Eastland, TX – County #197

Texas has 254 counties.  By completing the 10K in the city of Eastland, in Eastland County, I have now brought my total of counties walked (Official AVA Sanctioned 10K) to 197.   We started walking at the museum.

In 1920, noted Texas architect Henry T. Phelps designed the First State Bank, which now houses the Eastland County Museum.

We headed over to the courthouse to see Old RIP.

Eastland County Courthouse

One of Eastland’s claim to fame is a horny toad named Old Rip, who survived being walled-up inside the courthouse cornerstone, then, after waking up when the cornerstone was opened 30 years later, went on a nationwide tour. Poor Old Rip now lays in a coffin in the Courthouse for all to see.

Old RIP in his coffin in the courthouse.

One of the great Eagles decorating the courthouse.

Another of Eastland’s great ideas was to create works of art all over town. They call it their “Outdoor Art Museum”. There are 42 of them around town. We passed 19 of them while doing our volksmarch.

Charles M. Russell

Jasper Johns

Cat in the Hat

First Christian Church circa 1907.

First United Methodist Church circa 1920.

Winslow Homer

Norman Rockwell

Michelangelo

Eastland City Cemetery

Veteran’s Memorial Area in cemetery.

Patrick Nagel

Joe Burkett built this home in 1919-1920. It was remodel in 1930.

Church of Christ.

High School circa 1920.

The walk route was supposed to circle the park, but instead we wandered around enjoying the WPA features.

City Park built by the WPA in 1925.

Old WPA bathroom still stands but new ones have been put into service.

WPA picnic table.

Ed at the other gate posts near the overlook.

WPA bench.

Cement Lion in the park.

Carol reading marker near the lion.

More gate posts at Commerce Street.

Veteran’s Memorial

More of the Veteran’s Memorial.

WPA Post Office with Train, Plane and Boat artwork above the door.

WPA mural in the post office.

Stamp mural in the post office.

The stamp mural created by Marene Johnson who was the Postmistress from 1957-196. She used 11,217 stamps to create this mural. Truly a work of art.

Raphael Sanzio

Edgar Degas

Art Deco

Old RIP sculpture

Old ranch bell.

Frederic Remington

Majestic Theater circa 1920 is still showing movies.

The old jail was built in 1897 and was in use until 1980.

Vincent van Gogh

A tombstone-like granite marker, “Last Mob Lynching In Texas.”

The big can of soup wasn’t on the walk route. We saw it as we were leaving town.

This huge can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup .