1903 Train Depot

This is the old train depot in Elgin.  Elgin owes its existence to a major flood on the Colorado River in 1869.  A new proposed railroad was planned to run from Houston through an area about ten miles south of Elgin on to Austin.  Because of the flood, the railway construction path was moved to the north and a new town was formed and named after Robert Elgin, the Texas Railroad Land Commissioner.  In 1885, a second railway system, the North-South Line,  was laid out and ran from San Antonio to the Waco area.  The depot was built in 1903 and was located at the convergence of these two railroads and serviced eight passenger trains daily at its peak. Today it is a museum filled with old photographs and colorful historical information of an era gone by.

Country Fog

This winter has been much colder than usual with lots of moisture.  We have had many, many days of thick fog and near-freezing temperatures. This image was taken as the fog was starting to lift aound this old barn, which is located between Manor and Elgin

Tollway Barn

This rustic old barn was spared destruction when the new toll road was built near Round Rock.  It is situated just off the frontage road and serves as quite a contrast between the modern roadway and urban sprawl surrounding it.

Little Red Barn

A color image of the old barn.  This landmark may not be standing much longer, as it seems to have deteriorated a little more each time I pass by.

Rustic Past

This old hay cutter was used many years ago on the very property that is now its final resting place.  It was either pulled by a mule or a tractor and the person riding on it would manually lower and start the blades to cut the hay.  The advent of tractors with hydraulics soon replaced this noble piece of machinery.

Serenity

This rustic old barn is located near Elgin.  It is situated upon hundreds of acres of gently rolling farm land.

Four Star Barn

This little old horse barn barn is located just outside of Austin.  Maybe some things are bigger in Texas…

Idle But Not Forgotten

This old barn and tractor seem to be frozen in time.  They remind me of the difficult times experienced by many Texas farmers during  the Great Depression.  I’m glad the current owner has prreserved them for all of us to enjoy and reflect upon.

Round Bale 2

These round bales look like strategically placed chess pieces upon a beautiful green pasture.

Round Bale 1

Freshly cut hay formed into round bales dotted this pasture for as far as I could see.

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