My aunt lived in Bartlett. She passed 10 years ago this month. She lived and worked in the building you said that someone could hitch a horse to and it would look normal. When you looked in there, I recognized some of that stuff! The sign that read PJ's--That's her, Phyllis Jean. She had a hair salon in the front of that building, a "house" in the back, and apartment upstairs and, on the third floor, was her storage. I used to love to play up there. I would put on all her hats and scarves and I thought I was fancy! 😅I remember a big model of the Eiffel Tower that she bought in Paris. When I was probably 8 years old I thought that was the coolest thing ever. It was so strange seeing that on my TV screen. It made me a little teary-eyed.
Watch the video Rosa Koire on Rural and Suburban Property Owners, Rosa Koire on How You Will Be Removed from Rural and Suburban Area, and Rosa Koire. U.N. Agenda 2030
It is a worldwide phenomenon. In the Netherlands we see it as wel. Although not with the amount of poverty as shown here. Our government is taking care of most people and have a decent living. More and more people are moving to cities. Although there is small trend in the reverse direction because of the housing prices.
It has allowed certain Americans to make much bigger piles of wealth much faster. Thanks to Reaganomics they did not have to pay Cold War or actual war tax rates on it.
Everyone laughed at him but he saw the coming horror. The jobs left but the money is still here in the form of investment property. When .01% hold 98% of the wealth, even other countries suffer. Time to take it back and that won’t happen without real change, not just rhetoric. The rich have succeeded in divide and conquer
I’m from the UK and have been on vacation in Texas the last 4 weeks. I’ve been amazed how many towns like this I’ve come across while driving around. It’s such a shame to see. This is part of the USA’s history. Prefer to see these towns brought back to life instead of new builds.
We would like that also. Thank you for visiting our Great State. I hope you have been well treated. If not, it was probably by someone from Michigan or California.
On the other hand, many who live in small towns like it slow and not too much commotion. Why not have slow small towns? If u are just visiting Texas great. Enjoy the nature what's left of it at least. If u want more action go to the city
When I was a kid we would spend a week or so with my grandparents in one of these small cotton farm towns. Even back then it would drive me bat s**t crazy!!!! In general these small towns are surrounded by "a lot" of land that is owned by a few very wealthy people. Usually used for farming, ranching, and more recently wind farms. These owners dont live in the towns. Some may live in a nice isolated ranchmansion out in the countryside. They may not even live in the area rather in Dallas, Houston, Austin or even another state. The folks that live in the town may be stuck there. Live with an elderly relative who cannot afford to sell and move elsewhere. The better paid ones tend to work for some arm of the federal, state, town, or county governments. Like the post office, TxDot, Texas DPS, etc. Private employment is usually with a convenience store chain, grain elevators, farm/ranch implements and repair, and truck transport.
@kingforaday8725 yes my grandmother grew up around the central texas cotton farms and that's just what it was people working and trying to live. Lots of things happen over 130 years or so.
Give me all that free money and I would live there and help bring it back. I love these old towns. I am so disgusted by the American government today that I could spit. Fix America and leave others in their own countries.
@@maggielandow2686Just remember that there is a 2024 presidential election coming in early November. I don't know if it's November 7th or 8th. But who do you trust to run for president of the United States of America and be elected?
This town was vacated because of rising property taxes. County appraisal districts have priced everyone out of town and out of business. Fact! The Monster is local Government..
In my youth I rescued an old home that was about to fall down. Renovated and placed on the Historic Register for the fact that it was part of the Underground Railroad. I still daydream about fixing up those old towns. These Texas towns have some great old buildings !
The first thing that jumped out at me (and it's shocking to me) is that there is absolutely no trash anywhere. Not one random, wind-blown receipt, wrapper, etc. It's AMAZING! I looooooove watching your videos ❤ I'm a happy homebody, but can't get enough of your travels and narratives. Thank you 😊
@@sardu55 Of course, but (especially wind-blown) trash is frequently found in so many places where there are no people. This had roads, etc. This town resembles a movie set, like it's been street-swept, cared for. It's a wonderful thing. The buildings aren't "trashy" and in fact, are in surprisingly good shape for being abandoned. They show less deterioration than most uninhabited locations left by humans. Contrast this town to plenty of other abandoned locations and see all the detritus and destruction. Also often, vandalism and outright dumping is found in abandoned places.
In 2020, on my way from DFW to a funeral in a town east of Austin, I decided to take a scenic route and drive through a number of small Texas towns. They were all dead. Even the surrounding pastures seemed absent of cows or agricultural activity. At the reception after the funeral the was a meal and I had a conversation with a nice lady who told me she “loves Amazon”.
Hey, Joe, that house you mentioned on 105 W. Bell St. In Bartlett is $2,150/mo. It's a "rental." Love watching your videos of small towns in Texas. Truly a time "back in the day" when things were much more affordable & folks supported the mom & pop stores. It is a time of innocence that has sadly gone away. 😢😢😢
Back in the day, when the railroad was introduced and then Chicago and other cities in the north started processing cattle, other meats, etc...A LOT of Texas cities and towns started the march toward's their demise. That was the beginning of 'outsourcing' for Texas. Now with modern day 'everything' being outsourced to the rest of the world instead of doing it at home, this effect is happening all across the United States. There's a certain beauty to seeing the living history of these buildings but there's a lesson to be learned from it all, as well.
I love the way you respect the town and business you don’t call it junk or negative. thank you for that and for taking us on your road trip. please do another one soon.
What I realize watching all these videos and I've watched I think almost every single one at least once, is that YOU love old nostalgic once thriving places exactly like I do. I cannot wait for the retrospective and you said it will be long, it will NOT be long enough for me. Love your channel. God bless.
I love that someone bought that building and made it into a home. I've always dreamed of doing something like that, and as an old, retired guy of 65, I could certainly pull up stakes and leave crazy Cali, but the repair work would have to be done by someone younger and stronger than me. But imagine how cool it would be to have all that space for all the collectibles and other stuff -- my wife calls it "junk!" but what does SHE know, right? -- I've picked up over my nearly 30-year naval career! Oh well, it's great to have a dream... 🤠
When I first got my CDL I worked at a freight company that delivered things all around the Austin area. My second week I delivered a really expensive grill to a gentleman with a funny sounding German name out in Holland. It was around Christmas time in 2021 so it was pretty chilly outside. The cold combined with the quiet out there gave me such a serene feeling. That was my favorite route at that company. I’d hit Taylor, rockdale, whalburg, Holland, Bartlett, thorndale and a little bit of Georgetown. Really nice drive!
The restaurant in that Old Country Store in Wallburg makes for pretty good eating. Or at least it used to, I don't know if they survived covid. That put paid to a lot of little places with thin margins. Like Dutchtown Cafe down by the tracks on the south side of Cameron.
Alcoa had a huge smelter near Rockdale that was the major employer for all the towns in this vicinity. It closed in the early 2000s. The towns have not yet recovered.
Quit making metal in 2008, quit making powder in 2011, the power plant shut down in the beginning of 2017. Sold to an Investment Group in 2021. I remember reading an article in the Milam County Historical Society website from a 1952 issue of the Saturday evening post about the smelter titled _"Rockdale Texas the town where it rains money"_ in which Alcoa stated that they expected to get 50 years out of the plant. It actually ran for 56, so not too shabby, but that's a long time to forget that it wasn't expected to last more than half a century.
