The Big Spur In Spur

People who live in Spur, Texas have a lot of pride in their town. They are good neighbors and have respect for each other. They are good people. Spur has a population of around 1,200. The Dixie Dog, the town‘s only eating place, closed because of the pandemic. The closest place for travelers to get a meal is in Dickens, ten miles up the road. Dickens (population 300) is the county seta of Dickens County.

Spur has a big homecoming every October for anybody who went to school in Spur. The city has an ex-students building filled with memorabilia. In the year 2000, Spur celebrated its 100th birthday. Harry Bob Martin, a member of the historical commission, approached John Grusendorf, owner of a welding shop, and asked him to build a big monument in the shape of a spur. John told Harry Bob that he could do it, that he just needed some time. This was in the spring of the year and they wanted it finished by the homecoming celebration.

“So we got started on it,” says John. “Got through around the first of October. They came and picked it up and mounted it in concrete and had a big celebration and dedication as part of homecoming.”

It’s a metal structure 25 feet tall and 18 feet wide. It greets motorists as they come into town. At the time it was the tallest spur monument in Texas. It has since been eclipsed by a couple of others that are larger, but the one in Spur is authentic, designed by a local man who makes spurs. The dowel at the top of the big spur turns. John laid out the spur on the ground with stakes and ropes, then added the metal.

“The South Plains Electric Company brought a big trailer with a crane on it, hoisted that spur onto the trailer and drove it through town. At the site they dug big holes and stuck it in the ground I think ten or twelve feet, maybe more.”

John created a piece of art, something he had never done before. Three of his employees and his wife Sylvia worked on the monument.

“About the last two months I stayed on it by myself.”

I asked John if he got paid for it.

“No, Sylvia and I donated the whole thing to the city. We enjoyed doing it. I did it for my grandkids and their kids so they can see what their old granddaddy did.”

John had his welding shop nearly 40 years. He and Sylvia, who now live in Dickens, are traveling a lot these days.

“We were tied down for so many years running the shoo, but now we’re trying to make up for it.”