Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
Another Daily HappeningLeave a comment

I Have Always Been Very Agile (that’s kind of an inside joke)

lewisotr

I came in Saturday evening knowing I’d put off assembling a huge doll until the last minute for my Granddaughter Sarah’s 5th Birthday today. I flew in on it about 8:00 PM last night doing it on the Brazilian Mahogany Coffee Table in our living room. The boss lady made sure it was covered so I wouldn’t scratch it. But doing it there allowed me to have plenty of light but most importantly it kept me from bending over and sitting in the floor for the 3 hours I worked on it. At least this way I was able to … Continue reading I Have Always Been Very Agile (that’s kind of an inside joke)

The History of Texas2 Comments

Spirit Leveling in Texas

lewisotr

I discovered a new term that relates to the surveying and layout of Texas when USGS Markers were place primarily along roadways and railroads from points all over the state. I knew the markers were placed, but had never thought about the timeframe in which it was undertaken. This name Spirit Leveling comes from the use of a spirit level used in surveying equipment. Below is a report as is relates to this being done all over Texas from 1896 to 1915. https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0637/report.pdf Continue reading Spirit Leveling in Texas

Marble Falls and the Area Around it.Leave a comment

The Mystery Of The Marble Falls Granite Marker

lewisotr

I recently came across this newspaper clipping. I haven’t been able to date it yet. Mrs. W.W. “Iva” Fuller was a tenacious woman and this article demonstrates that. I talked to her daughter, Mary Alice, but she doesn’t remember the actual date of the article. But it calls into question several things for me. We had this Marble Falls Monument as a previous topic some time back. It appears the monument was originally placed many years ago when Gen. Adam R. “Stovepipe” Johnson was still alive. The monument was moved or rededicated in a 1962 ceremony that LBJ attended. The … Continue reading The Mystery Of The Marble Falls Granite Marker

My Friends, The Early Days2 Comments

The Young Girl That Was Murdered Down By Backbone Creek.

lewisotr

Many probably recall the story about Daynon Lewis, a girl of 13 year of age, found hanging in a little shed behind the family home, back in 1965. It had a a major impact of all the kids that went to school with her and everyone in Marble Falls. We have talked a lot on various threads on here about the incident and how no one was ever charged in her murder. It was such a tragic thing. We all knew her as Daynon, however here name was Laniece Daynon Lewis. She is remembered as a very nice and sweet … Continue reading The Young Girl That Was Murdered Down By Backbone Creek.

Crazy Times, On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

We Weren’t Made To Feel Welcome In Victoria, Texas

lewisotr

Back in the late 70’s things were going pretty well for us in the construction business, but had slowed a bit. As things often happen, a miracle job fell out of the sky. A Burnet County fellow, Fritz Heine had gone off to Houston and was doing well contracting with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. I knew of Fritz but mostly just by name. He was a generation ahead of me, about my Dads age. He had a son named Henry that had finished his senior year of school in Marble Falls, then he came and worked for a year or … Continue reading We Weren’t Made To Feel Welcome In Victoria, Texas

Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Just in case we don’t know enough about goats, there is this:

lewisotr

Goats were one of the first animals to be tamed by humans and were being herded 9,000 years ago. Goat meat is the most consumed meat per capita worldwide Goats can be taught their name and to come when called The life span of a goat is about that of a dog Goats have a gestation period (pregnancy) of five month and the average birth rate for goats is 2.2 kids per year. Baby goats (kids) are standing and taking their first steps within minutes of being born. Each kid has a unique call, and along with its scent, that … Continue reading Just in case we don’t know enough about goats, there is this:

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, On The JobLeave a comment

With All The Rain We’ve Had……..It Can Always Be Worse.

lewisotr

I think back on how wet it’s been and how devastating all the rains can be on the construction business. I will recall a couple of my biggest weather related nightmares that were a result of heavy rains. The Memorial Day Flood in Austin back in 1981 found us building Jester Blvd off of RM 2222. We were getting close to the end of it. We had been more than a year doing that project and we were days from being ready pave the roads. One single night 11 inches of rain fell on top of Jester Mountain. In just … Continue reading With All The Rain We’ve Had……..It Can Always Be Worse.

My Friends, SmithwickLeave a comment

The Gift of the Anvil

lewisotr

This mini-anvil was recently given to me by a friend. “Punk” had my brother, Kenny dig it out of the barn a few weeks ago so he could bring it to me. It has become a “prize possession” to me. This little anvil only weighs slightly over 25 lbs. I’m not sure if it at one time was part of a vise or was somehow mounted on something. DL “Punk” Turner and his brother GH “Son” Turner farmed and ranched down on Cow Creek here in Burnet & Travis Counties all of thier lives. We lost son just over 4 … Continue reading The Gift of the Anvil

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, On The JobLeave a comment

“Hey Bossman”

lewisotr

As hard as it is growing up in this world for teens now, it has to be so much harder for the black youth, especially in any of the large urban areas. I often think back to a half dozen black kids I befriended in the Oak Cliff in the early 90’s while doing a job there. I’ve written before about them, Freddy, Herman, Terry and the others names escape me just now. I would load them up in my suburban, after checking with their mother, grandmother or other guardian, (always a female – never remember even one of them … Continue reading “Hey Bossman”