Alcoa now operates a huge geothermal smelting facility in Iceland. Reynolds Aluminum was the first Company I noticed pulling out of a small town called Arkadelphia, AR. in the late 70’s, leaving as the town’s biggest employer for China. I knew then, that this was the future for American manufacturing and U.S. workers.
This town is close enough to be a bedroom community for Austin/Temple. It'll be around for a long time. Let's take a look at it in another 5 years. I noticed that there was no trash in the streets, too. I'm an old fart and take meds which make driving difficult, so I have to live vicariously through your vids. Ed, Albuquerque.🤠
Looong damn drive, and that's without the Austin traffic! I crew an ambulance out of Temple and I love it when they drop a call on me going to austin. That's it baby, done for the day! Will be lucky to make it back by end of watch!
@@floydlooney6837I get notices from real estate companies for homes in these towns a lot. Cheap, but cheaper nearer to Waco. Being close to Austin makes it still too expensive for someone in my pay range.
Grew up for several years in Holland. This is a cool little town that is nothing like the video. Would have been nice if you had filmed during a week day, talked with some residents, shown the school district which is clean and manicured and some of the local businesses that are right around the corner. The people there are good, hardworking and have honest values.
What local businesses did he miss, specifically? I'm not trying to be dismissive about your experiences growing up there for several years, but how long ago was that? You might think it's "nothing like the video," but things can change quickly. FWIW, this isn't a "talk to the locals" type of channel, that'd be someone like Peter Santenello.
Just wanted to point out that the Barbershop in Thorndale, TX requires appointments only on Saturdays. Tuesday thru Friday it is opened during regular hours.
A wonderful video! I really love these rural towns, amazing old buildings, so much history and character! Lots of cats, too, awesome!! Very much looking forward to your anniversary video! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.😊💖
I live in a small Texas town. I would have no other way. You can tell that the post office in my town is the original one it is cool. Moved from the busy north west Fort Worth. We are so glad we moved to the small town we are in now. We don’t even have stop lights.
Yeah, me too. Except I'm a Yankee from halfway to the North Pole. But the small town thing, I agree and concur. The sort of place you couldn't stand when you were a kid But Now you're a mature adult and you really appreciate it.
I grew up in a small town called Flint Texas, and it's being gobbled up by Tyler Tx, moved to Dallas for job opportunities, ended up living in Arlington, then Grand Prairie from there Mckinney, then Plano, and now im in Seagoville and its starting to get gobbled up by Dallas.
I live in east Texas now, but I remember in the 70s & 80s when we drove from Paris to Plano or to DFW airport that Frisco was all pastureland...now it's all concrete. I later moved to Whitesboro in 1995 & worked in Carrollton. The 130 mile round trip daily commute wasn't horrible at first but by 2000 it was intolerable. The Colony & Frisco were so large it looked like Dallas already.
I’ve lived near ftw my whole life. It used to be pretty quaint where I live. And now it’s a horrific. My car has been broken into 6 times this year. I can no longer afford to fix my windows so I just can’t drive any more. It’s actually so bad. No kids playing in the streets, only gun shots and screams for miles. It’s a hell scape for sure. Used to feel almost heavenly around here.
Tyler has no job opportunities. I don’t know why this place is growing . Just service jobs , and everything seems to be snatched up. I’m having an impossible time getting or keeping a job. And Tyler isn’t cheap!
Watch the video Rosa Koire. U.N. Agenda 2030, Rosa Koire on Rural and Suburban Property Owners, Rosa Koire on How You Will Be Removed from Rural and Suburban Area, Rosa Koire and One Bay Area
Sad to see these old towns in decay & almost shutdown mode. Such history being lost & really the spirt of the countries past being lost. But change is continuous everywhere. Look forward to your anniversary video. Tks & have fun .
I have lots of relatives in Thorndale. My grandfather's family settled in the area after coming over from Germany and Switzerland. Lots of childhood memories of going to dances at the VFW.
Hi Joe and Nicole. Down here in Corsicana a lady bought the old jail, and made a residence out of it. By the way Joe I watched the latest video by Nick Johnson. He wandered around a homeless camp in Alaska and a guy pulled a knife on him. Be very careful where you go bro.
@RandyFelts2121 when I commented last I didn't let me read the full comment I didn't mean to say that it was neat to the last part. I meant when she made the old jail into a residence as long as it's a good residence. I had to delete the old comment and restate.
@@palehorse1111 They probably have winter gear. Anyway, I live in Seattle, and I've seen some rather "unbalanced" homeless people, but so far Anchorage is the only place where I've been told (by another homeless person) that a homeless guy up the street was actually attacking people.
These small towns around Austin are becoming suburbs of Ausitn as it grows into a metroplex. Many of these little towns are getting revived as the surrounding farm and ranch land is developed into huge sub divisions to handle the masses moving to Texas from all over the country as Austin spreads. Out SW of Austin towns like Smithville, Bastrop, Elgin etc. none of the old downtown areas are empty any more.
Wait'll the Samsung plant in Taylor and the industrial park in Rockdale at the old Alcoa get subtraction, then you'll see some life being breathed into the general area
I was in Taylor, Texas(close to these 3 towns) about a month ago and noticed a huge new Samsung Semiconductor plant(on the outskirts of Taylor). I'm sure it will influence the local economies and populations of these small towns.
@@pocphotocompany yeah several stores downtown that have been there for years. Way longer than my small boutique. Just so unfortunate. But it’s a such a beautiful area!
These Texas towns are neat. It has that countryside feel. It may possible that when the Austin metro moves out this far, they may fix up the downtowns nicely. I hope it doesn't become crime ridden. With the growth, some of the highway may get widened.
As always Joe, tanks for taking us along for another journey. And BTW, the old bus 27:19 is a 1947 to 1948 AFC Brill. I recall seeing another one like it from another You Tuber's channel named Elderly Iron.
When I was a kid I remember visiting towns like this. The buildings were all full of open stores!. Customers walking around the town square. Cars filled the parking spaces. You would see pharmacies with a soda fountain, dry cleaners/laundrys, TG&Y stores, Levines stores, farm and ranch implement stores, post office, hardware stores. Busy as many malls today except outdoors.
I moved out to Denton county years ago. Nearest town was Justin. Back in the day I loved it. Mostly cattle and when the sun went down the night sky was incredible. Sadly it’s not like that anymore. I wish that I could move farther away now. I really miss the cows.
A very good and representative video of what is happening an hour's drive from Austin. These towns are within the Texas Triangle so growth is inevitable. Thanks for the look see. Looking forward to your retrospective video starting with your Lord Spoda days. You are closing the gap on a half million subs so you have done well. Cheers Larry
My maternal grandpa grew up in Thorndale and we still have an annual family reunion there. We meet at an old church founded by one of my ancestors (with an adjacent cemetery where many of my late ancestors are buried). My maternal grandma grew up in Rockdale just east of Thorndale. And some of my mother’s cousins still live there. I was surprised to find a UA-cam video of this town where I spent occasional weekends of my childhood with my parents, visiting relatives and hearing stories of family history.
I've been away from Texas for 11 years. Always enjoy your videos! I think there's a whole whole lot of development that can take place before Thorndale would be impacted. I could be wrong. There are several not-much-growth school districts you would pass through driving from Thorndale to Austin. But again - I've been away - so maybe change is faster than I realize.
