Amarillo -- My Town Monday

I've missed the camaraderie of My Town Mondays and I have a few others in mind that I'll try to find time to write up in the next couple of months or so, but for this post, my first My Town Monday since calling it quits I want to tell all of you about a just released book from a friend of mine. Before I tell you about the book let me tell you about Ron.


Ron Smith is a friend of mine. A former coworker who just recently retired from the Postal Service to pursue the good life. Ron is long time supporter of my own writing endeavors. Ron isn't a writer in the traditional sense that he creates characters and stories. Ron is a collector, an antique addict and an all around great guy. For better than 20 years he has collected postcards about Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle and in that time he has amassed a huge collection of visual history on the area. it is that collection that gave birth to his book aptly titled, Amarillo.


Amarillo is available from the Arcadia Publishing website as well as area bookstores, independent retailers, and on-line retailers, such as Amazon. The book showcases over 200 postcards from Ron's nostalgic collection. Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.

Highlights of the book include :

* Never before seen vintage postcards from the author's collection
* Includes images of historic buildings, many of which are long gone
* Explains how Amarillo went on to become one of the world's busiest cattle shipping points in the late 1890s
* Shows Amarillo in the making through postcards

Here are a few more images Arcadia marketing team sent for me to share with y'all.


The above shot is a 1910 photo of the long gone Hotel Amarillo which was located at 3rd and Polk.

And below is another 1910 shot of the Opera House which sat at 7th and Polk. A Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed the building in 1919.


Man Do I wish I could get a good steak for seventy-five cents today. And how about a motel room for two-fifty. And fireproof to boot. Trust me, I know the value of fireproof. The Capitol hotel was demolished in 1977.

And check out this next card. Cable cars right here in Amarillo. Who'd of thunk it? Of course back in 1914 when that shot was snapped, Polk Street was still dirt.


The book is chocked full of great pictures and the captions provide some great history. I've already learned lots of cool things about the city, and thanks to the generosity folks at Arcadia two of you can have the same privilege without spending a dime. That's right, the publisher is providing two free copies to the readers of my blog. It's up to my discretion how to award these so, I'm going to have a little contest.

Between now and Friday answer these five questions for your shot at a copy. I'll award one copy to the most accurate, and one to the commenter that entertains me the most with their answers. By the way every answer has appeared in one of my previous My Town Monday posts.

1) The city of Amarillo, was originally called _________?
2) Amarillo was once known as The ________ Capital of the World.
3) Amarillo has four public high schools. I'll give you name of each and you provide rest nickname.

Amarillo High _______
Caprock _________
Palo Duro _________
Tascosa __________

4) If I tell you to meet me at The Golden Light chances are we are going to ___________.

5) "The Tactless Texan" is better known as ____________.

Ron will soon be signing copies of his book at both the local Barnes and Noble as well has Hastings
And at the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum in Canyon at 11:30 AM on October 10th.



For more My Town Monday posts from bloggers the world over check out The Official My Town Monday site.