Like many East Texans, I'm fascinated by the history of our beautiful area. And it's even more amazing to have access to old videos that bring our imaginings of days gone by to life.

I have been utterly captivated by this video I ran across earlier this week, and I wanted to share it with you. 

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The video is just a little over ten minutes and gives us a peek into Longview's past--way back to 1939, 1940, and 1941... In my opinion, this is priceless footage.

The video is a series of cuts made during various events around the city of Longview. I'm not sure if I've ever seen local videos of East Texas earlier than the 50's. Thus having the opportunity to glimpse into the everyday, candid moments of our East Texan forebears is a fascinating experience.

(Feature photo source: Screenshot from Channel: Todd Bates YouTube Video)
(Feature photo source: Screenshot from Channel: Todd Bates YouTube Video)
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I can't help but adore seeing the clothes, the CARS, and just the smiling faces of Longview residents of the past enjoying the moments of their lives. In the beginning minutes of the video, you'll see the then-modern citizens of 1939 dressed in costumes from the 1800's. That's a happy irony. :)

(Feature photo source: Screenshot from Channel: Todd Bates YouTube Video)
(Feature photo source: Screenshot from Channel: Todd Bates YouTube Video)
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The last stretch of video is shocking, though. It shares some of the moments of the Longview Campus Ward School Fire which happened in 1944.

Obviously, some of what you'll see in the video no longer exists or has been altered to the point that it's no longer recognizable. But some of these places you'll likely recognize immediately.

What a captivating watch. Enjoy!

 

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Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Texas using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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