Part of the sadness is in the details. June Carter died, then Johnny followed within months. Their love, their lives, and their deaths are a testament to that love.
I love your videos, especially the ones in Texas. Just a tip for your DJI. They sell polarized filters that are a simple magnet lens. This works wonders for removing the glare from windows. This way you don’t have to have your lens touch the glass. Happy traveling and videoing!
Thorndale native here saying you missed the best parts of our hometown...but maybe that was the Texan in you respectfully showcasing. Either way it's a privilege having positive publicity stamped with actual facts. Crazy seeing recent local areas surge in population growth that is unparalleled. Most the folk round here are hard workin, blue-collared, family-oriented people. Our town has a "come as you are, but leave it better than you found it", type of feel by design. Folks that grew up round here don't lock doors, handle firearms like cowboys, raise their children to be respectful and respectable, and most importantly they believe in something most refuse...the golden rule. Are locals are genuinely kind hearted and belong to generations of the same loyalties. Also the educators here stay strapped in every classroom. Never consider this place to be safe for any type of crime. However if you choose to do so, dually note that the police are here to protect 🫵🏽 from 🎯🎯🎯 status.
Health Care, Utilities and Transportation (gas for cars is a necessity) offset the low cost of living. What these towns lack is Health Care. What they can do is lobby for a regional Health Facility. It always amazes me why a state like Texas has such high utility costs.
Texas is the only state in the lower 48 that doesn’t have its power grid intergrated with an out of state network. So they can’t buy or sell surplus power. And they’re on their own if a major issue hits their grid (lie when many Texans lost power a few winters ago).
@@andrewward5891rather than being on our own....we think of it as insulated from outside issues......like the infamous CANADIAN power outage that tripped through the northeastern US and caused massive blackouts and riots in NYC. As for our ice issue a few years ago.....the fed govt sponsored windmills froze up. The resulting loss of electricity stopped the pressurizing pumps on the natgas pipelines. No natgas....people & things froze. The same pipelines that used to use natgas to power their own pumps until FedGov ordered them to be electric powered. Ooops💩 You're welcome
Unfortunately, the huge conglomerates make it impossible for smaller hospitals or regionalized healthcare to even start up. That, along with full non thuggery keep healthcare from being so readily available, much less affordable. I will be 60 next year, I am a proud, Native Texan. I wish that the people with the power felt that Texas is a grand and unique state, deserving of dignity for its residents. I have traveled all over the world and have lived In several places in North and South America. Everywhere I would travel, even some very remote villages in China, Always seemed so Fascinated with the fact that we were Americans. However, NOTHING compared to the enthusiast response when I told them that I was from Texas!! Even some Aussies and New Zealanders showed respect!!
Great video! Love the standing still of time in small towns. I can picture the horses being tied off. Appreciate learning about these towns. Great to see some kitties! Sad these towns may be demolished by the larger cities.
I love the brick streets of Bartlett! We stopped to take a look downtown several years ago, but it was blocked off because a film crew was actively filming.
Its funny growing up here in Texas i never thought about how old and small the towns were outside of the bigger city hubs. Yet, going to Kansas to see moms side of the family always made me think i was in the middle of nowhere. Its all perspective! I love that you included demographic/geographic stats because they often tell a different story than what you see. Great video!
That building on the right (at the beginning) with the wood rails used to be a neat bar that had live music. I played there several times in the last band I was in. Hate to see the decay there.
So happy to see this episode. My ancestors made their home in Holland beginning in the latter half of the 1800’s. My great great grandmother, Beatrice Haydon, told stories of watching as they put the railroad in!
I'm in the Aurora, Indiana area this weekend for a wedding. My first time to this part of the country. It's a small town of about 3500 people. It so reminds me of this channel and all the awesome small towns Joe and Nic have visited. Aurora has an amazing old downtown area that is full of beautiful old buildings with most of them having nice businesses and restaurants in them. It's just a beautiful old downtown. I don't think I've seen a video from you guys of this city. Next time your in this area, you should stop in. It's great.
It's been a few since I've been able to sit down and watch ur channel m. But im going to he catching up and I'm starting with this new post from off the hot press. 🔥 Always thankful with your insight and educating us on these areas you take your time to go through. You and Nic are wonderful ppl. Lots of love. ❤😊
The thing about old towns: Each building is unique with its own personality. New buildings are similar, streamlined, cold, and uninviting. That house is $2150/month.
These 3 towns are in for a change and not the nice kind sadly. That house in Bartlett is only a rental not for sale. Thanks for sharing and have a great day and safe travels.
I love these videos, travelled a lot in 70s across America, interesting to see how places chg ovrr yrs, sadly not better for most. Looking forward to next, Be safe.
Thorndale, Tx......this is where the movie, "The Rookie" was filmed back in 2002. Starred Dennis Quaid and Rachel Griffiths. Some of the locals were cast as extras in that movie.
Big thanks to you both for all that you've shown us in the past 3 years! What an amazing project, and so educational for many of us who will never get to see all the diverse areas, cities and small towns in this country! I've never been to TX and it's interesting, if not quite sad, to see these small towns that were once robust now so empty and seeming almost abandoned.
That is one thing I do miss about living in Texas, all of the old towns and buildings that are amazing for photography. Thanks for taking me along on this exploration of history.
105 W Bell is not for sale per Zillow. It’s for rent $2100 a month. It’s beautiful but pretty creepy on the inside. I found no for sale but it’s definitely listed for rent. 4 bed 2 bath.
Great video joe. Thanks for getting me out of the cool and wet weather of Alaska. LoL and back to good ol warm Texas. I have started going back and watching all the videos you have made in the early days. Oldest one I could find was 16 years ago the chili parlor. And I have mentioned before that I like your laid back style of commentary found out it’s not new you had it then too. I still watch some of the weird stuff on the net now and then. But I like where you have taken the channel. Lota work into what you have made it. Love these small town videos they’re my favorite. And I’m sure you’re exactly right these will eventually be swallowed up by Austin progress is inevitable. Home prices seem a little or lot higher than I would have thought. But you can’t put a price on that peace and quiet there. Love those old buildings especially when they put those nice false fronts on what otherwise was just a box. Those days are gone but I love seeing them thanks. And being a flea market addict I would love to roam around in a few of them. Found some great stuff in places like that. Thanks again for the great video and looking forward to the recap coming up ambitious project and lota work I’m sure. Safe travels my friend. Keep videoing and I’ll keep watching
I looked up the house that was for lease - West Bell St - it's $2,150 pm. It's 4 beds, 2 baths and 1.914 sq ft. I live in the UK and love that I can look stuff up in the USA so easily. The internet is a wonderful thing!! Thanks for your videos, we love seeing the parts of the USA that no one else bothers with. To us, we see it as the real America. Me and my husband are in awe of the low crime rate you have in comparison to the UK.
@@MeadowDay Yeah, if "everyone" moves to a small town, it won't stay a small town for long. Houston, Chicago, New York, London, even Rome were all once small towns. I give special mention to Chicago here in how when it was founded in 1833 it had just 350 people, but by 1870 it had 299,000 people, and by 1900 1.7 million. Likewise, Las Vegas and Miami were both actually founded after 1900.
