Category: In and Around Austin

Amazing Things, Construction, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Expansion of Austin to the Northwest

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No name is larger than David B Barrow when thinking of the expansion of Austin to the north and west. Far West, Greystone, Mesa Dr., the Cat Mountain area and beyond can all be credited to David B Barrow. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Hills,_Austin,_Texas David B Barrow – the master developer of Northwest Hills of Austin, showing his arrowhead / artifacts collection. 1949 https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth62954/ Continue reading The Expansion of Austin to the Northwest

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Walter Yates – A True Adventurer

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I never knew him personally, but followed him through writings in various publications. He first hit my radar through a friend we shared in common, Udo Haufler. I think Mr. Yates lived the life of adventure that many of us long for. Following is his obituary from the Austin Statesman that tells a lot about his life. For a detailed look at his life, his book Breakaway, tells about about his exploits. Obituary of Walter “Yukon” YATES1924 – 2015 YATES, Walter “Yukon”Walter “Yukon” Yates, age 90, passed away March 2, 2015. Walter was born on October 19, 1924 as the … Continue reading Walter Yates – A True Adventurer

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, In and Around Austin, The Construction BizLeave a comment

Bill Tabor – Inventor and Hydronaut

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I wouldn’t tell you that I ever really got to know Bill Tabor, but we were in the same type of construction business in and around Austin, back in the 1970s. I’d run into him from time to time. We both frequented the Jim’s Coffee Shop on Ben White Blvd and we would see each other and chat sometimes. Bill operated Travis Country Stables on Boston Lane out toward Oak Hill. He had his finger in a lot of things. He also operated a store, Tabor Town down around Cedar Creek. I read where Bill passed away back in 2017. … Continue reading Bill Tabor – Inventor and Hydronaut

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around AustinLeave a comment

The Phantom Gambler or The Suitcase Man

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Who remembers the name William Lee Bergstrom ?He was commonly known as The Suitcase Man or The Phantom Gambler. Back in the high flying prosperous years of the 80s, me and several fellow contractors had a great propensity to head to Vegas a way to often. So when the William Lee Bergstrom situation came about, I was right in the middle of watching and reading about it unfolding. Following is the Wikipedia version of what transpired:Bergstrom was born in Austin, Texas and attended Austin High School graduating in 1969. He attended UT, but dropped out in 1974. His brother Alan … Continue reading The Phantom Gambler or The Suitcase Man

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Fossil Limestone Building Cladding

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On many high rise buildings around Texas (and as far away as Washington DC) this type of stone cladding has been used. It’s fossilized appearance gives it a very distinctive look. It has been used for decades on schools, museums, office buildings and even the San Jacinto Monument. It is mostly referred to Cordova Fossil Stone (trade-name). It seems to be mostly all quarried out now, with other types of stone taking over. While it was a very unique stone, it tended to turn black in color over time, leaving a less than desirable appearance. (first photo) There were several … Continue reading Fossil Limestone Building Cladding

In and Around Austin, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Larry Was Standing With The Hood Up On His Pickup In The St. David’s Parking Garage

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I had mostly been thinking how I could get out of that place and escape the jungles of Austin before the traffic picked up at rush hour. It was about 2:30 PM, but knowing that by 3:30 I’d be trapped. That’s just the way Austin traffic works. I had already passed by this fellow but there wasn’t anyone behind me, so I backed up to get close to him. “You need some help“? He said he did so I found a place to park and went over to him. A dead battery. He had hooked up a little booster battery … Continue reading Larry Was Standing With The Hood Up On His Pickup In The St. David’s Parking Garage

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Trench Box Is Bigger Than Your Trench Box

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This special trench box was built in our shop and used on one project, a 72” and 84” water line line for a new water plant project in Austin, Texas. I have serious reasons to believe it is the largest trench box ever built. It measured 44’ long x 12’ tall with an 8’ tall stacker section to go on top, making it 20’ tall. This box isn’t for just anyone. We had two EX 1200 Hitachi Excavators that were used to dig and lay the pipe and took them both to advance the box ahead. The approximate weight of … Continue reading My Trench Box Is Bigger Than Your Trench Box

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz5 Comments

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

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I had a new Cat 385 that was delivered probably in 2003 or 2004. I ordered it equipped with a mass excavation boom and a short stick. I knew it would limit our ability to go very deep, but most of the jobs we were bidding on were hard rock jobs. When I compared the different stick and boom configurations, the breakout force of the one I ordered was almost double of a long stick machine. If we were going to be successful digging hard rock we need the most force that we could get at the teeth. The machine … Continue reading You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, In and Around AustinLeave a comment

“AUSTIN FOLKS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT”

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Austin StatesmanJuly, 2007 COMAL COUNTY – Collision involved naked couple Investigators think that alcohol was a factor in a head-on collision in Comal County on July 18 in which two victims were pulled from their car naked. “The only thing they had on was the radio . . . and their seat belts,” Department of Public Safety Cpl. Rick Alvarez said. On the evening of July 18, xxxx xxxxx Bishop, 25, of Austin was driving north on FM 1102 north of New Braunfels when she went around a curve and swerved into the southbound lane, crashing head-on to a truck … Continue reading “AUSTIN FOLKS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT”

In and Around Austin, The Early Days5 Comments

Hall Level and D & H Foundry

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When I was growing up around the Austin Area, in the 50s and 60s, there were two businesses in the vicinity of 3rd and Comal. As far as I know they were sister companies, owned by the Halloway Family. One was Hall Level and Manufacturing. The other was D&H Foundry. Hall Level produced several types of carpentry and industrial levels. The one I am most familiar with was their aluminum torpedo level. Hall Torpedo Level D and H Foundry produced the aluminum cast part and Hall Level made the glass bubble portion and did the finishing to make them the … Continue reading Hall Level and D & H Foundry