Miss Mae's Blog
Location -- Does It Matter?
| Posted on October 27, 2011 at 1:00 AM |
I never cared for history class when I attended school. Lately, though, I've been a real nut for digging into the past, especially involving the era of railroading. I don't know, but for some reason, I find the whole idea so magnetic and addictive. My imagination soars at the thoughts of those by-gone days when trains were the king of transportation. Hearing that whistle blow, the brakes screech along the tracks, hunting for your car, viewing the passing landscape through the window...*sigh* Ahh, it simply calls to me.
Recently, hubby and I toured an historic depot. This one was more than just the town's hub of travel. It was the southern headquarters of L&N Railway.
The lower floor was for passengers. The upper storey housed the company's offices.
Inside at the ticket office:
Arriving passengers would enter here:
Look at all the beautiful woodwork. Especially the upstairs leading to the bosses' "abodes".
Lovely workmanship:
This portico was added about three years after the original structure, but the furniture is taken from the pullman coaches:
On our way home, we saw this "motor court" that's no longer in use:
Take a closer look. Clothes still hang in the window. Maybe it had also served as apartments?
Places like this stir my curiosity. I wonder...Why did the owners lose interest and not maintain it? Why is it deserted? At some point, it must've attracted customers.
I survey the area and consider. Possibly, just possibly, could location have been a factor?
Categories: Musings from Miss Mae
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17 Comments
Patti
Patricia Yager Delagrange says...
What beautiful pictures. I love old houses and that depot with the woodwork and hardwood floors is gorgeous. And I, too, am intrigued by trains. There's something about getting on a train and traveling through forests and mountains - the beauty of it all - plus the sound of the train's whistle. Our almost-80-year-old taxman takes train rides all across the country and he sees so much. Thanks for the tour. And yes, location IS important - in life and in our stories.
Patti
Hi Patti,
Thanks so much for coming by.
Glad to know there's another train enthusiast out there. And I agree that location is important -- who would want to stay in a motel at this particular spot??? LOL
kate kindle says...
Lke riding the trains, iike rr. stations, too. Nice post!
Hi Kate,
It is fun riding the trains, isn't it? I wish they'd bring that back! Right now for us to board Amtrak is 90 miles away. The old depots need to return!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate it!
Miss Mae, I too am attracted to structures from the past. One thing on my bucket list is to explore the old downtown of Hickory Valley, the town my mother grew up in. The town closed up when the trains stopped running. All there (a quarter-mile away on the main highway) is a convenient store. It's so sad to drive by on the highway and see these old structures at a distance. I want to get an up close and personal view someday soon.
We have many steam locos and raillways in the UK all run and maintained by enthusiasts and volunteers. I just love the chance to ride in them.
Laurean Brooks says...
Progress: What do we lose in the name of it?
Miss Mae, I too am attracted to structures from the past. One thing on my bucket list is to explore the old downtown of Hickory Valley, the town my mother grew up in. The town closed up when the trains stopped running. All there (a quarter-mile away on the main highway) is a convenient store. It's so sad to drive by on the highway and see these old structures at a distance. I want to get an up close and personal view someday soon.
Laurie, I think that'd be a swell blog post for you to write about that!
Thanks for coming over!
kate kindle says...
Yu're welcome. Who knows? Train travel could easily make a comeback. Keep your fingers crossed.
We can certainly hope!
SherryGloag says...
yes i do think location is a big factor for many reason. Thank you for sharing those fabulous pic and sharing their history and your thoughts on them.
We have many steam locos and raillways in the UK all run and maintained by enthusiasts and volunteers. I just love the chance to ride in them.
Hi Sherry,
Yes, the UK and Europe are big time train travelers. You guys kept your smarts while we here in the States lost ours. LOL
Thanks for stopping by!
HODGEPODGESPV says...
i really! like this posting! and the pictures you got were equally enchanting!
Thanks, Sandy! I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for letting me know!
Cara Marsi says...
Love the pictures. I do think location is important. I've tried writing books set in places I don't know, and those stories have never worked. Now I write places I know. I have a book set in Italy and I used places I visited in 2006. I think if you're familiar with a location it can enrich your story.
Ooh, Italy! What a wonderful setting! I'm sure that enriches your story!
I guess no one noticed the location of where the abandoned motor court set. I thought perhaps the name of the road might have been a factor in its demise! LOL
Wow, that's some pretty fine woodwork inside the station. My daughter and I took an Amtrak train to Chicago this summer, and let me tell you--the station surely didn't look like THAT!
AugieDoggy.com says...
Ha ha, Booger Branch road!
Wow, that's some pretty fine woodwork inside the station. My daughter and I took an Amtrak train to Chicago this summer, and let me tell you--the station surely didn't look like THAT!
I know what you mean. In Savannah's Amtrak terminal, it resembled a bus terminal! Nothing like those bygone days AT ALL!!!
Thanks for coming by, Donna, and glad you saw the humor in the road sign.
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