That city looks sad spooky, and with no life, it its sad to see lots of places going down hill, since the pandemic everything has gone bad... Grettings to you and Nicole keep up the good work, I watch your videos from my beautiful State of Arizona USA 🇺🇸
Why would you expect there to be people around mid-morning on a weekday? I don't know about you, but that's when most of the rest of us are at work, not wandering around town to provide tourists local color.
@@HM2SGT Well in my city there's no knight or day, we are around any time of the day or knight, we work and there's always traffic and people driving or even walking, we have 24 hrs stores open, so if people don't have time during the day to do their business, they do it at knight. I hope I answer your thoughts
I love small towns. I live on the edge of Calgary, Alberta in what used to be a quiet area. The city grew, put in a massive ring road near by Now the noise level is up, way more traffic and people, crime is up. This is the way of the world.
I lived in Taylor Texas when I went to college in the 1960s in Taylor, Texas. we used to go to Thorndale because I had a really good barbecue restaurant. I guess they haven’t done that well.
Love the small town tours awesome historic places God Bless Texas🤠. Thankyou for all your videos have seen so many things through you guys Safe travels
Thorndales infrastructure is very old and falling apart. One of my relatives used to live there and finally had to move to a small farm so he could have consistent water and sewerage. I live in an even smaller town and thank God everything still works good, but roads are more gravel than asphalt. Taxes are super cheap and the neighbors are friendly. You take the good with the bad i recond.
Those towns are growing more from Georgetown and Temple-Killeen than they are from Austin. Austin is too far away for them, except Thorndale, to be bedroom communities.
Pisses me off. Most of these places in TX go broke, then drugs, we're already running out of water do to overpopulation. I don't understand how folks just don't understand population vs job career ratio. Texas is mostly desert and hot. I also believe his crime numbers are way too low. Go in and visit police department.
Austin’s growth from CA residents is pushing people to the Killeen/Temple/Cove area, which is pushing people to areas further out too. I had several school principals tell me a couple years ago that they had more students transferring from AISD than military or any other city transfers. Temples also been one of the fastest growing central Texas cities for 15 years or so too. I’ve watched a lot of farms get turned into neighborhoods, shopping plazas, gas stations and stuff hauling in the equipment.
@@joey8567 I mean, we know. Will the city officials figure it out or maybe hint at the reasons and how they are going to try to curb it? Other than when I was hauling equipment, I don’t go to Temple. I stay in Cove for the most part now. Although I’ll be on my way to Midway this evening with my part time job lol.
@@MikeFL2TX i think all officials in TX towns are selling us out for unwanted growth, which is inevitable, but not if the infrastructure is not going to fullfil the amount of growth. Like the water situation in hill country from Austin to San Antonio. Unacceptable how many towns are gone and in rural towns with zero jobs for youth, the majority turn to drugs , theft, and disrespect to us property tax payers. I feel like Texas is kicking me out. Pitiful leadership.
Remind me of the Henry Cho routine about Hawaii and how he loves the language, and how he encountered a fellow tourist who was reading a sign thinking it was Hawaiian words- peepee leenee... no, ma'am, that says pipeline. 😂
@@myitbos1335yes your pronunciation did make me cringe. I immediately knew that you weren't from these parts. Haha But to be fair.. that same word stumped me a few weeks back while I was texting. And as many times as i tried to retype the word, spell check wouldn't give me the correct spelling! So you are in good company.
My aunt lived in Bartlett. She passed 10 years ago this month. She lived and worked in the building you said that someone could hitch a horse to and it would look normal. When you looked in there, I recognized some of that stuff! The sign that read PJ's--That's her, Phyllis Jean. She had a hair salon in the front of that building, a "house" in the back, and apartment upstairs and, on the third floor, was her storage. I used to love to play up there. I would put on all her hats and scarves and I thought I was fancy! 😅I remember a big model of the Eiffel Tower that she bought in Paris. When I was probably 8 years old I thought that was the coolest thing ever. It was so strange seeing that on my TV screen. It made me a little teary-eyed.
Very cool!
Thanks for sharing, made me a little teary-eyed as well.
Ty for sharing Beautiful Memories.💖🌹
Thanks for sharing. A very touching memory and I could imagine the entire thing from your words. Sounds like she had a good life.
What is your family going to do with the property? It would be cool if you ran a business in the place.
Its not just texas ,its all over the place with these sad little towns that once had a heartbeat
Congrats on the footballs, fentanyl and Elons new airplane design
Watch the video Rosa Koire on Rural and Suburban Property Owners, Rosa Koire on How You Will Be Removed from Rural and Suburban Area, and Rosa Koire. U.N. Agenda 2030
It is a worldwide phenomenon. In the Netherlands we see it as wel. Although not with the amount of poverty as shown here. Our government is taking care of most people and have a decent living. More and more people are moving to cities. Although there is small trend in the reverse direction because of the housing prices.
What has happened to the USA? H. Ross Perot told us: when manufacturers leave the USA for other nations, the USA dies while other nations thrive.
Like here in England government no good
Almost like a conspiracy theory going on there
It has allowed certain Americans to make much bigger piles of wealth much faster. Thanks to Reaganomics they did not have to pay Cold War or actual war tax rates on it.
Everyone laughed at him but he saw the coming horror. The jobs left but the money is still here in the form of investment property. When .01% hold 98% of the wealth, even other countries suffer. Time to take it back and that won’t happen without real change, not just rhetoric. The rich have succeeded in divide and conquer
sometimes its good having other countries thrive as they can buy our goods.
I’m from the UK and have been on vacation in Texas the last 4 weeks. I’ve been amazed how many towns like this I’ve come across while driving around. It’s such a shame to see. This is part of the USA’s history. Prefer to see these towns brought back to life instead of new builds.
We would like that also. Thank you for visiting our Great State. I hope you have been well treated. If not, it was probably by someone from Michigan or California.
These towns were usually about 25-30 miles apart. The distance would could travel in a day.
On the other hand, many who live in small towns like it slow and not too much commotion. Why not have slow small towns? If u are just visiting Texas great. Enjoy the nature what's left of it at least. If u want more action go to the city
When I was a kid we would spend a week or so with my grandparents in one of these small cotton farm towns. Even back then it would drive me bat s**t crazy!!!!
In general these small towns are surrounded by "a lot" of land that is owned by a few very wealthy people. Usually used for farming, ranching, and more recently wind farms. These owners dont live in the towns. Some may live in a nice isolated ranchmansion out in the countryside. They may not even live in the area rather in Dallas, Houston, Austin or even another state. The folks that live in the town may be stuck there. Live with an elderly relative who cannot afford to sell and move elsewhere. The better paid ones tend to work for some arm of the federal, state, town, or county governments. Like the post office, TxDot, Texas DPS, etc.
Private employment is usually with a convenience store chain, grain elevators, farm/ranch implements and repair, and truck transport.
@kingforaday8725 yes my grandmother grew up around the central texas cotton farms and that's just what it was people working and trying to live. Lots of things happen over 130 years or so.
No broken windows 🪟
No graffiti in all towns
The wonderful brick 🧱 streets in Bartlett need to be saved!
Give me all that free money and I would live there and help bring it back. I love these old towns. I am so disgusted by the American government today that I could spit. Fix America and leave others in their own countries.
I can't believe we have the same avatar...
