Show and Tell – My Hometown

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I’m cheating a little and showing my Show & Tell Tuesday on a Monday!  Tomorrow is the Queen Bee linkup which I co-host but I didn’t want to miss out on showing off my hometown.  
If you don’t know about the Show & Tell Tuesday series hosted by Andrea at Momfessionals, you definitely want to hop on over there and take a look.  So much fun! 
Plus my friend Karli at September Farm has a brand new linkup starting Tuesday and rolling two links into one seemed fun!  
So here are a 10 fun things about the little town that first molded me and most definitely caused me to want to look for something bigger out there.  
Texas
Wharton, Texas is a small town off Highway 59 about 60 miles south of Houston.  When I was growing up the population was around 12,000 but it has declined since then.  Wharton is also the county seat.  
Wharton, Texas
The Colorado River runs through Wharton and I have always loved this bridge.  Sadly it is no longer safe to drive over and has been closed for several years but many have fought to save it.  
Wharton, Texas
Probably most well known is the Tee Pee Motel.  I have honestly always wanted to stay here and can’t believe we still have’t.  I remember these being blue when I was growing up and they are just so fun looking.  After being closed for years, new owners refurbished and created an adjoining RV Park.  
Wharton, Texas
On a trip to town this past Fall I took Carly and her friend Holden for a closer look! 
Wharton, Texas
Why would anyone come to Wharton?  Wharton County Junior College is one reason.  I attended my first two years of college here.  WCJC or WacJac as it was affectionately referred to by some, has a baseball team and offers quite a few vocational programs such as nursing, dental hygiene as well as a criminal justice program to train police officers.  My mom worked for WCJC for over 30 years mentoring students through vocational programs and helping them have a better start in life.  

Wharton, Texas
The courthouse square is one of my very favorite landmarks.  While I was growing up it looked much like the picture in the center.  Little known fact, if you have ever watched the film Powder, the courthouse as it looks in the center picture was the high school.  The city received a grant to restore the courthouse to it’s splendor and it really is such a beautiful building now.  
Wharton, Texas
Hinze’s Barbecue is simply the best.  Unfortunately a fire destroyed the restaurant on the bypass but you can still grab a plate at the new location in town and it is still just as delicious.  Seriously, if Wharton is a town you are passing by you should make this stop!  
When I was growing up the Plaza theatre was actually an operational movie theater but was closed once larger theaters in surrounding towns were built.   It is now used to put on plays by local performing groups.  Horton Foote, a well known playwright, was from Wharton.  
Do you know who Dan Rather is?  I always loved him on the nightly news and remember when I found out he was from Wharton.  His family home was actually moved to the site of our county museum.  Not only were Dan and I both born in Wharton but we both hold degrees from Sam Houston State.  
One of the biggest highlights of the year when I was growing up was attending the Wharton County Fair.  If you have never been to a small county fair you should definitely check one out in your area.  Animals, rodeos and carnivals.  One year my dad grounded us from the fair and it seriously was the biggest punishment I remember because the fair really was that big of a deal.  
Then there is this!  The Dinosaur park is near the river and my big kids have fond memories of Nana taking them to see the dinosaur.  I always thought this was so random!  
One of the most exciting things that ever happened when I was little was the uncovering of an Indian burial ground just about two blocks from my house.  It was so interesting to go over and see how the archaeologist plotted everything and carefully removed all the bones which are now in our local museum.  
Wharton, Texas…..lots of history in this little town.