Texas Historic Travel by Sam Fenstermacher. (original) (raw)

North Texas Articles & Photos

• Bosque county Courthouse, Meridian
• Chalk Mountain
• Denton
• Denton County Courthouse
• Elizabeth Crockett Monument
• Ellis County Courthouse, Waxahachie
• Ellis County Courthouse Gargoyles, Waxahachie
• Erath County Courthouse, Stephenville
• Fort Worth - Firestone Service Building & Smith-Swinney Motor Company Building
• Glen Rose
• Granbury - General Hiram B. Granbury
• Henderson - Arnold Outhouse
• Hill County Courthouse, Hillsboro
• Hopkins County Courthouse
• Johnson County Courthouse Tower, Cleburne
• Mineral Wells
• San Antonio Missions
• Somervell County Courthouse, Stephenville
• Stephenville Historical House Museum
• Tarrant County Courthouse Square - The Horse Fountain and Three Gargoyles
• Watts Chapel Methodist Church and Cemetery
• Wise County, Decatur
• Wise County Courthouse, Decatur
  Photos
• Kopperl
• Tolar

Fenstermacher on Fenstermacher

I live in Cleburne Texas which is the county seat of Johnson County. Johnson County is in North Central Texas, and the city of Cleburne is about 30 miles south of Fort Worth and 50 miles southwest of Dallas. Will Rogers once said, "Fort Worth is where the West begins and Dallas where the East peters out." So I live slightly southwest of where the East peters out.

I was born and raised in rural Northwestern Pennsylvania, and I have more than a little Pennsylvania Dutch blood in me. This may very well explain why I took to Texas so quickly. Every time someone would call me a �Yankee� I'd grin from ear to ear and it made me feel so proud. I just couldn't believe how free people were with their compliments here in Texas. After 25 years of living in and around North Central Texas, no one hardly ever calls me a Yankee anymore.

I'm a computer programmer and analyst by vocation, but I also like to photograph architectural, landscape, and editorial subjects. Texas certainly presents a rich range of subject matter for photography and historical investigation.

The region of Texas I live in has plenty of rural counties. Each of these counties has its own unique history and regional flavor. It's great fun going out on short trips to discover the interesting details of their past and present. I've been able to research and photograph some grand old county courthouses and town squares. As time permits, I'm writing about interesting counties.

Texas Escapes has been kind enough to make room for some of my photos and writing, and I would like to thank John and Kate for creating a wonderful place for my work.

Sam Fenstermacher
January 1, 2004