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History
on a PinheadP.
S. and James S. Ray founded Rayland in 1885 and a post office was opened two years
later. In 1908 the post office was relocated 3.5 miles east to Antelope Springs,
even though the name Rayland was retained. The community also had a school (built
in 1899) but that too, was moved before closing in the late 1940s. The post office
was discontinued in 1920.
The current population of 30 is an estimate,
down from 80 residents from the 1940 census. |
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I Drove My GMC
to Foardby Rick
Vanderpool
I
saw the sign that read "MARGARET 13," and turned
north off US70W. Good thing I didn't yawn or I would have missed the sign that
read "RAYLAND", right after the one for Foard County.
This stretch of
the county had wheat fields on both sides of the road and I believe I saw a thresher,
working in the distance to the south. I barely can tell ripe wheat from Wheat
Chex.
Within 50 yards, I saw a warning sign (yellow and black diamond-shaped)
for a 20 MPH dog-leg turn. Two noisy dogs had greeted me when I had gotten out
to photograph the wheat fields, but their legs bore no resemblance to the one
on the sign
RAYLAND has a couple of vacant barn-like structures and a very
interesting building that I photographed. Can anyone tell me what went on there?
I counted no more than 6 or 8 inhabited residences in RAYLAND and 3 or 4 vacant
ones; a total of 4 horses, one large, green tractor and a nice, sun-dappled lane
to the south.
I saw a Roadrunner, but he was too quick for me to shoot
– I mean, photograph. They usually don't hang around to get shot – I mean, photographed.
A snake slithered across the road safely. Traffic was not a problem, but
that Roadrunner could ruin a snake's day for dang sure. Other than these critters,
the horses, and a couple of well-kept lawns with flowers, I saw no signs of life
in RAYLAND. Onward to MARGARET …
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© Rick
Vanderpool
Texas Plains Journal entry for April 27, 2010 |
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