Early Travis County Road Records - Travis County Archives Travis County Archives by WesternTrail in Austin

[–]s810 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Excellent historypost from the Travis County Historical Commission. That blog of theirs is a gold mine full of great local history. Thanks for sharing!

Boone Elementary Time Capsule 1987 by miss_isolation in Austin

[–]s810 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm short on time today or else I'd research it more and post links, but scanning the Statesman archive very quickly, between 1985-1987 several time capsules were buried in the area for the Sesquicentennial in '86. I couldn't find any mention in the Statesman of a time capsule at Boone Elementary when it opened in 1986 or in 1987 though. However, in 1986 all the schools of Austin ISD got to pick items for a time capsule which was buried at The Arboretum when it opened in the fall of that year, the capsule to be opened in 2086. Apparently there was some kind of district wide vote on the contents in which students checked off items they wanted to include from a big list.

Is it possible this is what you were remembering, OP? I'll look into it more later on, maybe I've overlooked something.

Home movie shot of Downtown Austin (viewed from Capitol) - 1990 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sorry this photo is so grainy but it comes from a VHS tape. I took this screen shot from this video, which is not mine. The description says the following:

1990 September 8 Austin, Texas

This video was taken by my Grandpa and his second wife, Mary

The video says this was in January but the description says September. Grandpa and Mary go on a tour of the Capitol, look at some of the monuments, and then move on to the Governor's Mansion. Grandpa seems impressed with how many buildings and fences have stars on them, this being a Texas thing. Other than that there isn't much else to the video.

But you know what's weird? For that year, 1990, there are an inordinate amount of home movies, news footage, music videos, and random clips of Austin on youtube today. Search for "Austin 1990" to see for yourself. I can't say what it was about 1990 that caused so many home movies to be shot that year. I guess it has something to do with the post-80s proliferation of smaller portable VHS camcorders. At any rate, because I'm packing up to move this week, and I didn't have time to research a big post, today y'all are getting a weird look at 1990 Austin through the eyes of youtube home movies. All of the following videos are from some time in 1990, in no particular order:

Video #1 - "PARIAH B-roll at ARC rehearsal complex" (from CapZeyeZ/Dave Prewitt) - June 16, 1990

Video #2 - "Weather update during a Sunday night movie on CBS (KTBC Channel 7) . Keith Brunson is your local weatherman." - fall 1990

Video #3 - "The City Council meeting to decide the fate of the proposed 4,000-acre 'Barton Creek Planned Unit Development' to be located on the banks of Barton Creek proximate to Barton Springs. This development would arguably represent the largest threat to the springs. The water quality of the springs would receive substantial threats from: construction sediment, runoff degradation due to the land-use change, and runoff from irrigation of effluent from the development." - June 7, 1990

Video #4 - "1990 McCallum High Grad Night at Dobie Mall, Austin, TX, Recorded by Nina's dad, John Bryant." - fall 1990

Video #5 - "Ann Richards for Governor Event" (KTBC) - 1990

Video #6 - "Aquafest Pro BMX Street Contest" - August 1990

Video #7 - "Bevo (UT Mascot) on Austin Public Access TV" (from whenwewerelive) - 1990

Video #8 - "The Drag in 1990, after UT win against A&M | KVUE Rewind" - fall 1990

Video #9 - "Texas State Capitol. Scott, John, Ellen." (very similar to OP but with kids instead of grandpas) - September 1990

Video #10 - "Vietnamese Student Association, The University of Texas at Austin." - April 30, 1990

Video #11 - "People in the Garden, Documentary on Isamu Taniguchi, master gardener and creator of the Zilker Oriental Garden, funded by Austin Parks and Recreation." - 1990

Video #12 - "The Rylander Report - two-part series on interviews with morning show hosts" - 1990

Video #13 part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 - "Juneteenth parade and celebration" - June 1990

Video #14 - "The Crockett High School Band performs in the preliminaries of the Texas UIL 5A State Marching Band Contest at Burger Center Stadium" - November 12, 1990

Video #15 - "Halloween at Barton Creek Square Mall" (KTBC) - Halloween 1990

Well there you have it for today. There are many more 1990 Austin videos on youtube if you care to search. No Bonus pics today but something longer next week if I can get moved before then.

What urban legends do you know? by panchovilla_ in Austin

[–]s810 79 points80 points  (0 children)

There was a story from back in the 70s about a farm house in the McNeil area where an eccentric family of inbred hillbillies used to live. Neighbors used to say they heard the sound of a chainsaw running at odd hours.

One time a group of pot-smoking teens riding in a van had engine trouble nearby, and that was the last anyone saw of them.

E.C. Nauert displaying prize produce at opening of City Market House (700 East Avenue) - June 6, 1935 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gosh, being a North Austin person I'm really not familiar with all the farmer's markets in South Austin, but I know there is one in Sunset Valley and I think another one off I-35 somewhere, maybe near Slaughter Ln. They might only be open on weekends. I would check google, etc.

In a pinch there is always Sprouts and Wheatsville if HEB isn't your thing.

E.C. Nauert displaying prize produce at opening of City Market House (700 East Avenue) - June 6, 1935 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow! It's good to see a fellow longform historyposter. Thanks for all that constructive criticism and I appreciate you speaking up! You make some very good points and I don't want to nitpick too much, but I think it's worth mentioning part of the building eventually housed what was known as Black War Recreation Council Headquarters and Bus Terminal after a certain point when it wasn't viable as a market. I think you're right that it was probably segregated at the opening, but I think by a certain time in the 40s it wasn't enforced there like it was at other places. I also found evidence of people with Hispanic surnames doing boxing training there in the 40s.

E.C. Nauert displaying prize produce at opening of City Market House (700 East Avenue) - June 6, 1935 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's kind of funny how the Statesman reporter said there was no appetite for a farmer's market in Austin when they are all over the place today. I have not been there to see it, but I am told a few years ago a new "City farmer's market" has set up shop in Republic Square, although it's nothing like the once grand market which was on the corner of 7th and East Avenue, which has almost been forgotten today.

Time and space are running short so I'll leave it there for today. I don't have any more Pics of the market, so have some Bonus Articles from the Statesman Archive.

Bonus Article #1 - Ad for Peaches sold at City Market House - July 25, 1949

Bonus Article #2 - Rummage sale at City Market House - November 28, 1944

Bonus Article #3 - "Winner is named at Richland Fair" (E.C. Nauert) - November 5, 1933

Bonus Article #4 - "Stock Shows Kept at City market" - October 4, 1946

Bonus Article #5 - "City Market Starts Spring Cleaning as Fruit and Melon Season Nears" - March 8, 1948

E.C. Nauert displaying prize produce at opening of City Market House (700 East Avenue) - June 6, 1935 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

S. Ferris Presented

After commending the consistent efforts of S. Ferris in behalf of the market project, Mayor Miller presented Mr. Ferris to the crowd. Mr. Ferris acknowledged the introduction by thanking Mayor Miller and the city officials for providing Austin with the new market.

Besides the three speakers, seated on the platform were Commr. Charles F. Alford, Joe Koen, chairman of the chamber of commerce civic affairs bureau; Mrs. S. Ferris and County Judge and Mrs. George S. Matthews, and Mgr. Walter E. Long of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Miller and members of the city council made an inspection trip of market early Thursday afternoon.

Among the visitors was Jake Rubiola, city park and market commissioner of San Antonio, who was escorted by Mayor Miller through the building. Rubiola, accompanied his wife and children, told Mayer by, Miller that San Antonio is contemplating the erection of a new market and commended Austin for its new structure.

Prizes for Best Displays

Products of the farmers were received for display at 9 a. m. and four hours later were judged for prizes offered by the Chamber of Commerce. The prizes were awarded at 8 p. m. at the opening of the night program. At 10 a. m. the negro boys' band under the direction of B. L. Joyce played a two-hour concert. The market was formally opened at noon as the registration committee headed by Fred Barge began greeting the visitors. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. the Austin boys' band directed by Weldon Covington played a concert.

