Death of a Downtown

Plainview...

a small town in West Texas with a population of over 22,000 people...I lived in Plainview for 18 years prior to moving away but I still call it home (according to my driver's license). Actually, home is where the Navy sends me but that's another blog.

My Dad, Frank and his three brothers all grew up in Plainview. My Dad's folks were Hoyt and Ruby...Granddaddy was the police chief while Granny Ruby was the city librarian at Unger Memorial Library

which is still in use. She loved books and loved us coming down there to read during the summer My brothers and I (plus my nephew) went to the same elementary, junior highs and high school that Dad and his brothers attended.

The city's downtown was a wealth of businesses and great people: Kristy's (still open), West's Pharmacy, Quick Lunch Diner, Ziegler's Music Shop, Masso's, and more. Dad worked at Oswald's Printing and Supply for year and also Eaton's before becoming a judge (justice of the peace that is). Like most small towns across the South, there are many whose downtowns were the mecca of activity. Now, most of just empty discarded shells of what once was a vital business with warmth, hospitality, and friendliness.

Downtown was a fun place to go...and work. I worked at West's my junior and senior year delivering meds and stocking the shelves. Every now and then I could work behind the counter and make coke floats and milkshakes. It was a "full-service" pharmacy and very fun to work in .

Downtown Plainview is characteristically marked by the red brick road around the courthouse square and Broadway. It ran from the train station to the north to the American Legion to the south. The American Legion pool was a great place to spend the summer but now it's all run down and falling apart.

I saw "Jaws" in 1975 at the Granada theater on Broadway...it was a magnificent movie house with a "stary" ceiling plus it had a balcony (for all of the couples to make out in). I actually saw the movie twice...I did sneak in and see it before my two brothers did and "goosed" Keith when the severed head popped out of the boat. It was a beautiful place to spend a Saturday afternoon with your friends.

I remember when the "new" WalMart opened on the west side of town on I-27 near 5th Street. It was the best thing since sliced bread to some but the retailers downtown saw the end of the tunnel...most of the stores closed because of WM. I know West's stayed opened for a number of years but eventually closed. There are not very many stores downtown anymore...which is a shame.

Plainview can be so much more...we just need to past the painted the cows to see what's there!