In and Around Austin, The Early Days5 Comments

Hall Level and D & H Foundry

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When I was growing up around the Austin Area, in the 50s and 60s, there were two businesses in the vicinity of 3rd and Comal. As far as I know they were sister companies, owned by the Halloway Family. One was Hall Level and Manufacturing. The other was D&H Foundry. Hall Level produced several types of carpentry and industrial levels. The one I am most familiar with was their aluminum torpedo level. Hall Torpedo Level D and H Foundry produced the aluminum cast part and Hall Level made the glass bubble portion and did the finishing to make them the … Continue reading Hall Level and D & H Foundry

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

Austin Public Pools

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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

In and Around Austin, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Who Knows The History Of The Clarksville Area Of Austin? (Taken from Wikipedia)

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The Clarksville Historic District in Austin, Texas, is an area located west of downtown Austin near Lady Bird Lake and just northeast of the intersection of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and West Tenth Street. Many historic homes and structures are located within the Clarksville Historic District. While Clarksville is geographically part of the Old West Austin Historic District, it is distinct from the two historic neighborhoods of Old Enfield which lies immediately to the north on the eastern side of Texas State Highway Loop 1 (commonly referred to as Mopac) and Tarrytown which is situated to the west and northwest … Continue reading Who Knows The History Of The Clarksville Area Of Austin? (Taken from Wikipedia)

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

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

The Mormon Missionaries

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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

Crazy Times, My Friends, The Early Days, The Jollyville YearsLeave a comment

Beer Company Sponsorships

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Back in the 50s and on into to 60s the various beer companies would hire bands to promote their product. A local Austin band, Jesse James and All The Boys was one that Pearl Beer sponsored. Pearl also had another band, Adolph Hofner and the Pearl Wranglers that was more widely recognized than the James band. I used to hear radio promotions for Adolph Hofner, mostly playing in San Antonio, on up into the 70s. I mention Jesse (William Howard “Jesse”) James because he used to come to our house “On The Creek” just out of Jollyville. He was a … Continue reading Beer Company Sponsorships

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

2J’s

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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

In and Around AustinLeave a comment

LIST OF OLD AUSTIN STREET NAMES

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Listing of Austin, Texas historic streets named for trees. These streets run East-West. They are now mostly numbered streets.As depicted on Austin Street Map 1872 P. De Cordova Willow (still named)1st — Water (Ceasar Chavez)2nd — Live Oak3rd –Cypress4th — Cedar5th — Pine6th — Pecan7th — Bois de Arc8th — Hickory9th — Ash10th — Mulberry11th — Mosquite [sic]12th — College Ave.13th — Peach14th — Walnut15th — North Ave.16th — Cherry17th — Linden18th — Chestnut19th — Magnolia Ave. (MLK) According to the Austin History Center, the names of the downtown numbered streets were changed from their original tree names in 1897 … Continue reading LIST OF OLD AUSTIN STREET NAMES

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, Texas HistoryLeave a comment

The Continental Club – Austin, Texas

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Few Other Places Have Been Host To As Many Different Genres Of Music As This Iconic Club. Continental Club By: Christy Lynn Hodson CONTINENTAL CLUB.Located at 1315 South Congress Avenue in Austin, the Continental Club is a popular live music venue that opened in 1957. The original owner, Morin Scott, founded the establishment as an upscale private supper club which featured nationally touring bands, including Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and the Mascots. Hailed as the first venue in Travis County to sell liquor by the drink, the club originally encouraged patrons to bring their own alcoholic beverages while enjoying the live … Continue reading The Continental Club – Austin, Texas

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Big Gil – An Austin Legend

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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