The
two RV Gypsies
entered Eastland, Texas
September 12, 2022
 
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Eastland is a city and county
seat in Eastland County, Texas, located 96 miles west-southwest of Fort
Worth and 55 miles east of Abilene. The city is accessed by Interstate
20 between exits. |
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Note: Unlike many cities and towns that the two RV Gypsies have visited, there
was plenty of FREE parking in Eastland, Texas. It is an older town.
The grocery store was not tabled as a grocery nor food store, so Lee
Duquette drove by it a few times before realizing what it was. Lots
of stores were permanently closed. |
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History: During
the 1920s, Eastland, like nearby Cisco, Ranger, and Desdemona, was a
petroleum boomtown.
The recession of 1921 exacerbated racial tensions between Anglos and
Mexicans. Naturally, unemployment increased in town and Whites attempted
to oust Mexicans who were hired during the WWI boom. Masked men ravaged
shacks used by Mexicans as living quarters. Whites threatened Mexicans'
lives, and fearful, they fled to nearby Fort Worth to seek help from
the Mexican Consulate, since local authorities took the side of the
Anglo locals.
In 1928, the current courthouse was erected, the prior cornerstone
was opened, and "Old Rip" was allegedly found alive. The animal,
a kind of lizard, received national publicity. It died in 1929 of pneumonia,
and was placed in a glass-front casket on view in the present courthouse.
Now, Eastland is known for the legend of "Old Rip", a horned
toad that allegedly lived many years sealed in the cornerstone of the
previous Eastland courthouse built in 1897. (see the link at the bottom
of this page for the Two RV Gypsies photos of Old Rip) |
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Below:
Karen Duquette is The Angelic Hip Chick in Eastland, Texas |
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Then the two
RV Gypsies entered the Eastland post office because they were told that
the decor was a must-see because of a famous quilt. But the quite was
behind glass and hard to photograph with a glare on the window from
the indoor lighting. |
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Below: Karen Duquette photographed a close-up of a few of the pieces
on the above quilt.
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Below: The "Buffalo Hunt"
Mural depicts Indian braves, hunting and killing buffalo on a typically
rugged terrain. The Department of Fine Arts, of the U.S. Treasury Department,
commissioned Suzanne Scheuer. of San Francisco, California, to design
and paint the mural. The artist painted the scene on heavy canvas and
brought it to Texas. It was then installed under the artist's direction
on December 7, 1938. The earth tone colors have stayed clear and vivid
through many years of daily use of the post office building. |
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Below: A U.S. Postage 8-cent
Stamp photo on the wall in the post office. |
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