The Round Bale Gin
Bertram, Burnet Co. Texas The gin was located near the current site of the water tower. In its heyday, Bertram had at least six gins and shipped thousands of bales of cotton. Continue reading The Round Bale Gin
Category: The History of Texas
Nike Missile Bases Built To Protect Bergstrom Air Force Base
In 1960 my Dad, Cecil worked as a construction inspector for Marvin Turner Engineering. He was assigned to overseeing the building of two missile launch sites in the Austin area. There were deep underground silos dug into the ground where the Nike Missiles were to be launched from. I’ve read that the launch sites were decommissioned in 1966. I think the program was being scuttled before it really ever got off the ground. There is one off of Bee Caves Rd. The Command Center, for both launch sites, has now become the Bee Caves Armory, is across Bee Cave Road … Continue reading Nike Missile Bases Built To Protect Bergstrom Air Force Base
Hauling A Parsons Ladder Trencher
Back in 1970, not too long after I graduated from high school, I was driving a truck for Nelson Lewis, hauling equipment all over the state. I remember being dispatched to Devine, Texas to haul a Parsons Trencher from there over to Port Lavaca. It was a trip of around 200 miles, maybe more with weaving my way down through the many little south Texas towns. This was before any big highways were built. Those towns were connected with Farm to Market Roads and a few State Highways. I got to Devine late in the afternoon one day, loaded the … Continue reading Hauling A Parsons Ladder Trencher
The Allen Clinic and Hospital
On US 281 in Burnet, right where the Diary Queen and the NAPA Automotive Parts Store now sits, little south of the center of town. According to the cars parked in front, I would guess this photo is from the mid 1950s. Dr. Allen’s obituary explains about the Clinic. Continue reading The Allen Clinic and Hospital
Some History Of The Cowboy Hat
What Do You Mean It All Started As A Joke ? The first known felt hats were narrow-brimmed affairs worn by ancient Greeks and their gods. J.B. Stetson fashioned the prototype of the cowboy hat to entertain his hunting companions … Continue reading Some History Of The Cowboy Hat
Cattle Are Flying High
10 Brahman Bulls from The Santa Elena Ranch in Madisonville left Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport last October on their way to Vietnam. They have sent live Brahman cattle, frozen semen or frozen embryos to countries including Thailand, Pakistan, Venezuela, Paraguay, … Continue reading Cattle Are Flying High
A Trip Out West To The YFZ (Yearning for Zion)
I originally posted back in 2015 about a trip I took out to the Warren Jeffs Compound near El Dorado, Texas. A Trip To West Texas As most of you know there isn’t much to see when traveling through much … Continue reading A Trip Out West To The YFZ (Yearning for Zion)
BEVO was “What’s For Dinner” !
Nostalgia: When Bevo was barbecue, and other trials of Texas’ most famous longhornBy Jim Weber Jim Weber runs the college football and men’s basketball site LostLettermen.com. This week, he looks at the early trials of Bevo, introduced to Texas on … Continue reading BEVO was “What’s For Dinner” !
The Melungeons
A few days ago, while cruising the Oceans Blue, my daughter in law, Gail asked me if I’d ever heard of the Melungeons. I had not. She had researched the topic while doing some family ancestry work. While researching it … Continue reading The Melungeons
1974 was a really wet year over in San Jacinto County, Eastern Texas
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
Angora Chronicles 