Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bishop, Texas

Some years back, the merchants of Bishop, Texas ("great schools and great churches") abandoned its business district when the state built a highway bypass around the town. The businesses picked up and moved along the bypass, leaving the buildings behind.







JUST A SONG: Ronee Blakely's "Dues".
When Ronee Blakely's character Barbara Jean sings "Dues," she provides the emotional epicenter of Robert Altman's film Nashville. Barbara Jean's heart-wrenching account of her tortured marriage connects with her fans at the same time that her preoccupied, insensitive husband remains oblivious.

Premium T. extols breakfast tacos...



5 comments:

Unknown said...

Great images-- I especially like the BBQ joint & the hardware store.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

you are right, bishop is the antithesis of busytown!

great collection of ghost town images

Sylvia K said...

Great shots! Does look like a ghost town. As I remember, there are quite a few towns that this happened to in Texas. Hope all is well!

Anonymous said...

With apologies to Steve Earle:

I work at the fillin' station on the interstate
Pumpin' gasoline and countin' out of state plates
They ask me how far to Mexico son, and where's the nearest beer
And they don't even know that there's a town around here

I'll sound like an old fogey, but the bypass and Wal-Mart killed Bishop and Kingsville.

rgg

Anonymous said...

WOW, was raised in Bishop, left 43 years ago after hwy. bypass built. Still remember these buildings when they were open.