The Felps Trailer Company Johnson City, Texas

By the time the early 80s rolled around, Madeline and I had a house full of young-uns, which translated into the need for a Suburban. She was always wanting to haul something that wouldn’t fit in there with all the boys. So I did what any good husband would do, I bought her a new 16’ tandem axle Felps utility trailer for her birthday one year. Dang that was the best pulling trailer I can ever remember having. Dick Laymon on Manchaca Road sold them back then. There was a rule for that trailer. If I pulled it, it had … Continue reading The Felps Trailer Company Johnson City, Texas

Falstaff Beer and My Uncle Oscar (Ott)

This first photo makes me think about my mother’s oldest brother, Oscar Leland Boultinghouse.He was a fiddle player, that played around the Central Texas Area in many of the dance halls and was known as Oscar “Falstaff” Boultinghouse. I always supposed it was due to a beer company sponsorship, which was a popular thing back in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.For many years, perhaps to the end, he had a special affinity to Falstaff Beer, his brand of choice. Continue reading Falstaff Beer and My Uncle Oscar (Ott)

Nonie’s Magic Cookie Jar

I’m not sure how she did it, but I never remember walking in her house that her cookie jar wasn’t full of Ice Box Cookies. It surely wasn’t full when Kenny and I left. But whenever we’d show up the next time it was magically full once again. I can’t even imagine how many of those cookies she baked in her 88 years of life, but it was tens of thousands I bet. She always used pecans, but I bet finely chopped walnuts would be good. Continue reading Nonie’s Magic Cookie Jar

The Miracle of the Internet, Facebook and The Angora Chronicles

During the few years since the birth of The Angora Chronicles on Facebook we have uncovered several facts that may otherwise never been unearthed. One day while discussing a doctor that played a huge part in the lives of many of us from Marble Falls, I told of this doctor delivering me on August 22, 1952. Dr. Alonzo Church Wood III delivered and cared for many citizens of Burnet County prior to his deciding to move on in the spring of 1968, determined by a letter I found in papers left behind by my Grandmother, Leona. It help us to … Continue reading The Miracle of the Internet, Facebook and The Angora Chronicles

John Kemper’s Corvette

Don’t remember if it was our Junior or Senior year of high school but John Kemper bought a “59” Corvette. He decided it needed a new paint job. A Pearl White was the color was selected. A very difficult 2 part epoxy paint was used. He made arraignments to use the old building at Main and 2nd (currently a Title Co) as a makeshift paint shop. With nothing other than a bunch of teenagers (about a 1/2 dozen of us) the car was stripped down, sanded and painted in a very dimly lighted room. I had painted a few cars … Continue reading John Kemper’s Corvette

The Andice BBQ(As told by Kenny Lewis)

THIS IS A STORY I’VE STARTED TO TELL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT REALLY THOUGHT KENNY COULD DO MORE JUSTICE TO IT SINCE HE WAS THERE. It has been noted previously that Cec was one of the toughest men I ever knew. He had a threshold for pain like no other. In the winter of 1986 it was predicted to fall below freezing and stay that way for several days. I had just built a new house between Georgetown and Andice. I suggested to he and mom that they close everything up at Smithwick and come stay with us for a few … Continue reading The Andice BBQ(As told by Kenny Lewis)

The Race Was On

This is the story of one of the greatest car races ever held in Smithwick. His name was Curtis Brown Parker. Brown Parker was how he was known. Brown was the person my Dad looked up to more, maybe than anyone else. Brown was several years older that Cecil Lewis. I believe that Brown help him become a man in more ways than one in his early days in Smithwick, Texas.However in the 1940’s Brown and Eula moved to California, the same as a lot of people did during that period of time. They operated laundries in and around Carpentaria, … Continue reading The Race Was On

I’m Living Right This Morning

A call came in on my cell phone. It was “Gerald” wanting to talk about my Medicare Coverage. Had that strange sounding voice. My wife was sitting here beside me in the living room and we are drinking coffee. She doesn’t like listening to me cutting up with these people on the phone. So I held off a few moments deciding whether I should just hang up or whether to go in the other room to talk my usual shenanigans. Then Gerald asked if this was Ronald and Madeline. It was really Geraldine, a lady up in DFW that was … Continue reading I’m Living Right This Morning

Travels Across The Desert

Few people ever went long distances prior to the last 4 or 5 decades. If they did it was making a migration to hopefully find a better life. That was in about 1955 or 1956. Maw-Maw Nonie and Paw-Paw Theron went with my parents and us to visit California. Kenny and I were both were pre-school age, 3 and 6. All six loaded up in a new Mercury 2 door car that Cec had just bought. It didn’t have air conditioning, few cars did back then. Being in the hot summertime Cec bought a contraption called a Thermador Car Cooler. … Continue reading Travels Across The Desert

A Trip Up Sheffield Hill

(Originally posted on March 8, 2017) I had been waiting almost 47 years to retrace some tracks that I made in what seems like a different lifetime. My wife and I made a trip out to Big Bend a few years ago, so it was a prefect time see what the big deal with Sheffield Hill was. (also called Lancaster Hill) Driving A Cattle Truck Soon after graduating from high school, I was still 17 years old, I got hired on as a relief driver, driving a cattle truck for the Wenmohs Ranch. I was Wallace Herbert’s swamper. I guess … Continue reading A Trip Up Sheffield Hill