I grew up in East Texas and have heard that old BS about this infamous but fictional billboard, except it was either Mineral Wells or Mexia or Gladewater.
Having run up and down that road between Jasper and Beaumont many times, it ain’t just a few miles between and VIDOR sure as heck ain’t next door. In 66 years never saw or every heard of your dream billboard. You need to walk this back!!
Yep, I’m calling BS on all the “N-word, don’t let let the sun set” billboards too.
The closest to it I can remember seeing with my own eyes was the
Koffee
Kup
Kafe
diner on old 301 near the GA-FL border. The sign over the diner was arranged as I typed it.
Actually most of the so-called sundown towns were up in Yankeeland. Those billboards (such as the one below) were found in towns in Illinois and Indiana.
Greenville, Texas did have this sign but it was merely a statement of fact, wasn't a threat and certainly was not racist. It was just pride in the excellent farmland in Hunt County:
To tell you the truth, I did see this billboard. My father also saw it, and was appalled.
I’m older than you—and I don’t remember whether I saw it in the 40’s or 50’s.
Actually, now that I look at what I wrote, the town was Vidor—not Jasper. Sorry about that. I had an uncle living in Jasper back then, and somehow got it confused.
There are still some pretty rednecked people living in Vidor......