Category: The Early Days

Kenny Lewis, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Writing Letters To My Brother

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I never was much of a writer when I was younger. But I committed to myself that I’d stay in touch with my brother, Kenny by writing him often while he was away in Vietnam and also when he was stationed in Germany. Telephone calls were not possible in Vietnam, and much too expensive when he got to Germany. I would write and tell him what all was going on in my life. I’d tell him about everything crazy happening in Smithwick. There always seemed like something Cec had gotten into that needed to be told. He wrote back to … Continue reading Writing Letters To My Brother

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Twin Oaks & Odas Jung

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Below is a summary of Twin Oaks and its developer, Odas Jung. From their Website: Twin Oaks Associates, Ltd. is a privately held family business located in Austin, TX. Founded in 1953 by Odas Jung.  The company has prospered into an impressive industrial and commercial leasing firm still expanding to this day. Since Odas personally oversaw the building of the majority of his property, the company is familiar with every aspect of their business. In 1960 the son of Odas, Joe Jung, entered the business alongside his father. After gaining experience while working for the company during high school and … Continue reading Twin Oaks & Odas Jung

The Early Days, The Jollyville YearsLeave a comment

Texas State Hog Farm at Cedar Park, Texas

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When I was growing up in Jollyville, during the 1950s and 1960s there was a large hog farm that was operated by the state right out along US 183 between Jollyville and Cedar Park. The farm started along where the Lakeline Mall Home Depot is and continued along the north side of the highway to about where Avery Ranch Blvd or maybe even farther west. It probably continued north to approximately where Parmer Lane currently runs. I have read that the state owned portion of this farm was 308 acres with an additional 1,140 leased acres. I remember there were … Continue reading Texas State Hog Farm at Cedar Park, Texas

In and Around Austin, The Early Days, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Austin In The Early 1950s

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This is a 55 minute film clip showing how Austin was in the 1950s and highlighting many of the businesses and places of interest. While 55 minutes may be a long time to sit and watch the whole thing, I’ve found several of the portions that were of most interest to me personally. I will list them below with the approximate time each starts on the film. Twin Oaks Shopping Center – 7:00 min Bergstrom Air Force Base – 18:40 min Bar-K Guest Ranch @ Lago Vista 20:00 min Barton Springs Pool – 24:00 min The Building of the Industrial … Continue reading Austin In The Early 1950s

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, My Friends, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Cruising The UT Drag

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The spring of 1971 found me and my friend Jimmy in Austin one Friday afternoon. Probably for no other reason than hoping to find some excitement. I had a new Chevrolet pickup and we decided a drive down to The Drag. We got as far a 34th street on Guadalupe, heading south when we encountered a red light. A couple of pretty young UT types were in the car in right lane, with us in the left lane. Paying more attention to the girls than to driving, when the light changed as they eased off, so did we. The only … Continue reading Cruising The UT Drag

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Austin Really Was An Uncomplicated Place, Once Upon A Time

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My wife and I moved to Austin in the fall of 1972, after marrying a year earlier. We rented a mobile home just out of Oak Hill, about a mile west of the Y. Life was very simple. She shopped for groceries at HEB, the store at South Congress and Oltorf. That was the nearest larger supermarket to us and the one she enjoyed going to. When I think back to the next 13 years we lived in 3 different locations, all in far South Austin, a real building boom happened. Safeway built at William Cannon at Manchaca Rd., a … Continue reading Austin Really Was An Uncomplicated Place, Once Upon A Time

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Texas History, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Von Boeckmann-Jones Co. Building in 1950

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G&L VBJ – The Next Chapter G&L was a great office supply store in downtown Austin for many years – Just across the Congress Ave Bridge, south of the River. The initials G & L were two brothers. Gunnar and Louis Johnson. G&L Stationers teamed up with VBJ (Von Beckman, Jones) to form G&L VBJ and moved across into a new store building south of Riverside on the east side of So. Congress – in the early 80s. Below is a blurb from the Chronicle. Below is my own story about G&L The Strange Things We Remember It’s been almost … Continue reading Von Boeckmann-Jones Co. Building in 1950