Backroads – Millwood to Copeville

Taking advantage of doing a photoshoot in Wylie, I decided to hit some new back roads. Google maps is my standby before any of my forays but this week I noticed alot less information there. Normally you can zoom in and get the name/number of the tiniest county road – but no more! I printed out my route with notes like “look for the big road curving right out of Lavon. I guess I’m either good or lucky because I was able to find Millwood.

I’m always hopeful that something architectural will remain from a town’s beginning but other than an interesting obelisk in their cemetary there wasn’t any historic interest. I was intrigued by the skeleton painted on the side of a ruined barn (who is Jake?) but I was scared & dogs were all around me barking, so it’s not in great focus.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/htm21

I visied Nevada next. There’s a large red brick building which I think might be a gymnasium. A beautiful plaque of mercury is on the front. A large Baptist church is nearby sporting more great architectural detail.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hln05

I went through Josephine but there wasn’t much see there.

Last stop today was Copeville. Since I’m always on the lookout for rustic scenes to pose models, Copeville was my best bet. There are a few old buildings and a wonderful rusted out truck.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlc50

Today also had me noticing the symmetry and geometry of the newly planted fields.

 

 

Backroads – Hwy 80 from Riverside Dr to 820 (Lancaster Avenue)

Old highways – those roads that transported people across the state and the nation that predated the interstate system, are some of my favorite roads to follow. Route 66 gets all the press, but there are remnants of that time all around us. Hwy 80 between Dallas and Ft Worth is an example.

I’ve driven Hwy 80 several times and taken pictures but not with my current fervor to document the scene before it’s lost. I got some cool signage Sunday morning, but really need to get a friend to drive me, there’s alot of things to see & no real parking nearby. I especially want to go at night to get the neon & the clubs lit up.

I loved the old haunted house decorated for Christmas. The property looked like it was used to sell christmas trees – too bad the fence was in such good shape. I’ve been known to trespass, but am not nimble enough to scale that one. I also love the convenience store with a drive thru window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cemetaries – Oakland Cemetary Dallas

For years I’ve wanted to check out Oakland Cemetary. To be honest the reason I haven’t is the location which is in a very poor black neighborhood. I have a nice camera, so I get nervous alot of time when I ( a woman) am alone in questionable parts of town. This afternoon was bright and crisp and I was out that way & finally stopped by. Once I saw the place, I had to get out & walk around a bit. I was in awe of the monuments which are large and ornate.  It’s obvious that wealthy people were buried here. I saw names of the town’s influential leaders, Miller, Zang, Thornton, White. It’s a large place (60 acres) and it heavily overgrown in places which creates a spooky atmosphere. I’m attaching an article from the Dallas Observer that has alot of the nitty gritty about the place.

The stone for Mary Bender and Babe is poignant. A woman and her child die during the birth makes my heart cry for her and thankful that todays healthcare makes this a rare occurrence today.

I wonder who Little Louise was & what took the life of a 7 year old child.

What brought Andrea Matranca, obviously Italian to reside in Dallas & be buried here.

I will return soon & often I know. So much history, so many stories & a great place for a photo shoot, so I hope my models don’t get scared easily.

http://www.dallasobserver.com/2001-07-12/news/grave-matters/
 

 

 

 

 

Backroads – Hwy 78/Grand Ave – King Edward’s Swap Shop

I’ve driven past King Edwards so many times on my way somewhere else. I thought each time, “that looks like Fred Sanford runs that” meaning it looks like a junk shop. Now, a junk shop is right up my alley so today I stopped. King Edward is a black man but is nothing like Fred Sanford. KE is tall young and handsome. He was on the phone with what sounded like a lady friend so I didn’t ask him how a young fellow like him got into the junk business. He was very nice & said I was welcome to take some snaps.

Alongside the tools and metals were hiding some really cool collectibles. He has a nice selection of antique telephones including a black one  just like  I’ve been looking for. I asked him the price ($85), so I thanked him & was glad he couldn’t see my expression.

KE also has a collection of  vintage black advertising. This surprised me due to the negative  stereotype and comical depictions of  black people in them.

So, if you’re looking to take a step back in time or need a set of drill bits, check it out. I didn’t introduce myself, so tell him that big red headed blogger sent you.

King Edward Swap Shop

5409 E Grand Ave

Dallas , TX 75223

214-823-7400

 

Backroads – Beckley Avenue from Overton Rd to Zang Blvd

Low funds have prevented me from hitting the country backroads lately, so I’m continuing to document the fading history of the backroads of Dallas.

When I was born & up til I was about 6 years old I lived at the intersection of Hammerking Rd & South Beckley Avenue. By the time I was 6, Beckley was gone & I35 was in it’s place. Before the interstate highway system, businesses flourished along the main roadways.

