Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
The History of Texas4 Comments

Calcasieu Lumber Company

lewisotr

CALCASIEU LUMBER – A Great Member Of The Austin Business Scene For Many Years Austin supported many lumberyards, but the largest was Calcasieu, started in 1883 by the Drake brothers and later named after the superior lumber harvested in Calcasieu Parish, La. “Better homes are built with better lumber,” reads an 1884 newspaper ad. “And that doesn’t mean high priced lumber either. Dealers in lumber, sash, doors, blinds, laths, piclets and all builders’ material.” Early photos show a small lumberyard with a pitched roof and a hitching post for horses. Later, Calcasieu expanded over two blocks with a three-story building … Continue reading Calcasieu Lumber Company

Smithwick, The Early Days, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Cattle Guard Dogs

lewisotr

A practice that I’m sure would get you locked up nowadays was to post a dog, chained up at each cattle guard along the country roads. There would be a dog house, to protect them from the weather, whether the hot sun or the freezing cold. The rancher would come daily and put out food and water for them. It seemed like a lonely existence, but I guess they served their purpose. Looking back I feel like that was mostly where goats and sheep were kept, but maybe wild cattle too. They may still be used in some places, but … Continue reading Cattle Guard Dogs

Amazing Things, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of Texas1 Comment

Old Granite School Fundraiser Campaign

lewisotr

Please look at the need that is outlined below and help as much as you can. It is tax deductible. If you have any questions, please feel free to raise them. The museum is such a wonderful place and holds so many memories for anyone that is connected to the Old Granite Building. Below is a link that will allow you to donate to the cause. However if you are giving a sizable amount, a check hand delivered or mailed will allow for more funding to go to the cause without fees being added on. https://givebutter.com/fallsmuseum Continue reading Old Granite School Fundraiser Campaign

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Texas History, Thoughts and Musings, TravelsLeave a comment

Trying To Figure Out The History Of US 281 Running Through Burnet County.

lewisotr

I referenced several sources including newspapers, other written sources and maps to ascertain the history of the main highway that now takes us from Wichita Falls to Brownsville. I am only speaking to the stretch as it extends through Burnet County, as it gets much more complicated trying to talk about the entire stretch as it goes from Canada to Mexico. The photo below is a 1919 map. It doesn’t show an actual road extending from Blanco to Lampasas. (Probably just trails at that time) This map doesn’t show a road from Blanco to San Antonio either. The next two … Continue reading Trying To Figure Out The History Of US 281 Running Through Burnet County.

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Ronald “Ronnie” Gene Lewis – Sophomore Class Favorite

lewisotr

Marble Falls High School – 1967/1968 I had no idea what the quote below the photo meant, so I looked it up. Here is the full poem. Now, I still don’t know what it means, but I never did really understand poetry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/729839877052650/permalink/773138669389437/ Continue reading Ronald “Ronnie” Gene Lewis – Sophomore Class Favorite

Amazing Things, Cowboys & Rodeo, Crazy Times, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Kow Bell Arena

lewisotr

Mansfield, Texas For 45 years (1959-2004) the Kow Bell was the place to go for an indoor rodeo. There was something going on there almost every night. When in the early 1990s we were living in Waxahachie our 2 older sons, Matt & Mike rode for the high school rodeo club there. They participated all around north Texas against other young fellows riding rough stock. Matt rode bulls, while Mike rode bareback horses. For practice they would go to Kow Bell and for $10 they and several of their buddies would ride on certain nights. It is a place of … Continue reading Kow Bell Arena

Cowboys & Rodeo, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Sound of Hoof-Beats

lewisotr

I was the kind of kid that wanted to ride a donkey while everyone else rode horses. Tar Baby was an average donkey to most but he was my pride and joy. We rode in rodeo parades with me dressed as a clown. Tar Baby & Me Kenny, my older bother was quite the horseman. He lived to break and train horses. I was made to help with the horse breaking, but it was something that I could have done without. By the time I was 7 or 8 years old our spending money came from working with Shetland Ponies. … Continue reading The Sound of Hoof-Beats

Cowboys & Rodeo, Crazy Times, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Going To The Texas Prison Rodeo

lewisotr

I only have one clear memory of attending the Huntsville Prison Rodeo. It was in the early 60s. I was no more than 10 years old. Our family of four went down there. The rodeo was pretty entertaining. Many of the inmates rode like they didn’t care what happened to them. I guess you’d say they rode with reckless abandon. Candy Barr was the featured entertainment. She was serving a sentence in the Huntsville Women’s Prison at the time. I guess I wasn’t sure what a stripper was at that time. I think she sang rather than taking off her … Continue reading Going To The Texas Prison Rodeo