Welcome!

I created this blog to document my journey into a dying community. In the summer of 1936, during the Great Depression, photographer Walker Evans and Writer James Agee were sent by the Farm Security Administration to document tenant farmers, share croppers, and the effect on their lives by the Great Depression. The images were breathtaking, as well as the words. I was so moved by devastation to the farm systems at that time, and the slow death of rural America over the past 100 years. So I have set out to follow up Walker Evans' work and show the Midwest's loss of culture through the desertion of rural America. I hope you enjoy the photos and words as I post them.
Here are a couple of photos from a year ago that helped start this interest. A friend took me to a ghost town here in Central Texas. Half the town was abandoned after the booming economy of the city next door. I wish I could remember the name of the town because it was remarkable I apologize for the lack of quality in these photos, as I was still (and still very much am) an amateur photographer with an interest. I promise the photos will get better as I progress. Majority of them, due to sticking with medium that was present for and used by Walker Evans, will be medium and large format, black and white negatives.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you continue to and continue to enjoy the work!

JR

General Store at center of town



Close up of local beer brewery ad on the side of General Store