LOCKHART, TEXAS: From the courthouse to the interior of
Black's Barbeque, these photos pretty much explain themselves.
Lockhart, Part 1
Story & Photos by IRA KENNEDY
Turn off that TV! Get out of the house. Go somewhere you've never been, talk
to strangers and get lost if you can.
If you're like most folks, that groove you settled into is
all rut now. The only way you can escape is to strike out for adventure. And you
don't have to go far from home.
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prices being what they are I decided to take in a few towns close by. Lockhart,
Luling, Prarie Lea, Fentress and some backroads toward home -- a visit to all those places
I've taken for granted and breezed by in the past.
Lockhart is famous for its barbecue. Every community likes to lay claim to something so
outsiders will know just how special they are. Sometimes two places make the same
claim and that's when politicians step in to settle the matter. For example, according to MSN Houston
is the Barbecue Capital of Texas. In the Spring of 1999 the Texas Legislature
officially gave the designation to Lockhart but evidently MSN hasn't gotten the
word. But wait, there's more.
You might wonder which town claims to be the Barbecue
Capital of the World. Well, Kansas City, Missouri; Santa Maria, California;
Owensboro, Kentucky; Hemingway, South Carolina; Lexington, North Carolina; and
Llano, Texas (to name a few) all claim the title.
Now don't go thinking that this momentous delemma
could be settled by the World Court in the Hague. We quit that bunch last year.
Anyway, I don't reckon such decisions should be left to old boys in starched
shirts and silk ties. So, in my humble opinion, since the folks in Llano were clever
enough to by-pass the Texas Legislature with such an audacious claim you gotta respect
that. Also, there are more barbecue pits per capita in Texas than any other U.S.
state; so I reckon, by default, the winner is Llano, Texas. Besides, unless you've
been to Cooper's, Laird's, Inman's or Brothers BBQ in Llano you don't get a vote.
Yea, I know -- the tour...
It was just me and Nigel the Land Rover on this trip
and fortunately navigation wasn't an issue. Coming into Lockhart I realized right
off I was in one of those truly special Texas communities where historic
restoration and civic pride are setting some pretty high standards.
After pulling over to photograph one of their
mansions, I parked on the courthouse square for a little photo stroll. That
courthouse is prettier than any picture but I gave it my best lick before taking my own
walking tour.
There's something about doorways (and porches) that
can really grab my attention. Speaking of porches, I passed by a magnificent one and
was  fixing
to stop before I glanced at the rear-view mirror and saw that semi-truck bearing down on
me like a blue norther. Anyway, just off the square I came upon this bright yellow
doorway trimmed in pink, blue and burgundy accented, accidentally, by a baby blue
stroller. After taking the picture I stared at it for awhile half expecting
transported back in time. You never know... Okay, you do, but I don't.
At the end of the block I checked out the Lockhart
Antique Emporium (photo below). I wasn't going to buy anything, financies and gas
prices being what they are, but I reckon I  could
spot something someone else might like. I introduced myself to Mary and John Porter,
who were managing the place, and asked if I could take a few pictures. I reckon it
wasn't one of your every-day requests so they called the owner, Kathy McCormick, for
permission. Meanwhile I started taking pictures telling them they could have the
disc if she wasn't agreeable.
There was lots of neat stuff and I took several
photos; after reviewing them I realized one item stood out.  It
was a painting of Mary and a kinda girly-looking Jesus. If you decide to buy it make
sure the green glassware beneath the painting is part of the deal. ( I've seen way
too many episodes of Trading Spaces...)
Mary and John were mighty friendly folks who
have their own business -- indiancreekantiques.com.
I visited their site and somewhat inclined to purchase their Dreams
of a Final Theory by Steven Weinberg, recipient of the 1979 Nobel Prize for Physics.
I mean who wouldn't want to read about "the shape of a final theory and the
effect its discovery will have on the human spirit"? Who knows, after reading Final
Theory I may be transported into the
future? Naturally, if that happened I'd probably keep it to myself. I suspect
Weinberg put "Dreams" in the title just keep folks from thinking he was either a
prophet or a nut-case. Dreamer, prophet, nut-case -- all my kind of folk.
PAGE 1: LOCKHART / PAGE 2: LOCKHART PT. 2
PAGE 3: LULING / PAGE
4: LULING PT. 2
PAGE 5: FENTRESS /
PAGE 6: THE BACKROAD HOME / MAP
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