Category: The Construction Biz

Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

The Rio Motel and Club – Austin, Texas.

lewisotr

I knew about The Rio because in the mid 1970s several of us that were working on the I-35 expansion from Airport Blvd up to US 290. We used to go there and drink coffee and eat breakfast or lunch sometimes. I was surprised when I opened the Austin Statesman newspaper one day to find out that The Rio had become really famous in the history of Austin. There was a club there also, but I never remember going to it. But there were several notable Austin people found it to be a great meeting place. There was a well … Continue reading The Rio Motel and Club – Austin, Texas.

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Not Every Land Deal Will Make You Money

lewisotr

This is the story of a piece of land I got up in Dallas one time, to settle a debt. Here goes: These real estate deals can be crazy. Outfit owed me about $300k on an apartment project in Houston in the 1990s.I put a lien on it and waited about 2 years.They wanted to sell the project so they had to square with me.They had 21 acres in south Dallas they gave me in trade for releasing the lien. How can I go wrong owning 21 acres in Dallas, with I-35 frontage? Except when I sold it about a … Continue reading Not Every Land Deal Will Make You Money

Aging, Amazing Things, The Construction Biz, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

1974 was a really wet year over in San Jacinto County, Eastern Texas

lewisotr

About this time of the year, October 1974 took us down past Huntsville to do a drainage project. It was a new development on Lake Livingston called Waterwood. It was aptly named, especially that year. We were in a piney … Continue reading 1974 was a really wet year over in San Jacinto County, Eastern Texas

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, My Family, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Fire

lewisotr

Ruby Waggoner was my dad’s mother. She and my grandfather had divorced when Cecil was very young. He was raised by his dad, Theron and a host of aunts, uncles and his grandparents. Ruby Lee, Grannie Ruby or Grannie was a big part of our life going up. She lived in Austin and visited her often. She was one funny old gal that laughed a lot and made the rest of us laugh. Any time after I was grown and had projects around North Austin, I’d stop by even if for just a few minutes. One day she and I … Continue reading The Fire

In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Sidewalk & Curb Markings in Austin

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While it was often done by the company pouring concrete in Austin, Maufrais Bros. was the ones most often seen. Maufrais Bros. Ready Mix Plant was located at 1st Street on the East side of North Lamar. http://www.texasescapes.com/AustinTexas/Austin-Sidewalks-Maufrais.htm Below are other examples of curb markings you’ll see around Austin. A couple of others that were around after I got to town in the business in 1971 that still stamped their work was Terry Edwards Construction & Mueller Bros. Continue reading The Sidewalk & Curb Markings in Austin

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

A Meal At Furr’s Cafeteria

lewisotr

One of my sons (he was about 11 or 12 at the time) and I visited Furr’s Cafeteria on South I-35 at St. Elmo Road in South Austin. This would have been in about 1989. We got our trays and found a table up close to the front door. Within the next few minutes an elderly fellow came in, with someone helping him to carry his tray. He saw me and told the young gal that he’d sit with us. I was delighted to have him. I had known him casually in my younger days and we had even done … Continue reading A Meal At Furr’s Cafeteria

Crazy Times, On The Job, The Construction Biz2 Comments

The Fire

lewisotr

Ruby Waggoner was my dad’s mother. She and my grandfather had divorced when Cecil was very young. He was raised by his dad, Theron and Leona (or Nonie) his stepmother and a host of aunts, uncles and his grandparents. Ruby Lee or Granny Ruby as I called her was still a big part of our life growing up. She lived in Austin and we visited often. She was one funny old gal that laughed a lot and made the rest of us laugh. Any time after I was grown and had projects around north Austin, I’d stop by her house … Continue reading The Fire

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings4 Comments

Haufler Motors

lewisotr

Udo Haufler was a trader at heart. He was born and raised in the Twin Sisters area Blanco County. He started buying and selling used vehicles after the war and settling in Austin. This is a car lot he was operating in 1953 in downtown Austin. I’ve never been clear what the actual address was. But I think it was possibly in the 2nd or 3rd block and a few blocks east of Congress Ave. He traveled far and wide buying the best quality used vehicles he could find. Those travels took him to the Lincoln Mercury Dealership in Conroe … Continue reading Haufler Motors

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Friend Udo

lewisotr

I have had the great fortune to meet many people in my lifetime. None probably made a greater impact on me than Udo Haufler. Udo was my neighbor, my friend and my mentor. The first day of 1977, Madeline and I moved into a house on a very quite, secluded south Austin street. Albert Road was like being in another place altogether. It wasn’t like living in Austin. Directly across the street was a large 2 story house, with a horse stable in the back. Esther and Udo Haufler were the elderly couple that lived there. (of course now that … Continue reading My Friend Udo