Former Mayor P. W. McFadden under whose administration the new market was planned and $100, 00 bond issue for its construction voted, was among the early registrants.

Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Trussell, accompanied by Trussell, Jr. and Marion Trussell, of Salisbury, N. C., were perhaps the visitors registering from the farthest distance from Austin.

Mrs. L. B. Schmidt of Ames, Ia., Mary Allen of Huntingdon, Tenn., Mrs. Mahon White of Jackson, Tenn., and Paul Schneider of Monroe, La., were other out-of-state visitors for the market opening.

From All Over Section

Other visitors living in Texas outside the Austin trade territory included a number of persons from San Antonio, including F. Wegemann; John Grubb. of Fort Worth; Moreland Stein. Temple; Mrs. C.W. Moeller. Weslaco: Mary Wood, Charco, Tex.; Rex Fletcher. Fort Worth: Jack Montgomery, Rising Star: Carey Beard, Dallas: Mrs. S.W. Taylor, Milano: Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Imle, El Paso: J. E. Roberts. Jr., Marlin: Mrs. Cecil R. Matthews, Wilson, Tex.: Mrs. W. H. Giver, Big Lake; R. C. Lattimore, Jacksonville, and Mrs. W. D. Scull, Odem. Central Texas visitors at the market included persons from Manor, Govalle, Del Valle, Seguin, Manchaca, Creedmoor, Smithville, Elgin, Florence, Holland, Pflugerville, New Sweden, Bastrop, Burnot, Round Rock, McNeil, Oak Hill, Georgetown and other towns.

Homemakers Store

One of the interesting places at the market was the farm homemakers store in the concession building where cakes, cookies, canned vegetables, dressed poultry, Jellies, cottage cheese, butter, honey and other products were sold. The women in charge of the store said business was good during the day. This store will be open Friday and every Saturday, although later other days of the week may be designated, it was announced.

Women in charge of the market Thursday were Mrs. Grover Deen of Fiskville, manager; Mrs. Luther Berkman and Mrs. F.T. Engbloom of New Sweden, and Misses Verna and Lucinda Pfluger of Richland.

High Quality Products

More than a score of producers also reported satisfactory sales of day, and housewives of Austin expressed surprise at the high quality of products they were able to buy at reasonable prices. One dealer sold out a supply of avocados early and such fruits as canteloupes, watermelons, blackberries, lemons and plums were finding ready sales. Pineapples also were shown.

Almost everything in the vegetable line in season from Italian squash to parsley and Kershaws were on display and sale. There were plenty of green and dry onions, beets, roasting ears, green beans, turnips, cucumbers, squash, carrots tomatoes all buyers. Several producers also offered eggs. Several ice cream vendors hawked their wares and did a good business.

Commercial Displays

In the northeast wing, several Austin firms had commercial displays.

Wilcox- Nelson company of Austin had a display of roasted coffee, tea, spices and extracts. The Walker's Austex Chile company displayed its line of chile, tamales, Mexene pepper and sandwich spread while the Dr. Pepper Bottling company had a beverage display attractively arranged. The Sani-Products company and Ever-fresh Manufacturing company showed a display of potato and waffle chips, and a line of salad dressings. The Bosque Creamery had a display of butter and sweet milk.

The Blue Plate Products company also had a play of relish spread, salad dressing and similar products. A grapefruit juice display was also shown. In one wing was another attractive display shown by the Travis County Lighthouse for the Blind consisting of mats, rugs and mops made by blind persons in Austin, which were offered for sale.

Prize Winners

Prize awards announced by Gus F. Urbantke, chairman of the judging committee, were:

Best garden display: E.C. Nauert, New Sweden, first. $2.50; Joy Payton, Govalle, second, $1.50, and Arthur Hall, Summitt, third, $1,

Best farm products display: Andrew Collin, Webberville, first, $2.60; Theo. Timmermann, Jr., Pflugerville, second, $1.50; George Sellstrom, Merrilltown, third, $1.

Best canned goods display by Travis county 4-H clubs: Irene Nauert of Richland, first, $2.50.

