Category: Thoughts and Musings

Cowboys & Rodeo, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Marble Falls Rodeo Association

lewisotr

Marble Falls, Texas Since 1957 the Marble Falls Rodeo has been going strong. Nothing said summer time back in the early days like “The Rodeo”. Seeing Lloyd Woodley’s trucks loaded with stock rolling into town and a grand parade bringing traffic to a halt on Friday afternoon, the excitement was in the air. You knew it was time to rodeo when the turntable playing Hank Williams records over load speakers at the rodeo grounds (as scratchy as they sounded) could be heard all over town and then that ever familiar voice of Charley Taylor would come across to announce that … Continue reading Marble Falls Rodeo Association

Funny Happenings, In and Around Austin, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Austin Public Pools

lewisotr

Fifty to Sixty years ago we went to Shipe Pool mostly, because my grandmother lived about a dozen blocks from there. We went to Northwest Park Pool a fair amount of time. But we also headed down to Barton Springs pretty often and even to Deep Eddy occasionally. Now that I think about it, we spent a lot of time in the public swimming pools, but of course Bull Creek was where we spent most of the hot summer days. Our kids, growing up in far South Austin knew Garrison Pool best of all. They were all great places to … Continue reading Austin Public Pools

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

Hall Level Manufacturing Company and D & H Foundry

lewisotr

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

Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Mormon Missionaries

lewisotr

I remember how shocking it was. We had lived just a short distance from where it happened just prior to it taking place. It was unthinkable to me that a person could not only kill a couple of young men, but take them into a bandsaw a cut them into little enough pieces that they’d never be seen again. Little did I know that Jeffery Dahmer would be killing and eating people within a year or 2 after that. I know there have been horrendously shocking things going on in this world since the beginning of time, but the Mormon … Continue reading The Mormon Missionaries

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

2J’s

lewisotr

The talk in Austin always seems to make its way to 2J’s. Ok, I did a little digging and found out where the name 2J’s came from. Here goes: There was a Methodist Minister that came to Austin, became an Executive Assistant to Texas Governor James V Allred back in the 30s. His name was Patrick Moreland. He later got in the restaurant business, opening 2J’s.He had 2 very good friends, Jim Collins & Jim Hasslocker, so he named it after them,the first initial of each ones given name. Couple of other facts. Jim Hasslocker was the owner and namesake … Continue reading 2J’s

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Big Gil – An Austin Legend

lewisotr

I can’t say I really knew him, but would see him at Jim’s Coffee Shop on Ben White at I-35 often. He was truly an imposing fellow. He seemed like such a genteel gentleman.Depending on the source, he was either born in 1918 or 1919 and he was either 6’8″ or 6’10” tall. I know his hands were huge and he had a very long reach. I’m not sure what his boxing record was. He appeared to be a man of means and always dress immaculately. He would drive up in his Cadillac sedan. As he would start to get … Continue reading Big Gil – An Austin Legend

In and Around Austin, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Goodnight Motel – Established in 1941.

lewisotr

South Congress Ave. (old US 81)Austin, Texas It is now known as Classic Inn. It has the same general look as the old Goodnight Motel. This sounds like a cozy name for a motel. When you think of a motel, you think about getting a good-night of sleep. The owners name was Goodnight. Charles Goodnight. (He is pictured in the 5th frame) Throughout the years there are often mentions of Charles Goodnight and the motel and eatery next door, Hill’s Cafe, being a part of the Cattle Driver Charlie Goodnight’s Family. That all makes sense, as in the wording in … Continue reading The Goodnight Motel – Established in 1941.

Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Old Lumber Company Ranch Gates

lewisotr

Remember back when most ranch gates were made like the one in this picture. They all became roadside advertisements for the lumber company they came from. They were call “Can’t Sag Gates“. Maybe they should have been called “The Warp Like A Son Of Gun Gate“. Ronnie Lewis and Kenny Lewis in about 1955 Continue reading Old Lumber Company Ranch Gates

Amazing Things, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

The Gifts That Mean The Most

lewisotr

I am a little sentimental about gifts that my grandkids give me, even more so of things my sons made or bought for me when they were small. One gift that dates back over 40 years, that I count as one of my most treasured possessions. It stayed out on my dresser for years, but somewhere along the way it got put in my sock drawer and remains there to this day. Most people would look at this prized possession and wonder why I have it in my sock drawer. The answer is simple. It was a gift this one … Continue reading The Gifts That Mean The Most