Lonely Days

This picture was taken on the south loop just outside a new city development. I happened to be out there looking to approve some storm sewer cleaning for our Street Dept. When I saw this stool (no pun intended) it just seemed so out of place. It was sitting in an area that looked kind of like a crop circle for the stool itself. I was compelled to take a picture as my mind raced trying to figure out what kind of life this thing had and who it had done wrong to end up here just outside the line of sight for all the world to see. I'm sure by now someone has labeled it junk and hauled it away, but for me I saw something else almost like a dream office for me, outdoors with a high rise desk that would require such a stool.

Familiar Site

Sorry for the absence as I have been dealing with some health issues that kept me from this blog, all is well now and I hope this is a new beginning.
      As the title suggests this is becoming an all to familiar site around the Amarillo area since we have had a couple of years now of record breaking drought. The real problem is we don't have a lot of trees to spare. I took this photo north of town in a field where the owner raises "Bonsmara" cattle. These cattle are resistant to the conditions here as they are from Africa. The claim is that they have the most tender beef for their resistance to drought. I hope to get out and shoot a little more and have some interesting ideas coming up.

Old Amarillo

This is from Amarillo Blvd. looking south toward Wildhorse Lake, the original home of Amarillo.

From the "Boulevard" old highway 60.

Downtown sure has changed alot from the old days. This post took a couple of days to put together, I wanted to give a little history (little is relevant) of Amarillo. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did putting it together. I really like the fact we needed a mental hospital before we needed a real hospital.