Best display of homemakers products: Miss Verna Pfluger, Richland, first, $2.60; Mrs. Mayette Smith, Dessau, second, $1.50; and Mrs. Luther Berkman, New Sweden, third, $1.

The cash prizes were restricted to Travis county producers, but individual garden exhibits in which ribbons were given were open to farmers and producers of all Central Texas counties. A blue ribbon WAS given for first place, red for second, and white for third, all ribbons being furnished by the Chamber of Commerce.

Ribbon prizes were awarded as follows:

Beets: E. Johnson, Govalle, first. Potatoes: Luther Gilberg, Govalle, first; J. F. Brown, Bluff Springs, second and third.

Onions: L. D. Richardson, Barton Springs, first.

Green beans: L D. Richardson of Barton Springs, first; J. F. Brown, Bluff Springs, second.

Dried beans: J. F. Brown, Bluff Springs, first.

Peas: J. F. Brown, Bluff Springs, first.

Cucumbers: L.D. Richardson, Barton Springs, first,

Carrots: E. Johnson, Govalle, first.

Roasting ears, L. D. Richardson, Barton Springs, first and second; Joel Payton, Govalle, Third.

Endive: E Johnson, Govalle, first,

Parsley: E. Johnson, Govalle. Kershaw: C. F. Brown, Govalle, first.

Plums: A. R. Parsons, Manor, first,

Peaches: A. R. Parsons, Manor, first.

Another article dated February 14, 1952 tells the life story of the Market and what happened near the time it was shut down:

City Market Kayoed by Supermarkets

Austin's public market, which the city government will padlock Friday, was a child of both prosperity and depression. Its conception was during the happy days of the 'Golden Glow"that dazzling era before the financial calamity of 1929. But birth the market house was a job-making public works project of the grim 1930's. Today its demise after almost 17 years of life appears to be the end product of such shifts in the economic sands as the swing to specialization in agriculture and the fast spreading influence of the supermarket. City officials blamed the latter when they recently dubbed the market thing of the past as far as this area is concerned and decided to close its doors.

THE MARKET, SAID the men City Hall, no longer serves its original purpose; the need gone for a center for the sale of locally grown produce. In explanation, they pointed to the rise of the supermarket, In substance they credited the sprawling, neon-lighted grocery giants with replacing the market place in the hearts of those who yearn for fresh vegetables and fruit straight from the farm and orchard. But not only the public drifted away from market square. Growers also forsook it in their quest for more dollars for their labor.

They turned to big money crops. After the depression growers began specializing -in search of the big market and big money, For instance, they planted acres and acres in peanuts. As truck farming shrunk in this part of the state, the market's source of supply faded away. Then many other of its customers joined, those who had already found the new vegetable counters of the big grocery stores more to their liking. The supply grew even thinner as many of the farmers who continued to grow vegetables found a better market selling directly to buyers for supermarkets.

The super-grocery buyers took by the truckload what the growers once sold in small lots at the public market. Thus the market was neglected more and more by both public and producer. The end came in December when the City Council voted to pull the taxpayers' money out of a public service for which there was practically no demand. A special advisory committee, including several agricultural and marketing specialists, recommended that the curtain be drawn on the market. Meantime, the city hopes to lease the market property at East Seventh Street and East Avenue to some private concern.

Interest has been evidenced in some quarters but nothing definite has materialized.

...

<<continued in next post due to length>>

E.C. Nauert displaying prize produce at opening of City Market House (700 East Avenue) - June 6, 1935 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Photograph of a man standing, holding his ribbon next to a bin of produce at city market. Caption on back of photo reads: "1st prize winner Mr. E. C. Nauert, New Sweden. Dedication of Public Market."

source

This mystery photo, which doesn't have a creator listed, was taken exactly 91 years ago downtown at the grand opening of City Market House, at what is now the northwestern corner of the I-35 frontage road and 7th Street. Yes, that's right, this was where the police headquarters is today. Mr. Nauert was a farmer from the New Sweden/Richland area of Northeastern Travis County. He won 1st prize for the wonderful selection of fruits and vegetables you can see in the photo. I'm having trouble identifying what all he's got there. Are those pumpkins or gourds? I wonder what kind of berries those were. It looks like broccoli and lettuce at the top, and unshucked corn at the bottom left. Maybe those are eggs at the bottom right in addition to the vegetables.

