March 20, 2009
Ennis
My cousin Kim said I needed to visit Ennis before deciding where I want to live. Ennis is one county over, a pleasant drive through rolling hills in farm country.
Kim recommended that I start with the town square, but on my way there I spotted a sign for a visitor’s center and museum, so I stopped there first. Ennis was founded as a railroad town in the later half of the 19th Century, and trains still roll through the town all day every day.
I paid my $2.00 at the old railway ticket window, then Bill donned his conductor’s cap and we began the tour. Bill is 83 years old, legally blind and mostly deaf despite two hearing aids. He’s spry, witty and possessed of an old-world charm seldom seen these days. He jumped the rail in the replica railway office and struck up several “typical working poses.”
One way that railways competed was by providing a fine dining experience for their passengers. The museum features a display of some of the beautiful china that was used in the dining cars.
The scale model replica of the old switching yard is quite impressive. Someone put in a lot of hours building it. Being a rairoad town put Ennis at the center of commerce for this area. Everything from food and farm supplies to lingerie and school books was transported via rail by the turn of the century.
Numerous displays throughout the museum feature antique tools of the trade.
A local railroad buff donated a large collection of scale model trains.
I spent so much time in the museum that I didn’t get to see much of the town. Ah, well - guess I’ll just have to go again another day!
[tags]Ennis, museum, railroad museum, railroad town[/tags]
Posted by skeet @ 1:14 pm • Texas, Society & culture
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
March 20th, 2009 at 7:45 pm, Karen Says:
I have never been to Ennis, but I did live in south Texas for 2.5 years. I love Texas, wish sometimes I could go back there, but want to see other places, too.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:28 am, Karen Says:
I have never been to Ennis, but I did live in south Texas for 2.5 years. I love Texas, wish sometimes I could go back there, but want to see other places, too.
Oops, should have added great post! Waiting on your next one!
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:31 am, Lisa Marie Mary Says:
Hey Skeet - realized the other day I hadn’t talked with ya in forever! Exciting that you’re on the mainland now and in my home state! Congrats - hope it all goes smoothly for you!
Is that the train place where you can ride one of the old trains? If it is, I’ve been there! Very cool place!
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am, Laurie Says:
Ennis is kind of quaint and pretty, huh? I like how you captured it in your photos. Are you leaning more toward country living? They are still building new homes in my neighborhood and I do believe prices have gone down due to the economy.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:36 am, Heather in Beautiful BC Says:
Skeet - it’s wonderful you are in Texas - lucky you! I lived there for a year and a half and loved every minute. Ennis looks like a very nice town
I want to contact you via email but wasn’t sure if the one on your profile was good since you are not in Hawaii any longer…
Mine is heather mary smith at shaw dot ca