@@maggielandow2686Just remember that there is a 2024 presidential election coming in early November. I don't know if it's November 7th or 8th. But who do you trust to run for president of the United States of America and be elected?
@@maggielandow2686 Gentleman above says you can't, land taxes are very high.
This town was vacated because of rising property taxes. County appraisal districts have priced everyone out of town and out of business. Fact! The Monster is local Government..
I looked up that Bartlett National Bank Guest House - it's over $900 for 3 nights AIRBNB ripoff
They are trying to overtax everybody's property in usa. "You'll own nothing & be happy"
You misspelled Obama
@@Odin33356 Oops! Obummer.☺
He took my social security, identity, everything I worked for and he still wants me to donate
In my youth I rescued an old home that was about to fall down. Renovated and placed on the Historic Register for the fact that it was part of the Underground Railroad.
I still daydream about fixing up those old towns. These Texas towns have some great old buildings !
Love seeing old Texas communities. Thanks Joe for taking us along
Those downtown areas could be so cute with some TREES !
Sadly they just cut down all the trees in downtown Holland in order to replace the sidewalks.
You mean,there should be "a drop on the hot stone"?
@@rolfbrunner3016probably has to do with rainfall.
LOVE THESE OLD FORGOTTEN PLACES
100%!!
The first thing that jumped out at me (and it's shocking to me) is that there is absolutely no trash anywhere. Not one random, wind-blown receipt, wrapper, etc. It's AMAZING! I looooooove watching your videos ❤ I'm a happy homebody, but can't get enough of your travels and narratives. Thank you 😊
Don't think they're any people there to make a mess or litter.
Well....except for the "trashy" buildings themselves. And with NO people going "downtown" why would there be trash??
No blacks
@@sardu55 Of course, but (especially wind-blown) trash is frequently found in so many places where there are no people. This had roads, etc. This town resembles a movie set, like it's been street-swept, cared for. It's a wonderful thing. The buildings aren't "trashy" and in fact, are in surprisingly good shape for being abandoned. They show less deterioration than most uninhabited locations left by humans. Contrast this town to plenty of other abandoned locations and see all the detritus and destruction. Also often, vandalism and outright dumping is found in abandoned places.
No leaves, twigs, tumbleweeds... I could live there.
In 2020, on my way from DFW to a funeral in a town east of Austin, I decided to take a scenic route and drive through a number of small Texas towns. They were all dead. Even the surrounding pastures seemed absent of cows or agricultural activity. At the reception after the funeral the was a meal and I had a conversation with a nice lady who told me she “loves Amazon”.
Amazon didn't kill them. The loss of American manufacturing killed them. Made in China killed them.
Hey, Joe, that house you mentioned on 105 W. Bell St. In Bartlett is $2,150/mo. It's a "rental." Love watching your videos of small towns in Texas. Truly a time "back in the day" when things were much more affordable & folks supported the mom & pop stores. It is a time of innocence that has sadly gone away. 😢😢😢
But its up for sale .... what is the asking price ?
Just a rental.
@@brianquilty687 its up for rent, not for sale lol
@@brianquilty687 If you go by the old 1% rule of thumb it'd be $215,000. YMMV.
Trickle down Reaganomics still waiting for the Trickle Thanks Republicans ❤
Back in the day, when the railroad was introduced and then Chicago and other cities in the north started processing cattle, other meats, etc...A LOT of Texas cities and towns started the march toward's their demise. That was the beginning of 'outsourcing' for Texas. Now with modern day 'everything' being outsourced to the rest of the world instead of doing it at home, this effect is happening all across the United States. There's a certain beauty to seeing the living history of these buildings but there's a lesson to be learned from it all, as well.
Texas isn't only the cow trade
@@asrr62 correct, Oklahoma, etc we’re all affected heavily by the loss of cattle migration routes, etc.
Welcome home Joe and Nic. Congratulations on 3 years of on the road
I love the way you respect the town and business you don’t call it junk or negative. thank you for that and for taking us on your road trip. please do another one soon.
I’ve done lots of them since one, Sally. They’re on the channel! 😀
What I realize watching all these videos and I've watched I think almost every single one at least once, is that YOU love old nostalgic once thriving places exactly like I do. I cannot wait for the retrospective and you said it will be long, it will NOT be long enough for me. Love your channel. God bless.
You are right!
I was thinking exactly same thing.
I love that someone bought that building and made it into a home. I've always dreamed of doing something like that, and as an old, retired guy of 65, I could certainly pull up stakes and leave crazy Cali, but the repair work would have to be done by someone younger and stronger than me. But imagine how cool it would be to have all that space for all the collectibles and other stuff -- my wife calls it "junk!" but what does SHE know, right? -- I've picked up over my nearly 30-year naval career! Oh well, it's great to have a dream... 🤠
🎉
When I first got my CDL I worked at a freight company that delivered things all around the Austin area. My second week I delivered a really expensive grill to a gentleman with a funny sounding German name out in Holland. It was around Christmas time in 2021 so it was pretty chilly outside. The cold combined with the quiet out there gave me such a serene feeling. That was my favorite route at that company. I’d hit Taylor, rockdale, whalburg, Holland, Bartlett, thorndale and a little bit of Georgetown. Really nice drive!
The restaurant in that Old Country Store in Wallburg makes for pretty good eating. Or at least it used to, I don't know if they survived covid. That put paid to a lot of little places with thin margins. Like Dutchtown Cafe down by the tracks on the south side of Cameron.
Alcoa had a huge smelter near Rockdale that was the major employer for all the towns in this vicinity. It closed in the early 2000s. The towns have not yet recovered.
Quit making metal in 2008, quit making powder in 2011, the power plant shut down in the beginning of 2017. Sold to an Investment Group in 2021.
I remember reading an article in the Milam County Historical Society website from a 1952 issue of the Saturday evening post about the smelter titled _"Rockdale Texas the town where it rains money"_ in which Alcoa stated that they expected to get 50 years out of the plant. It actually ran for 56, so not too shabby, but that's a long time to forget that it wasn't expected to last more than half a century.
My brother worked there as a welder. When it closed, he moved his family to Barnett, west of Austin, and retired.
My Grandpa Retired Potman from Alcoa he lived in Hearne pop.5,000 yea Alcoa took a lot of good Jobs Away from the communities!
Alcoa now operates a huge geothermal smelting facility in Iceland. Reynolds Aluminum was the first Company I noticed pulling out of a small town called Arkadelphia, AR. in the late 70’s, leaving as the town’s biggest employer for China. I knew then, that this was the future for American manufacturing and U.S. workers.
Um...natural resources don't always last forever...
This town is close enough to be a bedroom community for Austin/Temple. It'll be around for a long time. Let's take a look at it in another 5 years. I noticed that there was no trash in the streets, too. I'm an old fart and take meds which make driving difficult, so I have to live vicariously through your vids. Ed, Albuquerque.🤠
Might be taken under the Austin belt soon and get a new boom.
Looong damn drive, and that's without the Austin traffic!
I crew an ambulance out of Temple and I love it when they drop a call on me going to austin. That's it baby, done for the day! Will be lucky to make it back by end of watch!
@@floydlooney6837I get notices from real estate companies for homes in these towns a lot. Cheap, but cheaper nearer to Waco. Being close to Austin makes it still too expensive for someone in my pay range.
