Photos and Story By Ken Hulsy
A couple of weeks ago, Terri and I took a day trip to historical Jefferson, Texas. We instantly fell in love with the place. So, when I had to travel to Arkansas and Northeast Texas on Monday, I couldn’t resist taking a detour back to Jefferson. During our previous visit, Terri and I were tourists. This time, however, I was in photographer mode, feeling that the images I captured on our first visit didn't truly do justice to the magic of Jefferson.
With a couple of hours to kill and a camera in hand, I walked around, capturing images of anything that caught my eye. It was a good exercise in getting my brain back into the mindset of seeing scenes as photographs—a skill I used to excel at when I lived in California. I aimed to capture images worth framing and pictures that told a story. Jefferson offered me the perfect opportunity to do both.
Visiting on a weekday afternoon, as opposed to a busy Saturday, allowed me to access areas that were crowded with tourists during our first visit. While it's great for Jefferson to have tourists and their money, it wasn’t ideal for a photographer looking to capture quiet, intimate scenes. I couldn’t have asked for better weather; it was pleasantly warm, with just the right amount of cloud cover. Though storms were nearby, I enjoyed a brief bit of rain—just enough to tease but not enough to wet the ground. Part of me wished for a gentle rain, as I felt it would have added something special to the atmosphere of my images. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but the cloudy skies did reduce glare and provide beautiful hues.
Jefferson is the kind of town where you can take a leisurely walk and be visually stimulated as you explore. Its charm lies in the community's commitment to preserving its historical sites rather than sacrificing them for modernization—like replacing the old stone Texaco station with yet another Dollar General. Many towns across the country have made the mistake of choosing cheap goods over nostalgia.
The people of Jefferson wisely invested in preserving their structures to prevent them from deteriorating. Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many places that think preserving a town means leaving buildings abandoned and at the mercy of the elements. I've witnessed this scenario play out far too often in the South, where what could be treasured history ends up as nothing more than a collection of rotting timber.
Jefferson is truly one of the gems of the Southwest. I fully embraced all that the town offered and enjoyed a wonderful, inspirational afternoon. It felt like the kind of place where a photographer and history buff could settle down and relax. Without a doubt, Terri and I will be making more day trips to Jefferson. I think I may have found my muse here—a spark of art and beauty that resonates with my soul.
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