Slim pickins

Not to be confused with the Hollywood cowboy of old movies......but rather the prevailing state of doldrums that us 'seekers of worthy antiquity' seem to be drifting in of late!

It's out there, we just have to work harder to find it, and despite tough economic conditions, we have to pay more for it....go figure!

But I found a bit of 'good junk', and among it was some old iron pieces........

....a large heart tin, metal (shrimp?) trap, and lots of old bottles and jars and other odds and ends......
.....but the BEST part was where the backroads led.....which this time was through Union Springs, AL.
Apparently this is the field trial capital of the world.....
.....but better yet, it's a charming little town with a beguiling karma of bygone elegance and history which the beautiful Southern mansions give you a glimpse of as you pass by....oh the stories they could tell!
There are such wonderfully diverse architectural offerings here, with so many different styles represented.
An extremely abbreviated historical background is that the town was named for the abundance of fresh water springs in the area, was situated at the crossroads of two rail lines, and became a very prosperous pre-civil war town with wealthy cotton plantations and booming industry and commerce--hence the elegant mansions.
There are 47 preserved homes and businesses listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

My favorite--a derelict of course--is this treasure which, although I do hope she will be restored one day, I can't help but adore the character of which time has bestowed on her in this natural state.



The architectural details on these classy ladies are stunning when you take a closer look.....
....lots of corbels and columns....
....decorative trims and rails.......
....gables and dormers.....
....and, of course, some wonderful old iron garden fences!
Pickins may be slim, but discoveries of places of history and beauty along the backroads of the South are still thankfully abundant!