Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Understanding Farm to Market (FM) or (FR) & Ranch Roads (RR) in Texas. Ranch Road are sometimes are designated as Ranch to Market Roads (RM).

lewisotr

People always ask the question, what is the difference in FM Roads and RR Roads? The best explanation I have is as follows; Both types of roads generally exist in rural areas. After a county (sometimes a city) acquires right-of-way, TxDOT builds and maintains the road. FM’s started being built back in 1931. They were primarily built so farmers could more easily get crops to market from those rural areas. In 1932 the RR designation was added, because in many areas there was only limited farming being done. So it didn’t seem correct to call those new highways Farm Roads. … Continue reading Understanding Farm to Market (FM) or (FR) & Ranch Roads (RR) in Texas. Ranch Road are sometimes are designated as Ranch to Market Roads (RM).

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of Texas, Thoughts and Musings, Travels2 Comments

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. Very early photo of the roads leading into Marble Falls. They appear to be more like cattle trails than roads. Below is a 1919 map. It doesn’t show an actual road extending from Blanco to Lampasas. (Probably just trails … Continue reading Trying To Figure Out The History Of US 281 Running Through Burnet County.

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Grandchildren, My Family, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cousins Growing Up Together

lewisotr

These two girls, Anna & Sofia are best friends and live next door to each other as well as next door to us. So we enjoy watching their exploits every day. It is possible for them to get out of sorts with each other from time to time, but within minutes everything is all better. Their Grandma & I are away for a few days. Last night we got a text with this picture (it will be in the comments) of them already asleep in Gma’s bed, each with their favorite blanket. Well before the sun went down. But surely … Continue reading Cousins Growing Up Together

Amazing Things, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

I Remember This Riddle From When I Was A Kid

lewisotr

It went something like this: A farmboy was hired on to pick corn. The farmer offered to pay him a ear of corn the first day, doubling it each day until all the corn was picked. 2 ears the second day, 4 ears, then 8 ears. The young boy agreed and by the time 30 days had passed, he owned the whole crop and probably the whole farm. This was told back when I was a kid, so I decided to do some figuring to see just how that all played out, in 1965 terms. If we continue this doubling … Continue reading I Remember This Riddle From When I Was A Kid

Another Daily Happening, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and Musings5 Comments

The Sprinkle Bottle

lewisotr

I had almost forgotten about sprinkle bottles. I remember my mother would layout the ironing, sprinkle them with water, roll each piece up tightly and store them in the refrigerator. Or it may have been in the freezer. I guess it depended on how long until she started ironing. Something about they ironed better when cold. Of course she had her routine. Certain days were ironing days. She’d stand in front of that little black and white television, watching The Guiding Light, Search For Tomorrow and As The World Turns. I’m thinking As The World Turns was her favorite. She … Continue reading The Sprinkle Bottle

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Cec Got Caught In A Tight Place

lewisotr

Cec bought a 1960 Ford Falcon when they first came out. He drove the heck out of that little ol car. It eventually became Bonnie Gay’s car after he got the new worn off of it. These were the days when we lived in Jollyville area but would come to Smithwick every weekend to take care of the place and see too the animals. The Falcon developed a bumping sound up in the front end. He could see a shock absorber was loose. He got the bumper jack out, one of the tall stand type jacks that were just waiting … Continue reading Cec Got Caught In A Tight Place

The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Bar Ditches

lewisotr

Bar Ditch is what we commonly refer to as the ditch along side of driveways, roads and highways. Like so many other things in our Texas Speak, Bar Ditch is a shortened version of Borrow Ditch. So called because when building the roadbed, dirt is taken or borrowed from the sides of the road and brought to the middle to build up the roadway. This provides positive drainage so the rain runoff can be directed natural drainage ways. Streets with curbs don’t have bar ditches because drainage is achieved with inlets, flumes and networks of underground piping to direct runoff … Continue reading Bar Ditches

Construction, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, On The Job, The Early Days2 Comments

A Case of Limestone Poisoning ?

lewisotr

Sometime in 1973 we were doing a project for the new I-35 expansion in downtown Austin. It was a crazy, difficult project with old pipes running underground every which way. We had one place that we were excavating about 40 deep and then bored underneath I-35 for about 250 feet to run a new wastewater line. In those days the road bores were done where water was mixed with the limestone rock cuttings that were being excavated. It was called Wet Bore Method as opposed to now most all road bores are done using the Dry Bore Method. Wet Boring … Continue reading A Case of Limestone Poisoning ?