Category: The History of Texas

The Early Days, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Burnet County and Cotton

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Burnet County is known for several industries with various minerals or tourism being at the heart of most bustling enterprises. However in the early 1900’s cotton was king there like many other areas of Texas. The little town where I now reside, Bertram, had 4 cotton gins at one point. I think I’ve read that it also had about that many banks. The soil around this area is more suited to ranching than farming, but that didn’t stop the industrious folks from making the most of black land areas spotted around the county. Besides the four in Bertram, there were … Continue reading Burnet County and Cotton

The History of Texas4 Comments

SH 165 – This Highway Has Several Unique Distinctions

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The Shortest Highway in Texas and possibly the nation at .51 miles long. It is shutdown every night. It connects to no other state highway. IT IS THE HIGHWAY THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE CEMETERY IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. This is an Article about Texas’ Unique Highway: State Highway 165 (SH 165) is a state highway in the state of Texas in the United States. At 0.51 miles long, it is the shortest main state highway in Texas, and perhaps the only one partially locked at night. It is connected to no other Texas highway system roads. In 1932, Texas … Continue reading SH 165 – This Highway Has Several Unique Distinctions

The History of Texas3 Comments

Austin White Lime – McNeil, Texas

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Strange how much of it doesn’t look so much different 129 years later. (First photo) Processing limestone caused the community of McNeil to continue through the years, but it was the coming of the railroad that marked its place. In 1882, the railroad came through the area from Round Rock to Austin. George McNeil, section foreman on the Austin and Northwestern Railroad, was in charge of the construction of the line and the grading of the roadbed. Besides the kilns and the railroads, McNeil was also known for its caves and a highly publicized 1897 robbery of an International and … Continue reading Austin White Lime – McNeil, Texas

Amazing Things, The History of TexasLeave a comment

What Do You Mean It All Started As A Joke ?

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Some History Of The Cowboy Hat 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 back in the 1860s. By then, wide brims and tall crowns were already the signature look of cattlemen and horsemen from Texas to California. Spanish vaqueros wore sombreros with massive brims and crowns long before Stetson came along. ”Sombrero” is derived from the Spanish word for “shade” or “shadow;” a felt or straw sombrero protected its wearer from a relentless sun. The wide-brimmed and high-crowned … Continue reading What Do You Mean It All Started As A Joke ?

Crazy Times, The History of TexasLeave a comment

BEVO was “What’s For Dinner”

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Nostalgia: When Bevo was barbecue, and other trials of Texas’ most famous longhorn By 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 Thanksgiving 1916, ahead of Thursday night’s rivalry showdown between the Longhorns and Texas A&M in Austin. There isn’t a fan base more proud of its school or more in love with its mascot than the faithful from the University of Texas. Longhorn fans stay true to their school by traveling en masse to road games, decking themselves head to … Continue reading BEVO was “What’s For Dinner”

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, My Friends, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Over The Hump

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A story about Howdy Fowler (yes our own Angora Chronicles Friend – Howdy Fowler) and his adventure of a lifetime. “Howdy told me once that this adventure is the single greatest highlight of his life and to have it captured on the pages of Texas Monthly – Don’t get much better than that”. I asked Howdy about some pictures one time and he came thru with this one. This is a story that was written by Carol Chapman for the February 1995 issue of Texas Monthly. NOW THAT STORY: THE REAL REASON THAT camels are called ships of the desert … Continue reading Over The Hump

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

What did we talk about that afternoon?

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This is an add-on to a story about an afternoon conversation I had with our then Governor Mark White. It was mostly centered around the over crowding problem in Texas Prisons. He knew I was in the construction business and was seeking my assistance in piloting a program to give early release to some worthy prisoners that just needed a break. He thought that if they could come out and show up to work (digging ditches, if you will) and not get back in trouble, they could find their way more easily back into society. We did some planning and … Continue reading What did we talk about that afternoon?

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Fasten Your Seatbelt

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I once was passing my neighbors weekend place out of Dripping Springs and saw he was there. It was a weekday and I realized he being a state employee, probably had the day off. It was Texas Independence Day. When I pulled up he came outside and we visited a few minutes, then he said, “why don’t we drive into town a buy a 6 pack of Lone Star Beer and drive over to the lookout and sit a spell and enjoy the afternoon”. I had nothing going on so that’s what we did. Amazing conversation, I’ll get into another … Continue reading Fasten Your Seatbelt

My Friends, Smithwick, The History of Texas4 Comments

Big Jim, The Best Friend A Feller Could Ask For

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When Jim Cox married Hanna and moved her and her young son, Jimmy Palmer to Smithwick, life would never be the same. He was 9 years old, putting him a 1/2 year older than Kenny and 3 older than me. They moved into Jim’s house that was across the highway from my Grandmother, Nonie. Since we spent most of the summers there with her and every weekend until we moved back from our years at Jollyville, we were together much of the time. Jimmy was as big for his age as I was small for mine. Kenny, having a strong … Continue reading Big Jim, The Best Friend A Feller Could Ask For

The History of Texas2 Comments

Spirit Leveling in Texas

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I discovered a new term that relates to the surveying and layout of Texas when USGS Markers were place primarily along roadways and railroads from points all over the state. I knew the markers were placed, but had never thought about the timeframe in which it was undertaken. This name Spirit Leveling comes from the use of a spirit level used in surveying equipment. Below is a report as is relates to this being done all over Texas from 1896 to 1915. https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0637/report.pdf Continue reading Spirit Leveling in Texas