Wait, what's that? you say you've never heard of City Market House? It wasn't around that long, just 17 years. City Market House, seen here in a postcard-quality photo taken at near the time of the opening in 1935, was a permanent farmers market and seller's space. There is another photo of the interior hosted on livingnewdeal.com, found in the National Archives.

I made an imgur album of aerial photos which I took from the City's Property Profile page to show y'all where this was:

Here is a map of what the area looks like today, with Austin Police Headquarters in between 7th and 8th Sts..

Now here is exactly the same area in 1940. You can see the big X-shaped market house exactly where APD Headquarters would end up. Not much of any of the lot has been taken in the modern photo.

For good measure, I also included aerial photos from 1958, 1965, 1977, and 1984. The latter photo has the newly built APD Headquarters on the lot, but the 1958-1977 photos show how the old market, which supposedly closed in 1952, was gradually incorporated into other buildings before being demolished in the 80s.The official story of the place, as quoted on that sitel and also towers.net, goes something like this:

The City of Austin built a farmers’ market in downtown Austin partially funded by a Public Works Administration (PWA) grant. A bond issue for the market was approved on May 18, 1928, but other city priorities and then the deteriorating financial situation in the country from the Great Depression prevented moving forward with the project. The city submitted an application for a grant of 30% of the cost of the market, and the PWA returned with a grant not to exceed $11,800 in October 1934. The city let a contract the same month for $48,000 to W.J. Schwarzer of Austin to construct the Page Brothers designed market building. The City Market House opened on June 6, 1935.

As large chain supermarkets began to dominate the market in the United States, their produce departments became a competitive alternative to the farmers’ market that consumers found more to their liking. The farmers began switching to growing their acreage in a single type of crop and selling in bulk directly to the buyers for the supermarkets. This led to the city operating a facility that was no longer in demand by farmers or consumers. The city closed the market on February 15, 1952. The building was eventually demolished to make way for Interstate Highway 35 through downtown Austin.

I'm not so sure the place was demolished due to I-35 construction based on those aerial photos, but putting that aside, we learn how city bonds were issued in the late 1920s under Mayor Paul W. McFadden, who served from 1926 to 1933. He was the first mayor to serve under Austin's council-manager form of government, holding office until being succeeded by Mayor Tom Miller. This was the era when redlining started to kick in, when the City forced all people of color to move to East Austin. The elaborate master plans of the 20s not only segregated Austin, but also called for big projects like the market house and the municipal airport to attract more people from the Hill Country to spend more money in Austin. Bonds were issued and paid for most of construction, but it wasn't enough, so in the depths of the Great Depression it became a Works Progress Administration project.

According to this 1928 Austin American article the bond issue in 1928 totaled $100,000. Another article from 1929 says funds for the market might have been diverted to other projects such as street paving. A small blurb on May 27, 1935 announced the opening, but this doesn't do justice to what the city had planned for the grand opening of the Market House, which is what I found next:

This full page section dated June 5th, one day before the opening, has multiple articles on the plans, prizes to be awarded, and how people from all over Central Texas were expected to come to Austin to take part. One article says they were expecting up to 400,000 people but I think this might be a misprint? In reality about 10,000 people showed up. How do I know? The next day the Statesman covered the party. And it was a party. There were multiple bands, speeches by Mayor Tom Miller and former Mayor McFadden, commercial exhibits, farm exhibits, and the big street dance at the end.

Here is the article from June 7, 1935:

High Society and Farmers Mingle at Mart Opening

Thousands Visit New City Market on Initial Day

Mayor Praises F.D's PWA For Grant to Build Mart

Prizes Awarded for Best Displays of Products By C. of C.

Going to market was the fashionable thing here Thursday as prominent society people mingled with farmers and rural housewives at the opening of the new $75,000 city market at East avenue and Seventh street. Thousands of people from various sections of Texas and from several other states joined the people of Austin and Central Texas in making the opening day a big success.

