The Last Little Rock City Barn in Texas

Richard Haynes and the last little Rock City barn in Texas.

Most folks are surprised to learn there were once Rock City barns in Texas. Rock City had three on their records, but Clark Byers says there were more, including one near Tyler that belonged to an oil millionaire who was so cheap he wouldn't have indoor plumbing. But that was a long time ago, and Clark doesn’t remember the location of any of them.

So, as far as can be known at this time, the last Rock City barn in Texas is on Richard Haynes' little spread on U.S. 80 west of Marshall. Richard and his wife Vallie (who was born on the place) are getting along in years now, but he still runs 17 head of registered Black Angus cattle on his 67 acres and keeps the big yard mowed -- practically a full-time job in itself. 

This is his second barn to carry the “See Rock City” message. The first was one of traditional design which was pulled down in the early ‘60s and replaced with the present “pole” barn. Rock City obligingly applied their sign to the new barn as well, and that’s the way it’s stayed. It’s pretty faded now, as well it should be – it was last repainted around 1967. 

(From my book Rock City Barns: A Passing Era.)

(By March, 1995, when this photo was made, I had a pair of Canon EOS A2 cameras. I unfortunately did not record the lens used, but judging from the perspective it could have been the Canon EF 24mm f2.8. The film was Fujichrome 100D)

The second edition of Backroads and Byways of Georgia is almost ready to ship. Watch this space for ordering instructions.

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Photography and text copyright 2023 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.