A few weekends ago I took a three-day road trip to Central Texas to explore the region's historic courthouses, small towns, and the back roads. Over the next couple of weeks I'll take you on my journey, although it won't be in any chronological order.
One of the most charming little towns I visited was Smithville, located about 40 miles southeast of Austin. It was my first stop that day so I arrived in town quite early after a morning shower. Since it was a Sunday, the streets were pretty much deserted so I got my own personal tour of the place. As I drove through downtown and some of the residential area, I thought to myself: This is one little city (population 4,000) I could live in. It has many Victorian homes amid tree-lined streets, a cute park, a railroad museum, antique shops, a post office with an artistic mural and real wood doors and trim, and plenty of ghost signs.
Who wouldn't want to live in a quiet little town where antique store proprietors can leave some of their wares out on the sidewalk overnight on a Saturday!
The old Firestone sign has just about faded into oblivion.
This corner building has a variety of ghost signs. I think I even see a Coca-Cola sign peeking through there.
Have you ever heard of the Star Biscuit Company? I'll bet you haven't because this sign was painted in the late 1990s as a prop for the movie Hope Floats starring Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick, Jr. Smithville has been chosen for several movie productions.
Even though the old Victorian homes were spectacular, this little cottage caught my eye. Who can resist the bright yellow paint with the two red doors (perhaps it's a duplex) with the white picket fence, lions' heads on the gate, and a garden of sunflowers.
Tomorrow: Murals
