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The future was wide open
Another one of the closed-down schools around here. This one’s been vacant (or un-used, anyway) since 1965, when it was consolidated with the school in nearby Post, Texas.
Post was founded by C. W. Post, whom you may have heard of if you’ve ever eaten Post Toasties or other breakfast cereals. And Close City is named for Post’s son-in-law, E. B. Close, who was married to Marjorie Merriweather Post, who was famous for being a rich philanthropist*. She and Close were divorced and each went on to marry several more times. Which is how this happened: via his second marriage, Edward Bennett** Close would become the paternal grandfather of actress Glenn Close.***
And who says nothing interesting happens around here?
Close City, Texas
photographed 5.31.201
*Her home Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, is now tainted owned by Donald Trump.
** I have a granddaughter named Bennett, but I believe that’s largely coincidental.
*** You can read more here.
Auditorium
This was one of the first times I’d been brave enough to walk into an abandoned building to take some pictures. But I am glad I did: this place is boarded up now.
This place has an interesting history that involves millionaires, Postum, and planned communities. Wikipedia has this to say:
The rare motorist that happens to pass through the remote small town of Close City today may be unaware that, at the turn of the century, the town site was chosen as the original location of Post City, a model community and grand social experiment conceived by C. W. Post, an American breakfast cereal and foods manufacturer. In the early 1890s, Post developed a popular caffeine-free coffee substitute called Postum and later made a fortune on breakfast cereals such as Grape Nuts and Post Toasties. As Post’s wealth grew, his interests began to expand into other areas. One project that had always intrigued him was the creation of a planned community of model homes and industry. His success in the prepared foods industry provided the financial resources to make this dream a reality.
The Close City schoolhouse is two stories high; this auditorium is on the second floor. The building was in use from 1919 to 1965, when the school closed and students went to nearby Post, Texas, for school.
Close City School
Garza County, Texas
photographed 5.31.2010
One Day | One Image 