One Big Historic Way Amarillo Needs To Not Follow Lubbock’s Lead

Lubbock and Amarillo, the Grumpy Old Men of the Texas panhandle, west Texas, high plains...however you want to refer to our slice of planet Earth. We get compared to one another a lot, we bicker over who big name bands should play for, and so on, and so on.

There is one way, though, Amarillo needs to not follow Lubbock's lead, and it involves bricks.

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Could Lubbock Really Be Getting Rid Of It's Brick Road On Broadway?

It seems that the way some people want it. According to this write up done by Wes, there's a renewed push to remove the bricks on Broadway in Lubbock.

He's got his theories on why the push to remove the brick is back, and he also has his reasons for thinking it's a bad idea. For most part, it all revolves around history and identity of the area in which they lay.

Seeing this made me think about Amarillo's seemingly scattered brick roads, and I have to agree with Wes. You remove something like that, you get rid of a major part of the unique personality that it gives the city. By and large, they play a big role in preserving history.

Think Of How Boring Life Would Be Without Our Historic Brick Roads

Just imagine it. You're driving along, and you come to a historic neighborhood. Suddenly, the pot hole ridden road you were on turns into a piece of history. You're driving on the bricks. The same bricks that the people who built this city traveled on.

If for some reason your eyes are closed so you don't see the switch, or maybe you're in the passenger seat catching a quick nap, you'll hear it. The deafening road noise of your eco-friendly kid trolley rolling over the bricks will let you know.

Not sure about the integrity of your car's alignment or suspension? Take it for a stroll over the bricks and find out.

I know I slow down a bit when I'm driving on a brick road. Every town I've lived in has them, and it just feels like the right thing to do...for several reasons. Get rid of the bricks, and there's no longer a built in high-speed deterrent.

People Complain, But Our Brick Streets Are Part Of Who We Are

The only place I've lived where I didn't have to drive on a brick street was in Kansas City, Missouri. Sure, that city has all of the different things that its known for and plenty of iconic landmarks.

Brick streets, to me at least, represent small town charm that you don't find in other places where everything is all about being "modern." Have you seen the latest tech catastrophe announced by Apple? Modern isn't always cool.

History is important. It reminds us where we came from, and where we hope to be. You get rid of that, and you just turn into another town full of modern junk that's overpriced and made for cheap.