[Leica] Panhandle: A final view of the old home near Wayside

[jeffmatsler at amaonline.com (Jeff S. Matsler)]

Hi Phillipe,

The Texas Plains have never been fully occupied.  In the past, there wasn't 
enough water to sustain life or crops in big numbers.  Only with the advance 
of new technologies are the "gaps" being filled in - people are moving here 
in numbers unsustainable even 50 years ago - and fewer farmers are planting 
more sections (square miles) of crops than ever before possible.

Some of the people here are saddened by this, but it is bringing the 
countryside into the 21st century - somewhere I can testify they are indeed 
NOT at the moment.  The town I live in is culturally 30 years behind the 
nearest "cities" and probably further than that behind Houston, Dallas, LA, 
NYC, etc.  Interestingly that factor draws a certain type of resident from 
the city to the town (sort of like Green Acres).  These people raise their 
children in a much more controlled environment, with fewer outside 
influences.  The crux is that once too many of these types move into a small 
community, it ceases to be a small community and becomes a bedroom community 
or a suburb, depending on how close it is to the growth from the nearest 
city.  Many of these "desolate" geographies that Bill is showing us are now 
suburbs of Amarillo.  Others, like the house at Wayside, fell down years ago 
(if it's the house I think it is - that's one of my favorite drives in 
search of photos, between Hwy 207 and I-27, only problem is that every year 
another old farmhouse falls down or is torn down).

So, Bill's pictures are more than just art, they are works of history.  This 
is why I've suggested he contact one of the larger museums in the region to 
see if they'll sponsor a showing and perhaps a book.  These are very 
important images of a time that is either gone, or going.

Jeff M
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Philippe Orlent" <philippe.orlent@pandora.be>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Panhandle: A final view of the old home near Wayside


> It is a impressive series. But this huge land desertion, where did it 
> come from? Still signs of the Dust Bowl?
> Philippe