Welcome to Kermit, named for Teddy Roosevelt’s son. In 1924 it had three houses. But:

On July 16, 1926 oil was discovered in Hendrick oilfield, near Kermit, and the town experienced a boom. In 1927, a population of 1,000 was reported; by 1929 that number increased to 1,500. On March 4, 1929, the Texas-New Mexico Railway reached the town.

In the 1950s the town continued to grow; housing additions were built. By 1960, the city had a population of 10,465 and 260 businesses, and additional growth estimated to be over 12,000 during the decade.

Not sure the oil industry is firing on all cylinders these days.

Trees, old-time lampposts, empty store:

It looks as if they put the lamppost in te middle of the sidewalk.

Then:

Now:

They always think the trees are an improvement.

“What do you want the building to look like?

“A good-natured bondage mask.”

"Any era in mind?"

"How we think the 80s looked in Miami."

"Got it"

“Architects? Don’t seem many of ‘em ‘round these parts. We leave it up to the bricklayer, mostly. He knows how to leave spaces for windows and doors, and that works out well enough.

Buckaroo Revival with those odd Texas Steps:

Bob, tear it down. Even the pet doors are gone.

The Courthouse Square. As basic as it looks, but these areas always give a place an idemtity.

Finally: Yes, that’s a seventies bank. Why do you ask?

The roof looks like they selected an area in photoshop and dragged it down one pixel at a time. The banks of this era had a style as much as the old Greek / Roman style, and perhaps it was more successful: that temple might not always be a bank, but buildings like this were always a bank. Or a government office.