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August 13, 2024
Growing Up In Bandera
By Glenn Clark
The Bandera Prophet
Well it looks like I am destined to remain just a plain old county boy for the rest of my days. I never could have imagined how trying to maintain simple ways of life could become so complicated. You would think progress would include improvements to make life more comfortable without becoming so restrictive.
After jumping into local politics for a few years, I can say without a doubt that nothing at City Hall is done in a simple manner. I understand that it isn't unique to our town. I always heard "you can't fight City Hall,” but it seems that is all people did while I was on City Council. Just so you know, the friends who encourage you to run for office may be among the first to throw you under the bus. It was pretty evident that I was way too country for the city folks moving in.
Major highway construction in our area, along with old buildings being demolished to make room for more modern facilities is a sure sign that the times they are a changin'. Out with the old and in with the new is the current status in town. Some among us fight to preserve things linked to a way of life from the past because it is a part of us. Sadly, the younger generations are missing that link that 50s and 60s Bandera kids had back in the day. Many of the newbies don't give a hoot about the history of a building or why natives get upset about them being torn down.
In earlier times, all the local dude ranches were known for participating in the events happening in town. The Cabaret dances and Mansfield Park rodeos were a part of the dude's agenda while in Bandera. Many of the dude ranches participated in parades on Main Street. The Mayan Ranch used to have hayrides that would make their way through town during the summer. I miss hearing the music coming across the river from the ghost town at the Mayan, while sitting on my front porch in the evenings. So many old traditions have slowly faded away.
I get a lot of pushback over my resistance to so much development of the city park. I know it's a battle I can't win, as even people who shared my Growing Up In Bandera years have a different opinion on the subject. Like all the other improvements we make in the name of progress, it translates into more people moving in to enjoy what we have created. In our quest to make lives better, have we? As I look back I'm not so sure that is what we have accomplished.
#410 2024
After jumping into local politics for a few years, I can say without a doubt that nothing at City Hall is done in a simple manner. I understand that it isn't unique to our town. I always heard "you can't fight City Hall,” but it seems that is all people did while I was on City Council. Just so you know, the friends who encourage you to run for office may be among the first to throw you under the bus. It was pretty evident that I was way too country for the city folks moving in.
Major highway construction in our area, along with old buildings being demolished to make room for more modern facilities is a sure sign that the times they are a changin'. Out with the old and in with the new is the current status in town. Some among us fight to preserve things linked to a way of life from the past because it is a part of us. Sadly, the younger generations are missing that link that 50s and 60s Bandera kids had back in the day. Many of the newbies don't give a hoot about the history of a building or why natives get upset about them being torn down.
In earlier times, all the local dude ranches were known for participating in the events happening in town. The Cabaret dances and Mansfield Park rodeos were a part of the dude's agenda while in Bandera. Many of the dude ranches participated in parades on Main Street. The Mayan Ranch used to have hayrides that would make their way through town during the summer. I miss hearing the music coming across the river from the ghost town at the Mayan, while sitting on my front porch in the evenings. So many old traditions have slowly faded away.
I get a lot of pushback over my resistance to so much development of the city park. I know it's a battle I can't win, as even people who shared my Growing Up In Bandera years have a different opinion on the subject. Like all the other improvements we make in the name of progress, it translates into more people moving in to enjoy what we have created. In our quest to make lives better, have we? As I look back I'm not so sure that is what we have accomplished.
#410 2024