@@floydlooney6837All of Oklahoma is
Becoming a bedroom community for Austin would ruin it. That place detstorys everything it touches.
Grew up for several years in Holland. This is a cool little town that is nothing like the video. Would have been nice if you had filmed during a week day, talked with some residents, shown the school district which is clean and manicured and some of the local businesses that are right around the corner. The people there are good, hardworking and have honest values.
What local businesses did he miss, specifically? I'm not trying to be dismissive about your experiences growing up there for several years, but how long ago was that? You might think it's "nothing like the video," but things can change quickly.
FWIW, this isn't a "talk to the locals" type of channel, that'd be someone like Peter Santenello.
Your travelogues are a treasure.
Mass props to Joe & Nic for taking us along.
Just wanted to point out that the Barbershop in Thorndale, TX requires appointments only on Saturdays. Tuesday thru Friday it is opened during regular hours.
A wonderful video! I really love these rural towns, amazing old buildings, so much history and character! Lots of cats, too, awesome!! Very much looking forward to your anniversary video! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.😊💖
I live in a small Texas town. I would have no other way. You can tell that the post office in my town is the original one it is cool. Moved from the busy north west Fort Worth. We are so glad we moved to the small town we are in now. We don’t even have stop lights.
Where is that you are living? Hard to find a good viable small town
Yeah, me too. Except I'm a Yankee from halfway to the North Pole. But the small town thing, I agree and concur. The sort of place you couldn't stand when you were a kid But Now you're a mature adult and you really appreciate it.
Agree and concur? A little redundant no? @@HM2SGT
I grew up in a small town called Flint Texas, and it's being gobbled up by Tyler Tx, moved to Dallas for job opportunities, ended up living in Arlington, then Grand Prairie from there Mckinney, then Plano, and now im in Seagoville and its starting to get gobbled up by Dallas.
I live in east Texas now, but I remember in the 70s & 80s when we drove from Paris to Plano or to DFW airport that Frisco was all pastureland...now it's all concrete. I later moved to Whitesboro in 1995 & worked in Carrollton. The 130 mile round trip daily commute wasn't horrible at first but by 2000 it was intolerable. The Colony & Frisco were so large it looked like Dallas already.
I lived in Flint Texas in 1980.. when the country club the loafing shed was still there..
I’ve lived near ftw my whole life. It used to be pretty quaint where I live. And now it’s a horrific. My car has been broken into 6 times this year. I can no longer afford to fix my windows so I just can’t drive any more. It’s actually so bad. No kids playing in the streets, only gun shots and screams for miles. It’s a hell scape for sure. Used to feel almost heavenly around here.
Tyler has no job opportunities. I don’t know why this place is growing . Just service jobs , and everything seems to be snatched up. I’m having an impossible time getting or keeping a job. And Tyler isn’t cheap!
I’M FROM HOLLAND! It’s a nice quiet town with a great school and good people
As long as the ocean stays put.
Watch the video Rosa Koire. U.N. Agenda 2030, Rosa Koire on Rural and Suburban Property Owners, Rosa Koire on How You Will Be Removed from Rural and Suburban Area, Rosa Koire and One Bay Area
Your road trips are the best way ever to start a Saturday morning ❤️ Appreciate the beautiful shots of the old buildings especially.
Sad to see these old towns in decay & almost shutdown mode. Such history being lost & really the spirt of the countries past being lost. But change is continuous everywhere. Look forward to your anniversary video. Tks & have fun .
I have lots of relatives in Thorndale. My grandfather's family settled in the area after coming over from Germany and Switzerland. Lots of childhood memories of going to dances at the VFW.
Hi Joe and Nicole. Down here in Corsicana a lady bought the old jail, and made a residence out of it. By the way Joe I watched the latest video by Nick Johnson. He wandered around a homeless camp in Alaska and a guy pulled a knife on him. Be very careful where you go bro.
What a world, where its not safe to walk through gawking at homeless inna homeless camp anymore
I watched that too. Anchorage is creepy
@RandyFelts2121 when I commented last I didn't let me read the full comment I didn't mean to say that it was neat to the last part. I meant when she made the old jail into a residence as long as it's a good residence. I had to delete the old comment and restate.
How is there a homeless camp in Alaska? You die out there without being indoors most of the year.
@@palehorse1111 They probably have winter gear. Anyway, I live in Seattle, and I've seen some rather "unbalanced" homeless people, but so far Anchorage is the only place where I've been told (by another homeless person) that a homeless guy up the street was actually attacking people.
These small towns around Austin are becoming suburbs of Ausitn as it grows into a metroplex. Many of these little towns are getting revived as the surrounding farm and ranch land is developed into huge sub divisions to handle the masses moving to Texas from all over the country as Austin spreads. Out SW of Austin towns like Smithville, Bastrop, Elgin etc. none of the old downtown areas are empty any more.
Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville have always been hopping Texas towns. Thorndale need some reviving.
Smithville, Elgin and Bastrop are SE of Austin, not Southwest.
@@Denice340 My bad, I live SE of Austin out in Paige.
@@SARAH-vs8sx They weren't hopping a few decades ago ago, there was a time the downtowns were all vacant buildings, but not any more.
Wait'll the Samsung plant in Taylor and the industrial park in Rockdale at the old Alcoa get subtraction, then you'll see some life being breathed into the general area
Thanks!
Love seeing small town America with you both! Still my favorite channel - thanks Joe and Nic❤
Always a pleasure! Can't wait for 3 year retro! You guys have been on the road giving us joy and info! Thank you and stay safe! 😘🙏
Great old town,they bring back so many good memories for me. Thank you for wandering about for all of us to see them!😊
I was in Taylor, Texas(close to these 3 towns) about a month ago and noticed a huge new Samsung Semiconductor plant(on the outskirts of Taylor). I'm sure it will influence the local economies and populations of these small towns.
Sadly it’s caused most of the small businesses to close with the rise of rent, including mine. Not the glamour story as one thinks.
@@HappyTX20 that sucks- I hadn’t even heard of it till last month
@@pocphotocompany yeah several stores downtown that have been there for years. Way longer than my small boutique. Just so unfortunate. But it’s a such a beautiful area!
@@HappyTX20wow that’s sad…I hate hearing that small business is being destroyed .
Look at Waco. Cheap labor to a college town.
Once again, Joe and Nic thanks for taking us on your tours. ❤👍
These Texas towns are neat. It has that countryside feel. It may possible that when the Austin metro moves out this far, they may fix up the downtowns nicely. I hope it doesn't become crime ridden. With the growth, some of the highway may get widened.
The old bank in Bartlett is a beauty. It’s now a beautiful AirBNB.
WOW! Cats and firehouses! As I heard people say long time age, Joe you are hitting on all 8 cylinders! Thanks for taking me along.
As always Joe, tanks for taking us along for another journey. And BTW, the old bus 27:19 is a 1947 to 1948 AFC Brill. I recall seeing another one like it from another You Tuber's channel named Elderly Iron.
When I was a kid I remember visiting towns like this. The buildings were all full of open stores!. Customers walking around the town square. Cars filled the parking spaces.
You would see pharmacies with a soda fountain, dry cleaners/laundrys, TG&Y stores, Levines stores, farm and ranch implement stores, post office, hardware stores. Busy as many malls today except outdoors.
Very clean little towns.
