Emily gave me that big smile she has and we exchanged waves and then my mind began moving back to my duty at hand and that was getting home to get my story finished for this week’s article. (Oh, Emily, you have a tail light out on the passenger side!)

I had been planning all week to finish up my story about my recent archeological studies I am involved in. The problem is, however, the end of the story was not as eventful as I had anticipated. A concrete slab has recently been uncovered at the northwest intersection of FM 2978 and Hufsmith Road. I have been trying to find out what kind of building used to occupy this corner, as I could not recall seeing this thing in my youth.

The first person that had any recollection was one of the Mueller boys and then Mrs. Mary Scott told me her kids remembered waiting for the bus under an old canopy that used to be on the front of the building, but neither of them recalled what the building was actually used for and when it was built. Mr. Doaks and Jo Jo Barnes also had a slight recollection of something too, but could not confirm.

My first solid lead came from my good buddy, George Grubb. George e-mailed and told me that the building was built by Mr. Harrell who used to own the land before FM 2978 was built. The road had split his land and he finally abandoned the building because of vandalism and theft that occurred several times.

My second confirmation of the story came from Kerri Bogs Havard. Kerri confirmed the story in much the same manner George did and then this all made sense to me. The footprint I found on the corner of the slab carried a five letter name, but I could only make out the first two letters of PE.

Well, it just so happens that Mr. and Mrs. Harrell had a daughter named PENNY so the mystery has been solved. The building was probably built sometime between 1967 and 1971, so the reason I don’t recall this location is because I was no longer riding my bicycle up and down Hufsmith Road. I was actually speeding by at least 35 MPH in my 1952 Chevy truck, so I never saw the place! They said he used it to store electrical supplies and tools.

As I said, the story was not as eventful as I had hoped. I was really hoping to find out this slab had been built way back in the early 20s. Or maybe it could have been one of the first buildings in Texas that had a concrete slab poured…or maybe somebody had buried treasure under it or something…I was really wishing for a fantastic ending but alas, it’s just a concrete slab from forty or fifty years ago.

I spent the day today up at the ranch. The place is now overgrown with GRASS! I haven’t seen a good crop of grass in a few years due to drought conditions, but for now it is looking good again.

I left this morning and as the day progressed, I probably should have just turned around and come back home. It was not a very good day. First of all, there was a bad wreck west of Rose Hill and FM 2920 was blocked off. I had to go the long way down Mueschke to Hwy 290.

Then, when I arrived at the ranch, my tractor wouldn’t crank. Two hours later I had it running. Then my PTO shaft on my mower was stuck and it took another thirty minutes trying to free the shaft. Then I saw a young calf I had over in the neighbor’s property, so I had to chase it back in. It was hot, it was humid and I was plain tuckered out after mowing a small portion. On my way home I decided to indulge in a meal at Purcell’s and I started feeling bad so I left, only to once again be delayed by another bad wreck on Hwy 290 near Hempstead.

Oh well…so it goes with so many of our lives. The best laid plans are put to waste by the shear act of living. Stuff happens!

Clifford

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