclips ain’t is bad at it agin!
When the itinerary calls for a trip to Ralls, and someone says what in the dickens are you doing in Dickens, you hit the road, tune in some Motley Crue, and travel to Motley County. We enjoy and appreciate your videos very much; keep it up!
My Grand Parents on my father's side are buried there. In 1950 there was a Dirt Race track where the Race Cars came from far away to test their skills and speed. My mom and dad owned a diner there. One of the buildings you videoed was a "White Auto" owned by my Uncle Ronald Pierce. My Grand Parents were Alphie and Agnes Pierce
Hard to believe there was actually life there.
I'm just wondering why people are rarely seen wandering around. A few trucks drive by.
Yeah, I bet it was hard to get a fair trial in that tiny town back in that day. One lawyer town and a courthouse courtroom with jurors who know each other and know who is good and who is bad. Already know who is guilty before the trial even starts! I enjoy all of your videos of the various places you travel to, especially the ones in Texas. Thanks for sharing and a Merry Christmas to yaw. Ken
Problem, if you are a criminal......
@@TheGravitywerks Or a minority. A lot of the time they couldn't see the difference between the two.
Back in the day? Lol, the town is only 36 years old, it doesn't really have a 'back in the day'
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Speaking of school mascots, Henryetta, Oklahoma used to have the "Fighting Hens". Troy Aikman played football there. Hutto, Texas has the "Hippos".
No chemtrails, warm and spacious.
Quite interesting. A different view of USA.
Red McCombs also owned the Minnesota Vikings at one time too
I would love to live there! But I would be afraid to go out at night lol. Nobody around. I love Texas
You're knocking it out of the park with views. Great job.
Lack of I find it interesting that Texas small towns can't afford family pet animals especially lack of private horse owners.
Did you see any lush grass? If someone gave you the horse, it would cost you $10 a day to feed it. Before shoe and vet bills.
You never buy something that eats while you sleep.
in those little towns, once the hardware store closes its all down hill. very sad to see any town in this country dying like that.
You have a very soothing voice. I enjoy listening to you describe the towns you visit.
Keep talking
Try not to sing LOL
You saved the best for last, Ralls. The other towns are barely alive. Not one fancy mansion type home which tells lots about these towns. A great trifecta and cats which is always fun. Another good video. I drive a Fiesta ST which is lowered stock and it couldn't make it around the first three towns at all. Your 4 wheeled drive vehicle is indeed a necessity to do your job. Thanks for keeping us entertained, another great video, you've got the knack and I'm glad you don't usually sing much.
Cool, thanks! :)
😂😂😂😂😂
I love your videos
Thank you!
I always find towns like these fascinating. It's almost like an abandoned movie set.
Well done except the singing . I really enjoy seeing rural America, Great Show & Merry Christmas
Marry X-mas to all
Nice efforts love to watch heritage
I am watching from India
Sad to see the decay! Still interesting.
Love those small quiet 🤫 towns..go...spurs...go ❤
I grew up in Ralls, Texas and my parents would take me around the surrounding areas, alot of history! Amazing you viewed these little towns!
You might have grew up with some of my family. I'm a Anderson descendant. My great auntie Loletha was a school teacher there. My uncle BL Anderson was one of the founding members of Shiloh Baptist Church there in Ralls
Reminds me of the great novel and movie The Last Picture Show.
So excited to see Ralls , Spur, Rolling Springs and Dickinson! I go thru there about twice a year going to Lubbock to visit family ! I would love to live in a small town. A lot of these people work and shop in Lubbock!
Enjoying the history and information on every little community!
I agree, your voice is very smooth and easy to listen to!
Wow, thank you!
Just for informational purposes. There was a musician with the last name Frummox from Texas that sang a group of songs called the Texas Trilogy. One of the songs in that grouping was “The Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore”. This series of songs kind of laments the dying towns in Texas and was published/released in the 1970s. Certainly worth the effort to bring it up on RUclips and listening to it. It will put a musical touch to your documentation of those little dying towns. Certainly sad but it’s a sign of the times.
My stepfather was born and raised in Amarillo, he played back up stand up base for buddy Holly and did one Lubbock triangle tour with him when he was a senior in high school, I've driven through here while traveling, Mahalo y'all
Wow so weird to see all these abandoned houses where I live in Michigan there is a housing shortage.
Same in California. Where I live any one o& these houses in falling down condition would be. $500,000. That is half a million.
Good video my late father was nicknamed Kenny after Kenny Rogers because he had big white beard and combed back mop of white hair I love both kinds of music country and western😅
That's cool!
I really dig these videos. Thanx
Thank you!