I love the red brick architecture along Beckley which has been repurposed into restaraunts & tire shops. Small frame houses that have become churches and advertising “ghosts” are everywhere. I’ve put in some shots of the Halloween display that 2 homeowners put up every year. I’m relieved I got a photo of the $19 a couple motel sign before it was demolished and I had to include the Lee Harvey Oswald boarding house.

There’s alot to see at night too, I have included a picture from about a year ago  of an elaborate shrine inside a residence window, but more will have to wait until I have the time to get out in the evening.

 

North Oak Cliff Music Festival

Last Saturday, November 3rd was the 1st annual North Oak Cliff Music Festival. I love the enthusiasm and faith in the future when folks name their festival the first annual – because they are certain there will be many more. In this instance I trust that’s right because it was a splendid day all around.

First the choice of the time of year to hold the thing was perfect. I remember back in the 70′s sweltering at the Cotton Bowl for 12 hours at the Texas Jam in 100 degree heat so a day with highs in the low 80′s made listening to music so much more pleasant.

Second, I didn’t get felt up or wanded when entering the site. Nobody got in a fistfight & an ambulance didn’t get called to the scene. I didn’t even notice a policeman. This was an event by & for grownups. It was a day for hearing music & dancing & no violence was anywhere in sight.

Third, the lineup was perfect for the audience. This was a showcase of Texas musicians, several from Oak Cliff that performed in all genres.

First up was Jacob Metcalf. He is a singer songwriter and also teaches guitar lessons at The Kessler. He wasn’t really my taste but he and his partner gaves us some sweet songs.

Yells At Eels was up next and if you’ve never heard this father/sons trio RUN to their next show. Dennis is the father & he plays trumpet and various percussion toys. Son Stefan looks like he ought to be in a heavy metal band like Metallica instead of a jazz band but it’s Aaron on stand up bass that I can’t take my eyes off of. Watching Aaron make me want to attend a Santeria orgy & sacrifice chicken. When he plays, it’s like he’s channelling a primal god.

Hunter Hendrickson is a young local guitar god – he’s already got the “O” face going on ala Jimmy Page.

Jim Shuler is a blues/rock singer and his band reminded of those club going days in the late 70′s. He’s just like the bar bands from that time.

Bobby Patterson is an old style showman. He heads up a funk band & is still kicking out the music at age 68. He’s very gracious to photographers as well, making sure all of us got good shots. He has a rhyming patter between songs that is out of date by today’s standards but was so nostalgic to hear.

Between acts Eric Nadel, the voice of the Texas Rangers; was making announcements and bringing up the next act. I was suprised when a guitarist came on stage & just started shredding that guitar up.  He was tall & bald looking like Shemar Moore’s white cousin. This guy has a hip swivel while playing that makes a girls wanna roll around in a tub of jello with him. His name is Sean Kellerman & I thought he was the main act, but after a couple of songs he introduced Lucky Peterson. Lucky is another old school blues/funk musician. He brought on a girl singer who looked like she was in her 20′s & Lucky must be in his 60′s. He introduced her as his beautiful wife. I shook my head never understanding why men do that – marry women young enough to be their daughters. She really was a talented singer, but I didn’t get any good photos of her.

Next on the bill was Carolyn Wonderland. Having never heard her before, I was wondering “why’d they put a girl singer on after all these funk & blues band?” Then she sound checked her dulcimer???  Well I understood when this little redheaded dulcimer player opened her mouth & channeled Janis Joplin. She has an enormous voice & rocked out with the best of them.

I’ve heard Alejandro (I wear my pants so tight all the women know I hang to the right) Escovedo twice before. The 1st time was an acoustic set with violin & cello. The 2nd time was an electric set but still had a singer songwriter feel to it so I was pleased and suprised when he came out & tore the roof off the stage…who knew?

The star of the show was Joe Ely – Texas legend. He had a gaggle of groupies hanging out with posters OC Hearts Joe, lol

The concert was sponsored by the Kessler Theater which is the best music venue in Dallas in my opinion. Jeff Liles is the artistic director & he was a Deep Ellum legend from the 90′s.

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Latino Arts Festival – Oak Cliff Texas

Today I attended the first annual Latino Arts Festival in the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff. It was a juried art exhibit and also a competition. The jurors included; Benito Huerta –  Director of the Gallery at UTA as well as an artist and curator, Celia Munoz –   a conceptual multi-media artist and Charles D. Mitchell -  a freelance writer based in Dallas who has contributed to the Dallas Observer and the Dallas Morning News.

The show incuded fine arts as well as arts and crafts. There were hispanic musicians of all genres and spoken word performances by poets either from Oak Cliff or with ties to the area. No announcement yet on who the winners were.