I give you 100 Years

1887	―	FORT WORTH-DENVER CITY RAILROAD WAS CONSTRUCTED ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
1887	―	A RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION CAMP ON AMARILLO CREEK GREW INTO A SMALL TENT CITY NAMED RAGTOWN.
1887	―	IN APRIL, J.T. BERRY PLATTED A TOWNSITE AND NAMED IT ONIEDA.
1887	―	IN JUNE, THE TUCK CORNELIUS FAMILY ARRIVED TO SETTLE IN THE NEW TOWN.
1887	―	IN AUGUST, ONIEDA WAS VOTED THE COUNTY SEAT OF POTTER COUNTY AND RENAMED AMARILLO.
1887	―	FREIGHT SERVICES WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE RAILROAD MAKING AMARILLO A MAJOR CATTLE SHIPPING CENTER.
1887	―	IN NOVEMBER, THE FIRST POST OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED AND ROBERT M. MOORE WAS THE FIRST POSTMASTER.
1887	―	NANCY CORNELIUS, WIFE OF MR. S. CORNELIUS, WAS THE FIRST RECORDED DEATH IN AMARILLO.
1888	―	THE METHODISTS ORGANIZED THE FIRST CHURCH.
1888	―	THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT WAS ESTABLISHED.
1888	―	THE FIRST DANCE, A “GRAND BALL”, CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE NEW COURTHOUSE.
1888	―	AMARILLO CITIZENS ESTABLISHED THE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE COURTHOUSE.
1888	―	MAYVI AMARILLO CORNELIUS WAS THE FIRST RECORDED CHILD BORN IN AMARILLO.
1889	―	HENRY SANBORN, CALLED THE “FATHER OF AMARILLO” PLATTED A NEW AMARILLO SITE.
1889	―	MOST OF AMARILLO MOVED ONE MILE EAST TO THE NEW GLIDDEN SANBORN ADDITION.
1889	―	PANHANDLE LOAN ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED BY GLIDDON AND SANBORN.
1889	―	FIRST HOTEL, THE AMARILLO HOTEL, WAS BUILT BY HENRY SANBORN.
1889	―	FIRST NATIONAL BANK WAS THE FIRST BANK TO RECEIVE A CHARTER.
1889	―	AMARILLO PUBLIC WAS ESTABLISHED AT 800 S. HARRISON STREET.
1889	―	FIRST WAGON YARD ESTABLISHED BY EDWARD TRIGG AND JOHN MILLER.
1890	―	FIRST CITY PARK WAS PLATTED; LATER NAMED ELLWOOD.
1890	―	POPULATION 482
1890	―	AMARILLO HAD 14 SALOONS AND 11 GAMBLING HOUSES.
1890	―	THE RED BRICK SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1700 S. POLK STREET AS THE CITY’S SECOND PUBLIC SCHOOL.
1890	―	BUSINESS BOOM BEGAN WITH 20 NEW ESTABLISHMENTS IN TWO YEARS.
1891	―	THE “INDIAN SCARE”, A FALSE NEWS REPORT OF HOSTILE NATIVES CAUSED GREAT NUMBERS OF PANHANDLE SETTLERS TO SEEK REFUGE IN AMARILLO.
1892	―	AMARILLO NATIONAL BANK FOUNDED.
1892	―	AMARILLO INCORPORATED.
1892	―	WARREN WETSEL ELECTED AS FIRST MAYOR.
1892	―	POPULATION 674
1892	―	AMARILLO CITY LIMITS WAS ONE SQUARE MILE.
1892	―	J.A. WILLIAMS WAS THE FIRST CITY MARSHALL.
1892	―	AMARILLO NATIONAL BANK WAS FOUNDED.
1894	―	AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL HELD ITS FIRST GRADUATION.
1896	―	THE FIRST TELEPHONE SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED BY WAYNE C. WRIGHT.
1897	―	WHITE AND KIRK DEPARTMENT STORE WAS ESTABLISHED.
1897	―	POPULATION 1154.
1897	―	AMARILLO HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1898	―	PECOS VALLEY RAILROAD WAS BUILT INTO AMARILLO.
1898	―	UNION STATION WAS BUILT.
1898	―	RAILROADS AND FREIGHT ROADS ESTABLISHED AMARILLO AS A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CENTER.
1899	―	AMARILLO-PANHANDLE FAIR AND LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED.
1899	―	SANTA FE RAILROAD WAS BUILT INTO AMARILLO.
1900	―	ST. ANTHONY’S SANITARIUM WAS FOUNDED.
1900	―	POPULATION 1442.
1900	―	BOND ISSUE PASSED TO BUILD A CITY HALL.
1901	―	A FIRE DESTROYED ONE-FOURTH OF DOWNTOWN.
1902	―	ST. ANTHONY’S HOSPITAL WAS ESTABLISHED.
1902	―	AMARILLO ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED.
1903	―	THE ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD ARRIVED.
1904	―	AMARILLO HARDWARE COMPANY WAS FOUNDED.
1905	―	WESTERN STOCKYARDS CORPORATION WAS ESTABLISHED.
1905	―	BUSHLAND SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT THIRD & WELLS IN WESTERN COUNTY.
1906	―	AMARILLO GAS COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1906	―	JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 500 S. JOHNSON STREET.
1906	―	BLACKBURN BROTHERS CLOTHING STORE OPENED FOR BUSINESS.
1907	―	AMARILLO CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
1908	―	AMARILLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS ORGANIZED.
1910	―	AMARILLO PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS FOUNDED BY THE JUG (JUST US GIRLS) CLUB.
1910	―	ELIZABETH NIXSON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1300 S. POLK STREET.
1910	―	HORACE MANN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 600 N. BUCHANAN STREET ON THE SITE TO THE OLD NORTH SIDE SCHOOL.
1910	―	POPULATION 9957
1910	―	WEST TEXAS STATE NORMAL SCHOOL ESTABLISHED IN NEARBY CANYON, TEXAS.
1912	―	PANHANDLE TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH WAS PURCHASED BY SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE.
1912	―	PANHANDLE PACKING COMPANY OPENED A PLANT IN AMARILLO.
1913	―	NORTHWEST TEXAS HOSPITAL WAS FOUNDED.
1913	―	ST. MARY’S ACADEMY WAS ESTABLISHED AS THE FIRST PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.
1916	―	SANBORN PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S.E. 14TH & FILLMORE
1917	―	FIRST TEXAS CALVARY, AMARILLO TROOP B., WAS CALLED TO ACTION IN WORLD WAR I.
1917	―	AMARILLO OIL COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1917	―	AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS ORGANIZED.
1917	―	WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1700 S. TAYLOR STREET.
1917	―	McKINLEY ELEMENTARY WAS ESTABLISHED AT 700 S. ADAMS STREET.
1918	―	NATURAL GAS WAS DISCOVERED IN POTTER CO.
1918	―	AMARILLO WAS ESTABLISHED AS A STOP ON MAJOR U.S. AIR ROUTES.
1919	―	AMERICAN LEGION WAS FOUNDED.
1920	―	POPULATION 15,494
