Sunday night. Weekend over. Work tomorrow. Time for all y'all to tighten up. youtu.be/FV6olDJQRjs?...

Wow. The fine folks at @tslac.bsky.social have surpassed themselves with this fantastic photo of the 11th street courthouse and stone jail in Austin. This was located directly south of the capitol building. That road is 11th street, running east and west. The capitol is directly right.

El Paso once had a trolley system that ran from 1882 all the way into the early 1970s. It didn’t just move folks across town—it carried them across the border, too. For 70+ years, streetcars rattled between El Paso and Juárez, the first trolley between two nations in history.

The first jailhouse in Port Arthur, Texas, as seen in 1930. It was built in 1897. I can imagine that day after day in this place ---- no air conditioning but approximately 6-7 billion mosquitoes (give or take a billion) ---- was no fun. Probably make a body think twice about breaking the law.

Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel performing Pancho and Lefty? How great is this? youtu.be/TQt3d9fQu64?...

The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day: Texas is home to at least 64 different species of wolf spiders. Despite their size and fearsome appearance, they're good folks, eating cockroaches and other less desirable critters. Not only do they have eight legs, they have eight eyes.

The 1950s were a boom time in Lubbock: the population of the Hub City increased from 72,000 in 1950 to almost 130,000 in 1960. Shown here: scene in downtown Lubbock circa 1950. Courtesy the Winston Reeves collection from Texas Tech University's @ttu_archives

A gas refinery worker with his children and his lunch pail in Borger, Texas, 1942. He worked at the Phillips 66 plant there, doing his part in the war effort. The children might very well be alive today. I hope they are, and I hope they see their father here. Photo taken by John Vachon.

A Santa Fe train passes through beautiful downtown Glen Flora, 1976. Glen Flora is a small, unincorporated community in Wharton County. It's about six miles northwest of Wharton. A nice collection of vehicles. I'm not sure what season it was, but I'm thinking summer: I can almost feel the heat.

A photo I took eighteen years ago of the old Phillips station in Turkey. It was in the fall and I had quite a lonely feeling. I listened to see if I could hear the sounds of Bob Wills music playing (he was from Turkey) but all I could hear was the sound of a forlorn wind ---- and that was enough.

Love's a gift that's surely handmade. youtu.be/yTwUpkEK6yk?...

An incredibly great photo, Lance. Thanks for sharing it.

Willie Nelson and John Belushi at a SNL after party during the 1970s.

A man in Austin, 1885. All I know about this photo is the photographer's name, George Schleuchter. I like posting portraits of unknown people because it allows our imaginations to fill in the blanks. This man is stylishly dressed. I wonder what became of him.

The Alamo as seen (I so much want to write "as scene" with an ironic twinkle in my eye) on a 1930s postcard.

Mobil Gas Station on Lamar Blvd. in Austin, 1953. An absolutely stunning photo, don't you think? Back when you'd pull up and at least two different attendants would walk up and start working ... gas, oil check, wash your windshield ... good times. Courtesy the Austin History Center.

Lordy! Despite the sound quality, this is an absolute gem for Texas music lovers. The Texas Tornados on the tiny stage at Hole in the Wall in Austin. Flaco Jimenez, Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender, and Augie Meyers. youtu.be/8Ox7UHjf2Mg?... Thanks to @shinyribs.bsky.social for turning me on to this.

Traces of Texas reader Jared Tye kindly sent in this wonderful 1960 aerial shot of the courthouse square in McKinney, Texas. If you look closely, you can see the old J.C. Penney store above the courthouse, just right of center. At least four Collin County courthouses have been at this spot.

Mary Collins shared this recent photo of herself next to the famous Wedding Oak in San Saba. It is believed to be more than 1,000 years old. Comanches viewed it as sacred and held wedding ceremonies there. White settlers did the same: 100s of weddings have been conducted under its branches.

Friona, Texas as seen from a train approaching the town on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, 1942. I love the linear geometric progression of the poles and the way the tracks lead the eye into the center of the image. Really a super shot taken by Jack Delano.

Child prodigy "Little" Doug Sahm playing fiddle somewher at the age of about 10. The pedal steel at righ man is Smiley Whitley; the guitarist is Larry Nolan. I'm not sure where this was taken but perhaps in the old Skyline club in Austin. Is anybody going to San Antone, or Phoenix, Arizona?😉

Actor Scott Glenn as bad boy Wes Hightower in "Urban Cowboy."

Here's a nifty shot of the Texas A&M campus back when a herd of cattle was maintained on campus in the shadow of the old academic building. If I'm not mistaken, this was taken in what would now be where the Northside Quad is ... probably where Walton Hall stands.

Traces of Texas reader Deb Cates graciously shared this great photo of her dad, Pat Robinson, emptying a parking meter in Sherman, Texas back in 1952. Pat was a motorcycle cop in Sherman back in those days and this was part of their job description. You can see his motorcycle in the foreground.

Actress Sharon Tate as Janet Trego and Max Baer as Jethro Bodine in an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies. Sharon was born in Dallas and lived in several Texas cities during her childhood. She was in 15 episodes as a secretary at the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills and also Jane Hathaway's assistant.

