Category: Thoughts and Musings

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.

lewisotr

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.

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Grandchildren, My Family, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cousins Growing Up Together

lewisotr

These two girls, Anna & Sofia are best friends and live next door to each other as well as next door to us. So we enjoy watching their exploits every day. It is possible for them to get out of sorts with each other from time to time, but within minutes everything is all better. Their Grandma & I are away for a few days. Last night we got a text with this picture (it will be in the comments) of them already asleep in Gma’s bed, each with their favorite blanket. Well before the sun went down. But surely … Continue reading Cousins Growing Up Together

Amazing Things, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

I Remember This Riddle From When I Was A Kid

lewisotr

It went something like this: A farmboy was hired on to pick corn. The farmer offered to pay him a ear of corn the first day, doubling it each day until all the corn was picked. 2 ears the second day, 4 ears, then 8 ears. The young boy agreed and by the time 30 days had passed, he owned the whole crop and probably the whole farm. This was told back when I was a kid, so I decided to do some figuring to see just how that all played out, in 1965 terms. If we continue this doubling … Continue reading I Remember This Riddle From When I Was A Kid

Another Daily Happening, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and Musings5 Comments

The Sprinkle Bottle

lewisotr

I had almost forgotten about sprinkle bottles. I remember my mother would layout the ironing, sprinkle them with water, roll each piece up tightly and store them in the refrigerator. Or it may have been in the freezer. I guess it depended on how long until she started ironing. Something about they ironed better when cold. Of course she had her routine. Certain days were ironing days. She’d stand in front of that little black and white television, watching The Guiding Light, Search For Tomorrow and As The World Turns. I’m thinking As The World Turns was her favorite. She … Continue reading The Sprinkle Bottle

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Cec Got Caught In A Tight Place

lewisotr

Cec bought a 1960 Ford Falcon when they first came out. He drove the heck out of that little ol car. It eventually became Bonnie Gay’s car after he got the new worn off of it. These were the days when we lived in Jollyville area but would come to Smithwick every weekend to take care of the place and see too the animals. The Falcon developed a bumping sound up in the front end. He could see a shock absorber was loose. He got the bumper jack out, one of the tall stand type jacks that were just waiting … Continue reading Cec Got Caught In A Tight Place

The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Bar Ditches

lewisotr

Bar Ditch is what we commonly refer to as the ditch along side of driveways, roads and highways. Like so many other things in our Texas Speak, Bar Ditch is a shortened version of Borrow Ditch. So called because when building the roadbed, dirt is taken or borrowed from the sides of the road and brought to the middle to build up the roadway. This provides positive drainage so the rain runoff can be directed natural drainage ways. Streets with curbs don’t have bar ditches because drainage is achieved with inlets, flumes and networks of underground piping to direct runoff … Continue reading Bar Ditches

Aging, Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings9 Comments

Well I Just Ran Into A New One

lewisotr

Let me start out by telling you all that I’m a restless sleeper. I’m up and down and all around the whole night long. I’ve gone through a lot of different mattresses, pillows and just about everything ever invented to help an old boy get a good nights sleep. I bought one of those beds that each end jacks up and down and vibrates. Then I’ve gone thru several different mattresses but finally found one that seems to work better than the others. If I remember correctly I paid about $3600 for it. And it’s just a queen size. BTW: … Continue reading Well I Just Ran Into A New One

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

C.H. Roper – Dentist

lewisotr

I was asked one time if I knew of a dentist in Marble Falls by the name of Roper. I hadn’t heard that name come up before.He went on to tell me he believed that he moved on to Austin with his practice sometime in the 30s and by the later 40s he had been involved in a murder, but didn’t know a great deal about it. After doing a little research I found several things that seem to be quite interesting about this dentist. Yes, he had in fact been convicted of murder (I couldn’t find out much about … Continue reading C.H. Roper – Dentist

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Texas History, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

As I Start Down This Slippery Slope

lewisotr

Why am I bringing this up? I’ll probably be asking myself the same question before the days out. Actually I saw something on an old map, from 1903 a few days ago, that I had never seen before. There was a crossing below Wirtz Dam that was named Nigger Crossing. (More research will be done to fine when that name was expunged from the USGS Maps) Did it get that name because they had their own crossing? If so, did the white folks cross wherever they wanted? That seems special to have your own crossing. I was well aware of … Continue reading As I Start Down This Slippery Slope