Rodeos, Restaurants, and Remembrance: The Evolution of Vernon, Texas | A Cross-Country Odyssey
Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey
Life was much simpler back then. Vernon was a safe place to live. The kinda place where parents didn't worry when their children rode their bikes and skateboards all over town. The only rule was that you had to be back home when the street lights came on.
That, of course, was a long time ago, and like most small towns across America, Vernon fell on hard times. Back in 2011, when my future wife and I traveled through as part of our cross-country odyssey, I discovered that the town was a mere shadow of its former self. Gone were the Gibsons' (Lost Landmarks: The Heartbreaking Demise of Gibson's in Vernon - My Childhood Memories) and M.E. Moses department stores (Remembering the Magic of M.E. Moses: A Journey Back to the Heart of Main Street, Vernon), where my parents used to shop. Gone was the basement newsstand where I used to buy my comic books. My old house on Texas Street was almost recognizable to me. Gone were all the majestic cottonwoods and mulberry trees that used to grace the property. Why they were gone is a mystery to me. Who would tear out those wonderful trees?
Related: My Memories of Life in Vernon Texas - A Simpler Life in a Simpler Time
Gone was the Canton Cafe, where I got my first taste of Chinese Food. Gone was the Pizza Point that had the best spaghetti I ever tasted. Surprisingly, the Taco Casa, where I first tasted Mexican food, was still there. I was amazed that the Dairy Queens were both gone, but there was a McDonald's. Oh, how the children of Vernon longed for a McDonald's back in the day.
I was delighted to see that the old Plaza Theater was still hanging on. I saw my first movie there. In case you're curious, it was The Apple Dumpling Gang starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts.
Honestly, I don't know what I expected to find after being gone for 33 years. You always have this misguided notion that everything will be just as you left it. Things never turn out that way, though. Time passes, and things naturally change; it's your memories that always stay with you, rooted in a sort of romanticism that longs for the days of our youth.
Related: Remembering Terrible Tuesday: The Devastating Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak of 1979
Interestingly enough, there is an epilogue to this story. I passed back through Vernon a couple of years ago on my trip back from my mother's funeral. I am happy to report that Vernon had bounced back, maybe not completely, but there were new stores and new places to eat that weren't there the last time. Hopefully, things continue to turn around in Vernon.
Something to think about today:
When the divine hand reaches out to bless someone with greatness, it rarely picks the strongest, the wisest, or those who possess the most outward beauty. Perfection is not the requirement. Instead, God seeks individuals just like you—those who have imperfections, who harbor fears, and who wrestle with self-doubt. The figures celebrated in the Bible were not extraordinary; they were human, just like us, navigating their own challenges. In His infinite wisdom, God recognizes our potential even when we can’t quite see it ourselves.
Before it was Taco Casa it Was Taco Plaza .. like in the 80s …
ReplyDelete