Rayland, Texas. (original) (raw)
History on a Pinhead
P. S. and James S. Ray founded Rayland in 1885 and a post office was opened two years later. In 1908 the post office was relocated 3.5 miles east to Antelope Springs, even though the name Rayland was retained. The community also had a school (built in 1899) but that too, was moved before closing in the late 1940s. The post office was discontinued in 1920.
The current population of 30 is an estimate, down from 80 residents from the 1940 census.
A Visit to Rayland › I Drove My GMC to Foard
I Drove My GMC to Foard
I saw the sign that read "MARGARET 13," and turned north off US70W. Good thing I didn't yawn or I would have missed the sign that read "RAYLAND", right after the one for Foard County.
This stretch of the county had wheat fields on both sides of the road and I believe I saw a thresher, working in the distance to the south. I barely can tell ripe wheat from Wheat Chex.
Within 50 yards, I saw a warning sign (yellow and black diamond-shaped) for a 20 MPH dog-leg turn. Two noisy dogs had greeted me when I had gotten out to photograph the wheat fields, but their legs bore no resemblance to the one on the sign
RAYLAND has a couple of vacant barn-like structures and a very interesting building that I photographed. Can anyone tell me what went on there? I counted no more than 6 or 8 inhabited residences in RAYLAND and 3 or 4 vacant ones; a total of 4 horses, one large, green tractor and a nice, sun-dappled lane to the south.
I saw a Roadrunner, but he was too quick for me to shoot � I mean, photograph. They usually don't hang around to get shot � I mean, photographed.
A snake slithered across the road safely. Traffic was not a problem, but that Roadrunner could ruin a snake's day for dang sure. Other than these critters, the horses, and a couple of well-kept lawns with flowers, I saw no signs of life in RAYLAND. Onward to MARGARET � next page ›
©
Rick Vanderpool
Texas Plains Journal entry for April 27, 2010
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