Amazing Things, Cecil Lewis, Construction, In and Around Austin, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

What Life Almost Was – The Holland Page Construction Story

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The year was 1964. There was an old Austin contractor by the name of Holland Page. My dad worked for Mr. Page for a few years in the 60s. His office and shop was just north of US 183 about 3 or 4 blocks on North Lamar. Kenny and I spent many Saturday’s there exploring around climbing on every kind of piece of machinery imaginable. Mr. Page was a very large man, or so it seemed. He was always nice to us. He didn’t seem to care what we did, he only cautioned us to watch for rattlesnakes back around … Continue reading What Life Almost Was – The Holland Page Construction Story

Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Young Detectives

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Our dad was working for an old time contractor by the name of Holland Page, installing a new wastewater system all around the town. This was in the summer of 1963. The project was in Gatesville, Texas. That summer we went there part of the time to spend with him. He had an apartment rented. They had a guy that had worked for them that was trying to make an insurance claim for a back injury that supposedly happened on the job. Cec knew that wasn’t possible because the guy had been too lazy to pickup anything. After talking to … Continue reading The Young Detectives

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, My Sons, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Daddy, is you just gonna leave your twailer there?

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Matthew was the age that he wanted to go with me everywhere I went. Him being the oldest son, with a new little brother at home. We left the house early that Sunday morning and was making the 8 or 10 mile trip to our Construction Office/Yard, where I was going to unhook from the rather heavy built shop-made bumper pull trailer we had on behind. Back then, in the 1970s you could drive around Austin without running across all that many other cars on the road on an early Sunday morning trip. Matthew, about 4 years old was standing … Continue reading Daddy, is you just gonna leave your twailer there?

Aging, Amazing Things, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Our Dream Home

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A story I wrote back in 2014. Wow almost 9 years ago. Times change, circumstances change. Just a while after I wrote this we sold this place and returned to Bertram to the home here that we dearly love. Moving back has afforded us so much more time with our grandchildren, well and our children too. We would have missed out on so much, had we not chosen to come back home. It seems that far too many of us don’t always see the value of family soon enough and miss out of life’s greatest joy. The joy of grandkids. … Continue reading Our Dream Home

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

A First For Me – Getting a call from a computer.

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This was several years ago. Of course I think about half the calls I get nowadays are from a computer. I received a phone call from the 210 area code. A number I didn’t recognize, but took the call anyway. The girl introduced herself as Gracie (didn’t catch the last name) with Healthcare Services. We exchanged pleasantries. “How is your day going?” “Fine and how is yours”? Then she launches into how she would like to help me save some money on my health insurance. Of course she was talking so fast, never taking a breath that I couldn’t explain … Continue reading A First For Me – Getting a call from a computer.

Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Ugly Phone Call

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I was sitting in the office one morning and had received several solicitation calls. I was busy and was fed up with all nonsense calls when the phone rang once again. It was an area code I didn’t recognize at all. I picked that phone and the guy said “Hello Ron, This is Dave out here in New Jersey”. I launched into a complete tirade about how sick I was of getting these $:;@/”:?!)$ phone calls, and to never call here again. He had sounded just like the several other telephone salesmen I’d already heard from. He said “no, no … Continue reading The Ugly Phone Call

My Sons, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

A Beautiful Moon

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I never see a bright gorgeous moon that it doesn’t take me back to an early morning many years ago. I had to leave the house really early one morning and took our oldest son Matthew, about 3 years old, with me for a trip from Austin down to Houston. Our second son, Michael, had arrived not too long before so it was a way to help my wife out. As we turned to head east the moon was just shining ever so bright. Matt was not in a very good mood, mostly from being awakened so early. To get … Continue reading A Beautiful Moon

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

I Got Emancipated One Time

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I was laying in bed this morning thinking about things that happened in my earlier life. When I was 16 or 17 years old Cecil Lewis took me up to the courthouse so a judge could declare me a legal adult. Maybe not a full fledged legal adult, but to where I could transact business, sign contracts and the likes. It had something to do with him cutting up our land and making Smithwick Mills Estates. I guess this was something his attorney, Dan Derrick, thought was necessary. It was called having my Minor Disabilities Removed back then. But I … Continue reading I Got Emancipated One Time

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.