1920	―	J.C. PENNEY OPENED A STORE HERE.
1920	―	PANHANDLE PIPELINE COMPANY BUILT THE FIRST PIPELINE INTO AMARILLO.
1921	―	THE BASE FOR THE AMARILLO ECONOMY WAS TRANSPORTATION, CATTLE, AND GRAIN.
1921	―	GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2400 S. MIRROR STREET.
1921	―	ROUTE 66 WAS BUILT THROUGH AMARILLO.
1922	―	TRI-STATE FAIR WAS INAUGURATED.
1922	―	AMARILLO’S FIRST RADIO STATION, WDAG, WAS ON THE AIR.
1922	―	SANBORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 700 S. ROBERTS STREET.
1922	―	WILL ROGERS PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT AMARILLO BLVD. & BUCHANAN STREET.
1922	―	EAST PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S.E. 8TH & WILLIAMS STREET.
1922	―	AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1200 S. POLK STREET.
1923	―	AMERICAN SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY LOCATED IN AMARILLO.
1925	―	AMARILLO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WAS ORGANIZED.
1925	―	AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK WAS ORGANIZED.
1926	―	FURR FOOD STORES WERE ESTABLISHED.
1926	―	AN OIL BOOM MADE AMARILLO THE BUSINESS CENTER FOR THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
1926	―	WOLFLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS ESTABLISHED AT 2100 S. HUGHES STREET.
1926	―	SAN JACINTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ORGANIZED AT 400 S. CAROLINA STREET.
1926	―	COL. C.T. HERRING BUILT THE HERRING HOTEL.
1927	―	HUMPHREY’S HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1300 S. DALLAS DRIVE.
1927	―	SUMMIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 901 N. FLORIDA STREET.
1927	―	RIVER ROAD SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT RIVER ROAD & MOBLEY DRIVE.
1928	―	SEARS AND ROEBUCK OPENED A STORE HERE.
1928	―	MONTGOMERY WARD OPENED A STORE HERE.
1928	―	ENGLISH AIRPORT WAS ESTABLISHED BY LEE BIVINS AND HAROLD ENGLISH.
1928	―	MARGARET WILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3500 S. TAYLOR STREET.
1928	―	ALICE LANDERGIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3209 S. TAYLOR STREET.
1929	―	AMARILLO COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED.
1929	―	PANHANDLE AIR SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY WAS CREATED.
1930	―	POPULATION 43,132
1930	―	THOMPSON PARK WAS ESTABLISHED ON ONE SECTION OF LAND AT N.E. 24TH & FILMORE STREET; THE PARK WAS NAMED FOR COL. ERNEST O. THOMPSON.
1930	―	PLEASANT VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4415 RIVER ROAD.
1930	―	SAN JACINTO PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S.W. 2ND & LOUISIANA STREET.
1930	―
1930	―	LEE BIVINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS ESTABLISHED AT 1500 S. FANNIN STREET.
1930	―	FREDERICK DOUGLASS ELEMNTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 103 S. JACKSON STREET.
1930	―	FOREST HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3600 EAST 8TH AVENUE.
1930	―	DWIGHT MORROW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1600 S. CLEVELAND STREET.
1930	―	SAM HOUSTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 800 FOREST STREET.
1931	―	THE AMARILLO CREDIT ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED.
1931	―	OLIVER EAKLE PARK LOCATED AT 28TH & POLK STREET WAS DEDICATED.
1932	―	POTTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE OPENED.
1932	―	AMARILLO BECAME A MAJOR CROSSROADS AS HIGHWAYS 60-66-287-87 WERE NAMED U.S. HIGHWAYS BY 1935.
1933	―	HAGY, HARRINGTON AND MARSH OIL COMPANY WAS FORMED.
1934	―	PALO DURO BECAME A STATE PARK.
1934	―	CAL FARLEY AND RALPH DYKEMAN FOUNDED THE MAVERICK BOYS CLUB.
1933	―	THE AMARILLO LIVESTOCK AUCTION WAS ESTABLISHED.
1934	―	APRIL 15 WAS CALLED “BLACK SUNDAY” FOR THE HUGE CLOUDS OF DUST THAT BLACKED OUT THE AMARILLO SKY.
1934	―	CAL FARLEY’S BOYS RANCH WAS FOUNDED.
1935	―	NOVEMBER 25TH, AMARILLO UNITS OF TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD, 36TH DIVISION WERE MOBILIZED FOR SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II.
1940	―	POPULATION 51,686
1940	―	EMERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 700 N. LINCOLN STREET.
1942	―	SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE WAS ORGANIZED.
1942	―	AMARILLO ARMY AIRFIELD WAS ESTABLISHED.
1942	―	PANTEX ORDINANCE PLANT WAS OPENED.
1945	―	EL ALAMO PARK WAS ESTABLISHED AT S. E. 16TH & HOUSTON.
1946	―	AMARILLO AIR TERMINAL WAS ESTABLISHED.
1948	―	THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION MOVED TO AMARILLO.
1948	―	GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 611 N. HUGHES STREET.
1948	―	DICK BIVINS STADIUM WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3301 E. 10TH AVENUE.
1948	―	NORTH HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 607 N. HUGHES ST.
1949	―	A TORNADO CROSSED AMARILLO CAUSING THREE MILLION DOLLARS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE LOSS OF SEVEN LIVES.
1950	―	THERE WERE 60 ORGANIZED CHURCHES IN AMARILLO.
1950	―	MEMORIAL PARK LOCATED AT 24TH & WASHINGTON WAS DEDICATED.
1950	―	POPULATION 74,246
1951	―	WONDERLAND AMUSEMENT PARK WAS FOUNDED AT THOMPSON PARK.
1951	―	PANTEX WAS SELECTED AS THE SITE FOR NUCLEAR WEAPON ASSEMBLY.
1951	―	STEPHEN F. AUSTIN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1808 WIMBERLY ROAD.
1951	―	LAMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3800 S. LIPSCOMB ST.
1951	―	ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 119 N.E. 15TH AVENUE.
1951	―	AVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1500 AVONDALE STREET.
1953	―	CANADIAN RIVER MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY WAS FORMED.
1953	―	HILLTOP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1330 N. W. 18TH AVENUE.
