Kilgore, Texas

Beginning my trip, I intend to make a swift departure from Austin at 7:30 AM and begin making my way north on I-35. My first stop will be the small town, Kilgore, just east of Tyler. In the 1930's, the town had a booming economy after striking oil. The town experienced a brief period of extreme interest from people hoping to profit from the oil boom but by the 40's, the town had settled down considerably and reached a steady population of roughly 12,000.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kilgore, TX
Credit: http://kytx.images.worldnow.com/images/15537139_BG3.jpg

Arriving right around lunch hour, my first stop would be at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Don't jump to conclusions quite yet, this is the sight of the infamous 1983 Kentucky Fried Chicken killings that remain unresolved to this day. A not-so-widely known instance of extreme violence, this hold-up gone awry resulted in the loss of 5 lives and sent shockwaves throughout the community. Houston Chronicle article on the murders and ensuing controversy.

Downtown Kilgore
Credit: http://www.tylertexasonline.com/images
/postcards/kilgore-texas-derricks-downtown.jpg

Not intending to dwell on the grim note of my surely underwhelming meal, I would then head downtown to enjoy the sights of downtown Kilgore. The skyline dotted with multiple inactive oil derricks, an impressive reminder of the town's previous economic prowess. The center of town grows out from the ancient derricks that remain the centerpiece of the town's faded relevance and emerging oddness. My time spent in the town would better acquaint me with Nordan's obsession with the kind of uncanny events and trends that dot our history and inform the heritages of others long after their passing.