Linda Rose graciously shared this wonderful circa 1900 shot of the Lone Star Saloon --- the catch is that she doesn't know where it was taken. The workmen are no doubt now working on the structure next door. As I always say, when in doubt, build the saloon first. Priorities, you know. 😀

The 1924 Bartlett Bulldogs football team. 101 years ago. Bartlett was primarily a creation of Czech and German ethnic stock, and I'm sure a list of these boys' names would reflect that. A bunch that surely struck terror in the hearts of their opponents!

Dandy Don Meredith and Tom Landry, 1967. Two Texans. 'Nuff said.

Narciso Martinez, the father of conjunto music, was born in 1911. This photo of Narciso as a young man was taken in the early 1930's. There's a pretty good video of Narciso playing. REAL old school, folks! youtu.be/kW-RowAzA80?...

I grew up in Texas. Football is ubiquitous in Texas. Pro football, college football, high school football, pee wee football... in fact, every form of football except the original, European football, which most Texans believe to be a commie plot." ------ Sheldon Cooper, "The Big Bang Theory"

Willie Nelson and Charley Pride, something like 30 years apart.

Main Street in Skidmore, Tx., early 1900's. I love both the women in sunbonnets and the fact that that there are two saloons within a five-store distance, and between them is a confectionery/ice cream parlor. I can hear it now: "Oh, sure, Mary ... I'll take the kids into town for some ice cream."

I've been listening to Whiskey Myers, who come from Palestine, Texas, all dang day. What a band! youtu.be/Gj7Zft8aiRc?...

The abandoned house of a tenant farmer near Childress, Texas in June, 1937 as seen by Dorothea Lange. Such a stark image, isn't it? You can almost feel the family's sadness and bitter resignation. 1937 was technically at the end of the Dust Bowl but I guess they just couldn't hang on.

Traces of Texas reader Ann Strong Hoge graciously shared this bodacious 1917 photo of her grandfather, DM Strong, with his taxicab, which was the first taxi in Lubbock. As you can see, it's a Model T Ford. I believe the horn is one of those "ayuga!" horns that has the big bulb on the back.

Roughnecks on an oil rig in Kilgore takin' what they're givin' 'cause they're workin' for a livin', 1939. Another awesome shot from Russell Lee.

"I like the image Texas brings to mind--that of bigness, of strength, of goodness." ---- Maria Ninfa Rodriguez Laurenzo, who founded the restaurant Ninfa's. Ninfa died in 2001, but her original restaurant, Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston, is still serving up some great Tex-Mex.

Folks standing in front of Van Horn's first school building, 1895. The building was eight years old when this was taken. LOVE the clothes, parasol etc... The man on the right looks like he might have some stories to tell.

A Native American on a GORGEOUS American Paint Horse in Breckenridge, Texas, 1927. I've always liked paints. Conformation like quarter horses and such beautiful markings. I think if I ever get a horse it will be a paint. Taken by the uber-talented Basil Clemons. From UTA Special Collections.

The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day: Roky Erickson, lead singer for the great 1960s psychedelic group the 13th Floor Elevators, got the name "Roky" from a mash-up of his first and middle names: he was born Roger Kynard Erickson. Hence, Roky. Here: Roky in 1967. Courtesy the Michael Ochs archives.

One of y'all sent me this photo of Austin's Fabulous Thunderbirds with Debra Harry aka Blondie back in about 1980. I have no idea who took this or where they are or what the occasion was EXCEPT that they were on the same record label, so that might be it. So random ... I love it!

The Elk Store in Elk, Texas back in 1980 and as I photographed it from the same vantage point 36 years later, in 2016. Can you imagine how many RC Cola/moon pies were bought at this place?

I spoke with this homeless man at Lake Lady Bird in Austin and he said "I am only poor on the outside, brother, so don't feel sorry for me." Then he turned toward the rising sun, raised and lowered his arms in a sweeping e motion, and said "Help me change the world today." I was thoroughly humbled.

Living from love, but it's okay Always the trains, slipping away Find a way to make them stay Always them trains, just slipping away West, Texas 2010

In 1908, Ensign (and Texan) Chester Nimitz ran the destroyer USS Decatur (DD-5) aground in the Philippines. He was court-martialed, found guilty of neglect of duty and issued a letter of reprimand. It was a different era, so he was still able to make fleet admiral despite the incident.

A young man and a dog circa 1915 in Canadian, Texas as photographed by the great Julius Born, who owned a small general store with a simple studio in the back but turned that simple setup into works of great art. A truly great small-town Texas portrait artist. There is so much to love here!

Reader Gail Albright Watson Brown graciously shared this lovely photo of her grandmother, Gail Violet Brown Kolberg. She was born in Minnesota in 1885, moved to Eagle Lake, Texas in 1911 to care for her ailing father, met and married Olaf Gustav Kolberg in 1913 ... and purchased a bodacious hat!

Traces of Texas reader H.B. Frizzelle wanted to see what was eating the cat food off her back porch in Boerne, so she set up her trail camera to catch the perp in the act. Thank you, H.B. They are mighty sneaky!