1953	―	AMARILLO’S FIRST TV STATION, KGNC, WAS ESTABLISHED.
1954	―	PIONEER NATURAL GAS COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED.
1954	―	SUNRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5123 E. 14TH AVENUE.
1954	―	SOUTH LAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4719 S. BOWIE STREET.
1954	―	WHITTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2004 N. MARRS STREET
1954	―	PALO DURO HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1400 N. GRANT STREET
1955	―	CORONADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3210 WIMBERLY ROAD.
1955	―	JAMES BOWIE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED 3001 E. 12TH AVENUE.
1956	―	PARAMOUNT TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3906 W. 40TH AVENUE.
1956	―	LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2215 S. BIVINS STREET.
1956	―	OLSEN PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2409 ANNA STREET.
1957	―	TASCOSA HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3921 WESTLAWN CIRCLE.
1957	―	JAMES W. FANNIN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4627 S. RUSK STREET
1958	―	WILLIAM B. TRAVIS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2815 MARTIN ROAD.
1958	―	A NEW GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1905 N.W. 12TH AVENUE.
1959	―	HAMLET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 705 SYCAMORE STREET.
1960	―	OAK DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2711 S. HILL STREET.
1960	―	DAVID CROCKETT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4720 FLOYD AVENUE.
1960	―	POPULATION 137,969.
1960	―	EASTRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 1314 EVERGREEN STREET.
1960	―	RIDGECREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5306 W. 37TH AVENUE.
1960	―	MESA VERDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4011 BEAVER DRIVE.
1960	―	SOUTH GEORGIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5018 SUSAN DRIVE.
1961	―	WESTERN PLATEAU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4927 SHAWNEE TRAIL.
1961	―	CAPROCK HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3001 E. 34TH AVENUE.
1963	―	BELMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 6324 ADIRONDACK TRAIL.
1964	―	MESA PETROLEUM WAS ORGANIZED.
1964	―	WILLOW VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 7600 PAVILLARD DRIVE.
1964	―	ROLLING HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 2800 W. CHERRY AVENUE.
1965	―	ALIBATES FLINT QUARRY DECLARED A NATIONAL MONUMENT.
1965	―	AMARILLO MEDICAL COMPLEX WAS ORGANIZED.
1965	―	GENE HOWE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5108 PICO BOULEVARD.
1965	―	SOUTHEAST REGIONAL PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT S. E. 46TH & OSAGE.
1965	―	MEDICAL CENTER PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT S.W. 9TH & WALLACE BOULEVARD.
1966	―	MUSICAL DRAMA “TEXAS” OPENED IN PALO DURO STATE PARK.
1967	―	JAMES B. BONHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 5600 S.W. 49TH AVENUE.
1968	―	AMARILLO AIR FORCE BASE WAS CLOSED.
1968	―	THE TALLEST BUILDING, THE TEXAS AMERICAN BANK AND THE SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE TOWER, WAS BUILT AT 6TH & TYLER.
1968	―	INTERSTATE 40 HIGHWAY WAS DEDICATED.
1968	―	AMARILLO MEDICAL CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED.
1970	―	TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OPENED AT THE SITE OF THE OLD AIR BASE.
1970	―	AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL AT 1200 S. POLK WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
1970	―	POPULATION 127,010
1971	―	MARTIN LAKE PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT N.E. 15TH & MIRROR.
1972	―	AMARILLO ART CENTER WAS OPENED.
1973	―	RIVER ROAD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT RIVER ROAD & MOBLEY DRIVE.
1973	―	AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL WAS REBUILT AT 4225 DANBURY DRIVE.
1974	―	SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PARK WAS DEVELOPED AT S.W. 48TH & BELL.
1975	―	THE DON HARRINGTON DISCOVERY CENTER-PLANETARIUM WAS ESTABLISHED.
1975	―	NINE BANKS WERE OPERATING IN AMARILLO.
1976	―	AMARILLO AIR TERMINAL WAS DESIGNATED AN INTERNATIONAL PORT OF ENTRY.
1977	―	PUCKETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 6700 OAKHURST DRIVE.
1977	―	SUNDOWN LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 4715 SUNDOWN LANE.
1978	―	RIVER ROAD JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT RIVER ROAD. & MOBLEY DR.
1979	―	BUSHLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED.
1979	―	HIGHLAND PARK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED.
1980	―	POPULATION 149,230
1980	―	SLEEPY HOLLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 3433 REEDER DRIVE.
1982	―	WINDSOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS ESTABLISHED AT 6700 HYDE PARKWAY.
1983	―	VALLEYVIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 9000 VALLEYVIEW DRIVE.
1985	―	FALLING OIL PRICES STAGGERED THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
1985	―	HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT HIGHWAY 60 & FM 1912.
1986	―	THE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES HIT AN ALL TIME HIGH OF 7.9%.
1986	―	INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 27 WAS DEDICATED.
1986	―	POPULATION 159,600
1987	―	ARDEN ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AT 6801 LEARNING TREE AVE.
1987	―	POPULATION 160,380
1987	―	ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIZENS BEGAN A YEAR OF PROJECTS AND EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE AMARILLO CENTENNIAL.

