This was one of the first places we made a stop at on our Involuntary Vacation from McAllen in south west Texas to our home in the south east – a total of 700 miles. It was a very small community, not as wealthy as it had been in the past although there is now plentiful natural gas in the area. Sometimes this positively affects the population but usually the oil companies or landowners benefit the most. We like to ‘collect’ unique post offices across the states and just being named Pawnee Post Office was cool enough.

I was intrigued about why the place was named Pawnee, as they are primarily central plains Native Americans. When the second European settlers arrived in 1826, an Irish family named the Sullivans, they found a piece of wood nailed to a tree with Pawnee written on it. Later arrowheads discovered in nearby Sulphur Creek were attributed to the Skidi Pawnee or Panismahas. Legend has it that they practiced human sacrifice. So does our society, with guns, every day. Many tribes were semi or fully nomadic and the area is rich for hunting, even today. Back in the day there were buffalo, panther, antelope and wolves (oh my). The area was settled by Native Americans 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Prior to the Sullivans, Carlos Martinez was granted the first Spanish land grant in 1789 as the conquistadors invaded from Mexico into Texas.
The Indigenous tribes were Apache, Karankawa and Borrado. This is a wide and brief generalization but Apache were known as fierce warriors with a strong religious belief. Their territory spread from Arizona to Texas and Mexico. Navajo and Apache are related tribes. Karankawa lived across the southern part of Texas, skilled in hunting and warfare. They crafted pottery and baskets that they lined with a type of asphalt that washed up on the beaches of the Texas Gulf. Oil has been part of our culture for a long time… Not much is known about the Borrado who were misnamed by the Spanish settlers for their striped body painting or tattoos. They were native to Northern Mexico and the Rio Grande area. The frequented Padre Island.
After the Sullivans settled in Pawnee they were joined by their women folks and then a range of Swedish and German settlers. Today this tiny little town still has 12 churches that represent every possible form of Christianity. The Methodist Church below caught my attention. The photographs are untouched to show how dark the clouds were. I have to be honest and say that it looked like a perfect place to shoot a thriller or horror movie – no disrespect intended! Can’t you see villagers seeking shelter behind that red door to escape from the oil companies zombie hordes (obviously interchangeable)??



There is even excellent disability access to the beautiful little church (aka zombie shelter). Perhaps zombies might be considered disabled in which case my shelter idea is terrible. Wouldn’t you like to live in my mind for a day??? 🧟♀️
My mind is scary enough lol. Such history wiped out by colonization and now we are at crossroads in saving our planet without the fervor it needs. Be well my friend and i hope you are having an excellant day.
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I think it has been ever thus. I am having a good day – thank you! K x
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I think it look serene and lovely. You’ve been watching too many zombie films Kerry! I only watch rom coms and it looks like the ideal venue for the end of film wedding that they nearly all end in.
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LOL! I have been watching too many horror movies set in wee towns in Texas…
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Looks like a lovely wee Church. I’m with Katherine. Too many zombie movies🤣
Although inside my head is crazy too!
Keep well ❤️
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Ha, ha. As I commented to Katharine – too much TV watching. The storm clouds were very ominous…and that tree!
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I was enjoying this little detour into Pawnee until the zombies turned up as were the previous residents with the fracking – trying to think of a not swear word – companies that have poisoned the water, destroyed farms and the livelihood of the town 😡
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I have no idea if Pawnee has had any problems with fracking. The oil industry needs to take much more care of the environment.
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Hi Kerry,
I do not want have anything to do with zombies, but I do love pictures of charming old churches.
Thank you for sharing the history and pictures.
Blessings!
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Thank you, Ana. The zombies are just in my head…🤪
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Fantastic photos of the church with an ominous tree branch in front of it. Safe travels, dear Kerry!
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Thank you so much, Dolly! 💕
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You are very welcome, darling! I hope your husband is well. 😻
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You are so thoughtful, Dolly – thank you. He is having the last scan today and then the cardiologist will give his final assessment. He has had very few AFIB incidents. 🤞
Hope all is well with you and yours. K x
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I hope your husband has gotten the all-clear from his cardiologist.
Be well, darling!
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Getting there – thank you!
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There’s a village in Nebraska named Pawnee.
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I think there is one in Illinois – they got around!
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Old America has a fascinating but ultimately tragic history – many native cultures all but destroyed, the ones that practiced common ownership and respect for the land. What have we become, now that we worship wealth, property and oneself above others?
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It is certainly a strange world we live in today.
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Small post offices and twelve churches in one small town … reminds me of the small Pennsylvania community that I grew up in. But really, I guess you could say that about a lot of places! We’re really more similar than different.
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There is a part of me that longs to live in one of those towns that shout Americana but I know I would be an outsider. In Scotland, we lived in villages and although we loved it, we were always ‘incomers’. My multinational suburb will have to do…😊 Why 12 churches, though???
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You “collect” Post Offices, I “collect” (Texas) Forts, (Texas) Courthouses, and bridges.
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Great photos of Americana, Kerry.
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Thank you!
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lol “obviously interchangable” loved the photo of the post office.
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Thank you, Gill. It was a homely wee post office – reminds of past times living in villages.
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Twelve churches in one small town? That’s quite a lot! And, yes, this would very much be a great place to make a zombie movie, Kerry! I wonder what the white church with the little red doors looks like inside! Thanks for sharing and I hope all is well! Aiva 🙂 xx
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Thank you, Aiva! I thought 12 was about 9 too many…😊 I should have checked if the church was locked but I think it would have been simple inside.
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Love the gnarled tree, worth a visit in itself. Ever visited Pawnee, Indiana?
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Thank you, Michael. I have not visited Indiana, or Pawnee, Indiana so that will have to be added to my very long bucket list…
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