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Location DB > United States > Texas > Lawrence > The Old Red Building
 Name
The Old Red Building
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Explorer Zero on 12/24/2007 9:35 PM
last modified by TexasMike on 12/23/2012 9:23 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
A one room rectangular brick building on a concrete slab 45x35x30 with two sets of 12ft high steel doors and some apertures that may have been vents. There were also two large vent structures on the roof.

The building has significant structural issues, the massive foundation is busted and two walls have extensive vertical cracks all the way to the ceiling which threaten to bring the place down.

Vagrants have been camping inside. Human waste, small camp fires, food, clothes and other bum paraphenalia were found. The floor has been covered with school type desk tops, just the tops.

Its located on about 150-160 acres with a 5 strand barbed wire stock fence. Horse manure, fresh hay and mineral blocks indicate this is an active pasture.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: not very exciting
 Physical Information
Address

Lawrence, Texas
United States
Owner: City of Lawrence
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
     Interesting Features
    A big old empty building thats just been begging to be checked out.

    I came away with more questions than answers.

    See updated history
     Security Measures
     Historical Dates
    Built: 1923
    Closed: 1932
     Required Equipment
     Recommended Equipment

     History
    Lawrence Texas was a small farming community settled around 1840 that has all but disappeared. A group of investors lead by Colonel J.W. Lawrence sold memberships in the Texas Colony Association for $15 which entitled each member to pick out a lot 25'x125' in the new township. Not many people took advantage of that offer though and the town of Lawrence never really amounted to much.

    No more than 200 people ever claimed residence here at the same time until late into the 20th century. Now its just a bedroom community. There is no fire department, no police, no mayor, best I can tell there is no organized government what so ever in Lawrence.

    I thought the building has a similar architecture to the old water department buildings on the east side of Terrell and may have been a pump station or something like that. Top and side vents may have been for engines or or other power equipment running inside but with no pipes or pumps or any other supporting hardware or fittings this one will have to be listed as an unidentified structure for now.

    UPDATE: Old Red Building identified. Turns out this was a power substation for the Texas Interurban Railway Company's line that ran between Dallas to Terrell from 1923 to 1932. These early electric railways carried commuters and local traffic to Denton and Ft Worth as well. The rail cars were similar to trollies like this one http://www.uer.ca/...l.asp?picid=254042 in fact one of these interurban streetcars still survives and is still in service on the McKinney Avenue Trolly system in Dallas.

    The main power station was located in downtown Dallas near the present day location of the American Airlines Arena. This old red building in Lawerence as it turns out was like a giant transformer where the 1100v AC was stepped down by a large rotary convertor to 600v DC that the streetcar motors could use.


    Update - 12/21/2012: Building was demolished to make way for a railroad spur for a new industrial park.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans

     Stories
    Streetcar Desires
    Fri, Jun 27th, 2008
    posted by Explorer Zero


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Old Red
    Thu, Dec 27th, 2007
    posted by Explorer Zero
    7 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Nothings Changed
    Fri, May 4th, 2012
    posted by TexasMike
    7 pictures


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     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 8/2/2018 6:24 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Aug 2 18 at 18:24, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:27, Explorer Zero updated a story
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:25, Explorer Zero updated a story
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:20, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture South side
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:20, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Roof vent
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:20, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Door
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:19, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Interior
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:19, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Crack
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:19, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture West angle
  • on Aug 2 18 at 14:19, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture New pasture gate
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.Companion LocationTexasMike04355/4/2012 2:09 AM by TexasMike
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