Category: The History of Texas

Smithwick, The Early Days, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Cattle Guard Dogs

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A practice that I’m sure would get you locked up nowadays was to post a dog, chained up at each cattle guard along the country roads. There would be a dog house, to protect them from the weather, whether the hot sun or the freezing cold. The rancher would come daily and put out food and water for them. It seemed like a lonely existence, but I guess they served their purpose. Looking back I feel like that was mostly where goats and sheep were kept, but maybe wild cattle too. They may still be used in some places, but … Continue reading Cattle Guard Dogs

Amazing Things, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of Texas1 Comment

Old Granite School Fundraiser Campaign

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Please look at the need that is outlined below and help as much as you can. It is tax deductible. If you have any questions, please feel free to raise them. The museum is such a wonderful place and holds so many memories for anyone that is connected to the Old Granite Building. Below is a link that will allow you to donate to the cause. However if you are giving a sizable amount, a check hand delivered or mailed will allow for more funding to go to the cause without fees being added on. https://givebutter.com/fallsmuseum Continue reading Old Granite School Fundraiser Campaign

Amazing Things, Cowboys & Rodeo, Crazy Times, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Kow Bell Arena

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Mansfield, Texas For 45 years (1959-2004) the Kow Bell was the place to go for an indoor rodeo. There was something going on there almost every night. When in the early 1990s we were living in Waxahachie our 2 older sons, Matt & Mike rode for the high school rodeo club there. They participated all around north Texas against other young fellows riding rough stock. Matt rode bulls, while Mike rode bareback horses. For practice they would go to Kow Bell and for $10 they and several of their buddies would ride on certain nights. It is a place of … Continue reading Kow Bell Arena

Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Early Days, The History of Texas1 Comment

BANG! BANG! BANG! …HE SHOT HIM DEAD

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By James Johnston On August 4, 1949, celebrating the wild west got a little too real in the Big Spring rodeo arena that was once just off 11th Place immediately west of today’s Howard College campus. Most of the 2,500 fans missed the drama of the night at the roughshod wooden bleacher arena, but the script of the night would be one of the most unnerving dramas in the Big Spring Rodeo’s history. In 1947, bad blood had started between bad-ass 38-year-old Henry Preston (Buck) Jones and 32-year-old Herbert Frizzell when Jake Monroe had dragged Frizzell into a conversation over … Continue reading BANG! BANG! BANG! …HE SHOT HIM DEAD

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Hall Level Manufacturing Company and D & H Foundry

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For many years there were a couple of businesses in East Austin, around 3rd and Comal St. Hall Level made carpentry levels of different varieties and sizes. I’m not certain what other products they produced. Information is fairly limited. Doing a Google search, it appears that they may still be a corporation but I haven’t located an address for them. Across 3rd St from Hall Level, to the north, was D & H Foundry. They made castings of all types, but perhaps their primary business was casting the aluminum levels and other parts for Hall Level. I’m almost certain there … Continue reading Hall Level Manufacturing Company and D & H Foundry

Amazing Things, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of TexasLeave a comment

What Do You Mean, Diving For Pearls?

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Who knew the Highland Lakes where teaming with mussels with pearls contained within. From the Burnet Bulletin/Marble Falls Messenger – May 23, 1989 While I didn’t find anything about Mr. Casey, I did find where Mr. Norman passed on in 2019. His obit reads like “someone I would have liked to have known”. Continue reading What Do You Mean, Diving For Pearls?

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of TexasLeave a comment

The History of the Roper Hotel

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At the Northeast Corner of US 281 & Third St. – Marble Falls The Roper Hotel is located at 707 Third Street in the city of Marble Falls, county of Burnet, in the U.S. State of Texas. It was erected circa 1888. The hotel was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981, and added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Burnet County, Texas on January 8, 1980. The two-story structure was originally built by George and Elizabeth Roper. The building changed hands and names in 1926 and 1963, and is currently occupied by a medical clinic. … Continue reading The History of the Roper Hotel

The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Understanding Farm to Market (FM) or (FR) & Ranch Roads (RR) in Texas. Ranch Road are sometimes are designated as Ranch to Market Roads (RM).

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People always ask the question, what is the difference in FM Roads and RR Roads? The best explanation I have is as follows; Both types of roads generally exist in rural areas. After a county (sometimes a city) acquires right-of-way, TxDOT builds and maintains the road. FM’s started being built back in 1931. They were primarily built so farmers could more easily get crops to market from those rural areas. In 1932 the RR designation was added, because in many areas there was only limited farming being done. So it didn’t seem correct to call those new highways Farm Roads. … Continue reading Understanding Farm to Market (FM) or (FR) & Ranch Roads (RR) in Texas. Ranch Road are sometimes are designated as Ranch to Market Roads (RM).

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of Texas, Thoughts and Musings, Travels2 Comments

Trying To Figure Out The History Of US 281 Running Through Burnet County.

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I referenced several sources including newspapers, other written sources and maps to ascertain the history of the main highway that now takes us from Wichita Falls to Brownsville. I am only speaking to the stretch as it extends through Burnet County, as it gets much more complicated trying to talk about the entire stretch as it goes from Canada to Mexico. Very early photo of the roads leading into Marble Falls. They appear to be more like cattle trails than roads. Below is a 1919 map. It doesn’t show an actual road extending from Blanco to Lampasas. (Probably just trails … Continue reading Trying To Figure Out The History Of US 281 Running Through Burnet County.