Perhaps because there is no one there leading the thug life
That place where you said "tied up horses" was a bar for years, we spent many night's in that old hall. This area is a hub for old classic cars!
Always good to see Joe and Nic's, road trips. ❤
I moved out to Denton county years ago. Nearest town was Justin. Back in the day I loved it. Mostly cattle and when the sun went down the night sky was incredible. Sadly it’s not like that anymore. I wish that I could move farther away now. I really miss the cows.
A very good and representative video of what is happening an hour's drive from Austin. These towns are within the Texas Triangle so growth is inevitable. Thanks for the look see. Looking forward to your retrospective video starting with your Lord Spoda days. You are closing the gap on a half million subs so you have done well. Cheers Larry
My maternal grandpa grew up in Thorndale and we still have an annual family reunion there. We meet at an old church founded by one of my ancestors (with an adjacent cemetery where many of my late ancestors are buried). My maternal grandma grew up in Rockdale just east of Thorndale. And some of my mother’s cousins still live there. I was surprised to find a UA-cam video of this town where I spent occasional weekends of my childhood with my parents, visiting relatives and hearing stories of family history.
I've been away from Texas for 11 years. Always enjoy your videos! I think there's a whole whole lot of development that can take place before Thorndale would be impacted. I could be wrong. There are several not-much-growth school districts you would pass through driving from Thorndale to Austin. But again - I've been away - so maybe change is faster than I realize.
It sure is…doubt you would recognize
ol Texas anymore.
The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad today is know known as Union Pacific after a couple of mergers with other railroads.
Part of the sadness is in the details. June Carter died, then Johnny followed within months. Their love, their lives, and their deaths are a testament to that love.
Quiet, quaint, and peaceful. Love many small Texas towns Those are great ones. .
I love your videos, especially the ones in Texas. Just a tip for your DJI. They sell polarized filters that are a simple magnet lens. This works wonders for removing the glare from windows. This way you don’t have to have your lens touch the glass. Happy traveling and videoing!
Thorndale native here saying you missed the best parts of our hometown...but maybe that was the Texan in you respectfully showcasing. Either way it's a privilege having positive publicity stamped with actual facts. Crazy seeing recent local areas surge in population growth that is unparalleled. Most the folk round here are hard workin, blue-collared, family-oriented people. Our town has a "come as you are, but leave it better than you found it", type of feel by design. Folks that grew up round here don't lock doors, handle firearms like cowboys, raise their children to be respectful and respectable, and most importantly they believe in something most refuse...the golden rule. Are locals are genuinely kind hearted and belong to generations of the same loyalties. Also the educators here stay strapped in every classroom. Never consider this place to be safe for any type of crime. However if you choose to do so, dually note that the police are here to protect 🫵🏽 from 🎯🎯🎯 status.
Health Care, Utilities and Transportation (gas for cars is a necessity) offset the low cost of living. What these towns lack is Health Care. What they can do is lobby for a regional Health Facility. It always amazes me why a state like Texas has such high utility costs.
Texas is the only state in the lower 48 that doesn’t have its power grid intergrated with an out of state network. So they can’t buy or sell surplus power. And they’re on their own if a major issue hits their grid (lie when many Texans lost power a few winters ago).
@@andrewward5891rather than being on our own....we think of it as insulated from outside issues......like the infamous CANADIAN power outage that tripped through the northeastern US and caused massive blackouts and riots in NYC.
As for our ice issue a few years ago.....the fed govt sponsored windmills froze up. The resulting loss of electricity stopped the pressurizing pumps on the natgas pipelines. No natgas....people & things froze.
The same pipelines that used to use natgas to power their own pumps until FedGov ordered them to be electric powered. Ooops💩
You're welcome
@@andrewward5891yep. California has excess power we sell literally everywhere else except Texas.
Without subsidies rural healthcare doesn’t work economically. Not enough customers and too spread out and higher operating costs.
Unfortunately, the huge conglomerates make it impossible for smaller hospitals or regionalized healthcare to even start up.
That, along with full non thuggery keep healthcare from being so readily available, much less affordable.
I will be 60 next year, I am a proud, Native Texan. I wish that the people with the power felt that Texas is a grand and unique state, deserving of dignity for its residents.
I have traveled all over the world and have lived In several places in North and South America.
Everywhere I would travel, even some very remote villages in China, Always seemed so Fascinated with the fact that we were Americans.
However, NOTHING compared to the enthusiast response when I told them that I was from Texas!!
Even some Aussies and New Zealanders showed respect!!
Great video! Love the standing still of time in small towns. I can picture the horses being tied off. Appreciate learning about these towns. Great to see some kitties! Sad these towns may be demolished by the larger cities.
I love the brick streets of Bartlett! We stopped to take a look downtown several years ago, but it was blocked off because a film crew was actively filming.
Its funny growing up here in Texas i never thought about how old and small the towns were outside of the bigger city hubs. Yet, going to Kansas to see moms side of the family always made me think i was in the middle of nowhere. Its all perspective! I love that you included demographic/geographic stats because they often tell a different story than what you see. Great video!
That building on the right (at the beginning) with the wood rails used to be a neat bar that had live music. I played there several times in the last band I was in. Hate to see the decay there.
So happy to see this episode. My ancestors made their home in Holland beginning in the latter half of the 1800’s. My great great grandmother, Beatrice Haydon, told stories of watching as they put the railroad in!
I sure love those old buildings🧡
I'm in the Aurora, Indiana area this weekend for a wedding. My first time to this part of the country. It's a small town of about 3500 people. It so reminds me of this channel and all the awesome small towns Joe and Nic have visited. Aurora has an amazing old downtown area that is full of beautiful old buildings with most of them having nice businesses and restaurants in them. It's just a beautiful old downtown. I don't think I've seen a video from you guys of this city. Next time your in this area, you should stop in. It's great.
I am really looking forward to the big retrospective video that is coming next !! I enjoy watching your videos very much ! Thank you.
Thanks for another video Joe !! Looking Forward to your next adventure. stay safe😊
I live in Rockdale so just down the highway from Thorndale. This video is so fun to watch!
It's been a few since I've been able to sit down and watch ur channel m. But im going to he catching up and I'm starting with this new post from off the hot press. 🔥 Always thankful with your insight and educating us on these areas you take your time to go through. You and Nic are wonderful ppl. Lots of love. ❤😊
The thing about old towns: Each building is unique with its own personality. New buildings are similar, streamlined, cold, and uninviting.
That house is $2150/month.
So thankful to live near 2 such towns in south Texas. Both look VERY similar to these. Glad both are 100 miles away from sprawling cities.
👋🏿 Joe & Nic, Thank you so much for taking your viewers with you on these trips. It is a breath of fresh air. 💪🏿🙏🏾♥️💯
These 3 towns are in for a change and not the nice kind sadly. That house in Bartlett is only a rental not for sale. Thanks for sharing and have a great day and safe travels.
Glad we get to come along! Thank you!
Glad to see you guys are exploring Texas again! These towns are super interesting. Safe travels!
I love these videos, travelled a lot in 70s across America, interesting to see how places chg ovrr yrs, sadly not better for most. Looking forward to next, Be safe.
Thorndale, Tx......this is where the movie, "The Rookie" was filmed back in 2002. Starred Dennis Quaid and Rachel Griffiths. Some of the locals were cast as extras in that movie.
