Seven thousand five hundred souls.

I’m thinking this isn’t a particularly auspicious omen for what we’re going to find. Texas small towns can be incredibly depressing - “Last Picture Show” material, but 70 years on.

Is that square in the pavement a space for a long-gone tree? See what I keep telling you about trees?

And what’s that little pole about?

Well, that’s interesting.

Looks as if they hollowed out the bottom floor for a restaurant, one upon a time. Weedy sidewalk. Another strange short pole.

Annnnd you know what this was.

Nothing else it could have possibly been.

C'mon, there has to be something here.

Yes! The Civic Center looks nice. So that’s where the money goes.

t’s like something you’d build in preparation for the sun to go nova.

Or something you’d build after it did.

J. T Riddles Carpet and Furniture:

He got you coming and going:

“(In) 1910 J.I. Riddle opened a furniture and funeral business in Mexia.  1935 was a significant year for the funeral home. J.L. Blair became associated with the firm that year and also Riddle Burial Association was established one of, if not the first burial associations in Texas.”

A burial association, eh. What a merry trade.

Pontaneity?

No. It’s missing a letter. Which one? Of course.

The existence of a Rotary - in full Buckaroo Revival here - indicates that they might be part of the student exchange program. Some kid from Europe might end up here. That would be something of a surprise.On the left, it looks like someone ran a bar out of the ground floor. Bars of the era never had plate-glass window. You wanted to keep the world at a safe distance.

On the left, it looks like someone ran a bar out of the ground floor. Bars of the era never had plate-glass window. You wanted to keep the world at a safe distance.

This might not be a going concern.

What was it? And what’s the yellow plug? For the former, I'd say grocery store. For the latter, perhaps a plinth for a sign.

Neither matters now, alas.

It’s not entirely closed. What is it?

Well, half a window is better than none.

Finally, the Last Picture Show:

The original marquee - it has a slumbering man wearing a sombrero.

This is the town Anna Nicole Smith got out of.