Polk Street

Anybody who has lived in or been to Amarillo for an extended period of time knows about Polk St. Although it is not the happening place it was in past years, there are still things to do on Polk. Most of the activities include drinking or eating, but on occasion there is a parade or party and such. After all this is still the center of the city, with iconic buildings like the Santa Fe building and the old Paramount building. More recently there has been a push to revitalize downtown, and I for one would be glad to see it as long as they don't tear down the old buildings. If you like the blog please join and feel fee to comment.

Water is LIFE

 

 

Anyone who really knows me has figured out at some point I have a fascination with windmills. Everyone has heard the saying the plow is the tool that broke the plains, but without the windmill no one could have survived to do the work or been able to feed the crops and animals. This marvel of simplicity can still be seen dotting the landscape around Amarillo. Lord knows we have no shortage of wind around here. The barbed wire has a story of its own.(I will do another post about it later.) All I will say is one of the greatest cattlemen of our country hated the stuff. This picture was taken southwest of Amarillo by about 2 miles and about a mile west of the Randall County Feed Lot.

Day One

View of the City:

My name is Damen Ratliff and I work for the City of Amarillo. I moved to Amarillo in July of 1986 and through a series of fortunate events I fell in love with this quaint West Texas city. This will be my account through pictures and stories to tell why I love this place. I will try to update daily with new pictures of Amarillo and the surrounding area.