Go West? Yes, to the town of West, a small Texan farming community known for its Czech Stop bakery on the side of highway I35. The town's named after Thomas West, the town's first Postmaster who sold land to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railway in 1881.
West grew up around the rails and prospered along with its Postmaster, attracting immigrants from Czechoslovakia who were drawn to the area by the heady lure of rich farmland and all-round opportunity.
You can see their influence today in the catholicism of the place and its several bars or pubs, to say nothing of various bakeries, not least the notorious Czech Stop. The Czechs are there today as of the 2012 census, which credits West with the highest concentration of Czechoslovakians in the state.
The railway still bisects this curiously attractive town, though it's now sadly restricted to freight. What a shame, it'd be a far more civilized thing to be able to get on a train at Hillsboro, ride to West or Waco, have fun, then ride the rails back home as opposed to driving on the hideous and deadly I35.
Who knows, maybe that day will return in some form or another, but hopefully not in the way of another Crush Crash. You can see all about that infamous disaster here.
Crush Crash aside, it was good to go to the Two Amigos restaurant with a crew of churchpeople, and they say, interestingly, that a congregation which meets during the week is more likely to grow than one which doesn't. Good point.
Sound
They also say a church which actually believes in Christianity is more likely to grow than one that doesn't. Bizarre, perhaps someone should inform Pope Francis and his lesser colleague, the apologetic Archbishop of Canterbury. But therein lies another story.
Travellers Club Forever,
LSP
15 comments:
Nice looking town, West. Always wanted to stop there. The bakery means that I WILL stop next time I blow through the area.
Just enjoyed Magic Mirror, JC. And check it out, I like the place and the Czech Stop's alright too, though try and catch it outside the rush hour.
Do they also sell fried pies there? Asking for a blue dog.
We love to hit the fish fries during lent. They'll be starting before you know it.
We have a railroad line running right through the center of the city. Alas, it, too, hauls only freight. It would be nice to take the train to Denver or Cheyenne, but that only happens if you're bulk freight....
Old towns and fish fries are a good thing!
I'm not a joiner that has joined the CDA at St John's. Making new friends. Pray for me to keep my mouth shut and not volunteer for anything requiring baking...
I learned something today. Thanks.
Now this is stuck in my head: “She caught the Katy...”
Thanks for that too.
A Church Fish Fry is the best. We serve cod at our local KofC. What kind of fish do they serve deep in the heart of Texas?
LL, I do love fried pies. Blue Dog's making affirmative noises...
Jim, I'm all in favor.
drjim, I wish we'd get that aspect of things together. It'd make for better living, imo.
Brig, you must be very, very careful! Mind you, perhaps the Lord's calling you to bake?
Joe, much obliged.
Ah, DO6 -- it's mostly catfish here, which is fine. But I'm, jealous of your cod!
*I'm jealous of...
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