So I had to run down to Karnes City to take a picture of FM 1354 so I decided to take a few pictures of the towns I passed through on the way. I skipped Floresville on this trip because US 181 doesn't run through the square.
Poth was founded on the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad like most of the towns along US 181. The railroad was taken over by the Southern Pacific in 1892 and the depot is from the SP, not the SA & AP.
The building was in disrepair, but showed signs of a restoration in the past. The grounds are used for storage or all kinds of machinery and sand and gravel.
Its not a county seat, but the city has a sort of quadrangle with a pavillion and planting areas.
This building interesting. The railroad would have run from left to right across the picture just in front of the large opening facing the camera. I have no idea what it was built for.
I lived for awhile in Floresville, about 8 miles north of Poth. The Poth Pirates have an outstanding girls sports programs having won multiple state titles in basketball and volleyball.
Karnes City was next, its the county seat of Karnes County and was also on the SA & AP railroad although except for the roadbed, there isn't a sign of the railroad in the town any more.
The courthouse.
This is an interesting building, no telling when it was built , but it was to sell those new fangled automobiles. Think they are a fad?
The new dealership
The lumberyard--it would have been right next to the railroad.
downtown
Cestohowa. Not much here except this church built around 1892, but updated in the '30s. Apparently it was built afte the church in Panna Maria burnt down and was controversial at the time.
And Gillette. Not much here either. This was once a busting community at the crossroads between a north/south and east/west road. It had its own hotel, sawmill, grist mill and cotton gin--all run off of water power from Ecleto creek which was dammed to run the mills. It was originally called Reidelville after the owner of the mills. I couldn't find the hotel.
On another note, it was the first really cool day to ride. Looking forward to the fall and winter.