Big thanks to you both for all that you've shown us in the past 3 years! What an amazing project, and so educational for many of us who will never get to see all the diverse areas, cities and small towns in this country! I've never been to TX and it's interesting, if not quite sad, to see these small towns that were once robust now so empty and seeming almost abandoned.
From Alaska to Texas and all points in between. Great video Joe and Nic and very interesting. Thanks for sharing. All the best from Australia.
That is one thing I do miss about living in Texas, all of the old towns and buildings that are amazing for photography. Thanks for taking me along on this exploration of history.
Good morning 🎉I love waking up too Joe and Nic road trips thanks so much for all you do please be safe🎉❤🎉😊
Like always, Joe I enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing.
105 W Bell is not for sale per Zillow. It’s for rent $2100 a month. It’s beautiful but pretty creepy on the inside. I found no for sale but it’s definitely listed for rent. 4 bed 2 bath.
I agree about the creep factor.
Great video joe. Thanks for getting me out of the cool and wet weather of Alaska. LoL and back to good ol warm Texas. I have started going back and watching all the videos you have made in the early days. Oldest one I could find was 16 years ago the chili parlor. And I have mentioned before that I like your laid back style of commentary found out it’s not new you had it then too. I still watch some of the weird stuff on the net now and then. But I like where you have taken the channel. Lota work into what you have made it. Love these small town videos they’re my favorite. And I’m sure you’re exactly right these will eventually be swallowed up by Austin progress is inevitable. Home prices seem a little or lot higher than I would have thought. But you can’t put a price on that peace and quiet there. Love those old buildings especially when they put those nice false fronts on what otherwise was just a box. Those days are gone but I love seeing them thanks. And being a flea market addict I would love to roam around in a few of them. Found some great stuff in places like that. Thanks again for the great video and looking forward to the recap coming up ambitious project and lota work I’m sure. Safe travels my friend. Keep videoing and I’ll keep watching
I looked up the house that was for lease - West Bell St - it's $2,150 pm. It's 4 beds, 2 baths and 1.914 sq ft. I live in the UK and love that I can look stuff up in the USA so easily. The internet is a wonderful thing!! Thanks for your videos, we love seeing the parts of the USA that no one else bothers with. To us, we see it as the real America. Me and my husband are in awe of the low crime rate you have in comparison to the UK.
That is AWESOME !!!
There are a lot of almost empty towns across the US. It is really a shame how some places are these days.
My area used to be rural and ended up being a "planned community." A lot of old buildings/stuff is no longer around, and my childhood is gone. ):
Sad to lose the old Texas.
@@MeadowDay Yeah, if "everyone" moves to a small town, it won't stay a small town for long. Houston, Chicago, New York, London, even Rome were all once small towns. I give special mention to Chicago here in how when it was founded in 1833 it had just 350 people, but by 1870 it had 299,000 people, and by 1900 1.7 million. Likewise, Las Vegas and Miami were both actually founded after 1900.
Looking forward to the 3 year video 👍 the 2 of you are the best thing that happened on UA-cam !
Out in the cave Saturday night here in oz having a few cordials and saw you guys had a new video up perfect timing
Yay…love the Aussies…welcome 👍
@@MeadowDay would love to get over there to see your beautiful country
I’m always amazed and intrigued… it looks peaceful yet eerie at the same time
That city looks sad spooky, and with no life, it its sad to see lots of places going down hill, since the pandemic everything has gone bad... Grettings to you and Nicole keep up the good work, I watch your videos from my beautiful State of Arizona USA 🇺🇸
Why would you expect there to be people around mid-morning on a weekday? I don't know about you, but that's when most of the rest of us are at work, not wandering around town to provide tourists local color.
@@HM2SGT
Well in my city there's no knight or day, we are around any time of the day or knight, we work and there's always traffic and people driving or even walking, we have 24 hrs stores open, so if people don't have time during the day to do their business, they do it at knight. I hope I answer your thoughts
Hi Joe
'Am in Texas currently. Watched this video just now.
Good luck ahead!
I love small towns. I live on the edge of Calgary, Alberta in what used to be a quiet area. The city grew, put in a massive ring road near by Now the noise level is up, way more traffic and people, crime is up. This is the way of the world.
I lived in Taylor Texas when I went to college in the 1960s in Taylor, Texas. we used to go to Thorndale because I had a really good barbecue restaurant. I guess they haven’t done that well.
Cool old towns lots of character thanks for sharing
Love the small town tours awesome historic places God Bless Texas🤠. Thankyou for all your videos have seen so many things through you guys Safe travels
the video I've been waiting for
Thorndales infrastructure is very old and falling apart. One of my relatives used to live there and finally had to move to a small farm so he could have consistent water and sewerage. I live in an even smaller town and thank God everything still works good, but roads are more gravel than asphalt. Taxes are super cheap and the neighbors are friendly. You take the good with the bad i recond.
Those towns are growing more from Georgetown and Temple-Killeen than they are from Austin. Austin is too far away for them, except Thorndale, to be bedroom communities.
Pisses me off. Most of these places in TX go broke, then drugs, we're already running out of water do to overpopulation.
I don't understand how folks just don't understand population vs job career ratio.
Texas is mostly desert and hot.
I also believe his crime numbers are way too low. Go in and visit police department.
Austin’s growth from CA residents is pushing people to the Killeen/Temple/Cove area, which is pushing people to areas further out too. I had several school principals tell me a couple years ago that they had more students transferring from AISD than military or any other city transfers. Temples also been one of the fastest growing central Texas cities for 15 years or so too. I’ve watched a lot of farms get turned into neighborhoods, shopping plazas, gas stations and stuff hauling in the equipment.
@@MikeFL2TX spent a little time in coperas cove. Temple is a bit trashy now and crime up. Wonder why?!
@@joey8567 I mean, we know. Will the city officials figure it out or maybe hint at the reasons and how they are going to try to curb it? Other than when I was hauling equipment, I don’t go to Temple. I stay in Cove for the most part now. Although I’ll be on my way to Midway this evening with my part time job lol.
@@MikeFL2TX i think all officials in TX towns are selling us out for unwanted growth, which is inevitable, but not if the infrastructure is not going to fullfil the amount of growth. Like the water situation in hill country from Austin to San Antonio. Unacceptable how many towns are gone and in rural towns with zero jobs for youth, the majority turn to drugs , theft, and disrespect to us property tax payers. I feel like Texas is kicking me out. Pitiful leadership.
I saw Bartlett guest house in the airbnb website, amazing!!
The Czech old-timers there still call it "Rock-dell" and "Torn-dell"
Jak sê mas?
@@willbass2869 Speaking of pronunciations, Joe. It's tah-ka-ree-ah, not ta-carry-ah.
Remind me of the Henry Cho routine about Hawaii and how he loves the language, and how he encountered a fellow tourist who was reading a sign thinking it was Hawaiian words- peepee leenee... no, ma'am, that says pipeline. 😂
@@willbass2869Smädný na pivo. 😁
_(my wife's family is from Weimar, and that's all the Czech I learned!)_
@@myitbos1335yes your pronunciation did make me cringe. I immediately knew that you weren't from these parts. Haha But to be fair.. that same word stumped me a few weeks back while I was texting. And as many times as i tried to retype the word, spell check wouldn't give me the correct spelling! So you are in good company.