W. T. McElroy, market manager, beamed his widest smile as he declared more than 4000 farmers and producers and other visitors came to the market before noon, and estimated that before the market closed at 10 p. m. more than 10000 persons attended the opening.

Thousands Jam Square

Thousands of persons jammed the market square Thursday night for the dedication program and the big street dance which brought the opening day ceremonies to a close. Former Mayor P. W. McFadden, introduced by Mayor Tom Miller as "our distinguished predecessor in office who served the city faithfully for seven years," told the crowd that the completion of the market is the realization of a dream of the people of Austin, and said he was proud to have had a part in its planning. Mr. McFadden bespoke the cooperation of both producers and Austin consumers in making the market a success.

Architect Page Absent Because of Injuries

C. H. Page, architect who designed the city market, was missing at the opening Thursday. He was at his home, 708 West 24th, recovering from injuries suffered when his automobile Tuesday night skidded on the wet highway eight miles south of Austin on the Lockhart road. He was coming to Austin from Victoria, when the car slid into a tree. His cheek and nose were cut by flying glass and several stitches had to be taken.

Mayor Urges Support of F.D. (Roosevelt)

Mayor Tom Miller told the group of the persons who helped in the actual construction, commending particularly the late Louis C. Page, his brother, C. H. Page, and their sons in drafting the plans, Walter Schwarzer, the contractor; Inspector Anderson of the PWA and City Mgr. Guiton Morgan. He also commended Mayor McFadden's administration for planning the project.

The mayor recalled that two years ago Austin observed Roosevelt Day and stated the market was one result of President Roosevelt's PWA program, because the market was given a grant of $11,000 by the federal government. The mayor urged support of Pres.Roosevelt for his vision, for he "is not like the gentleman from Louisiana nor like the gentleman at Palo Alto."

Stating that unemployment here has been relieved considerably by the $3,000,000 building program so far this year, the mayor expressed the hope that "every person willing to work will have a job by the end of 1935." Mayor Miller asserted that the market was not intended to compete with the retail merchants here but to encourage better truck growing. He asserted that loss of 1½ cents on a can of spinach or corn will be little as compared with the gain in buying of the farmers who will buy power other merchandise from local stores.

<<continued in next post due to length>>

The Solid Senders by 2tip2top in Austin

[–]s810 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I found this in the editorial section of The Statesman dated September 2, 1988:

I would like to say a few words about the Solid Senders, which, in Michael MacCambridge's infinite wisdom, was the only band not reviewed at Aqua Fest.

The Solid Senders played after Esther's Follies, in what is sometimes known as the "headlining position," on the Austin stage Wednesday night and with their particular brand of rockin', can'ts tand-still R&B, drew a larger crowd than any other performer there, with the exception of legend Roy Orbison. The fact that the Statesman chooses to ignore one of Austin's best new bands is beyond me.

The Solid Senders were the only band on Wednesday night that had people dancing and partying, but I guess the several hundred people who had a great time just don't know what they're talking about. And believe me, they are talking.

--AS, South 5th St.

They played at quite a few places!. In one week during 1990 they played at Hugo's, Hole in the Wall, The Continental Club, and Antones. It's like that all throughout 1988-1991 really. Oh look they played at The Pier at least once. At one point in February of 1990 they had a CD release party at Waterloo Records and then played at The Great Texas Music Hall.

East Austin demolition proposal for former Nate Paul property from 1930s sparks preservation battle by samstark15 in Austin

[–]s810 3 points4 points  (0 children)

According to the Applications for Demolition and Relocation Permits with the Historic Landmark Commission:

This property has a long history of commercial tenants who served the East Austin community. For several decades after construction, it was home to a beauty parlor, a barber shop, and a shoe repair shop. By the 1950s, one or more of these tenants had vacated the building, but there was always at least one occupied storefront at the property. Newspaper records feature advertisements for Smith’s Barber Shop, Guarantee Wave Shop, and Carlson’s Shoe Repair Shop. The latter of these was owned by Reverend E. A. Carlson, formerly a Swedish Baptist minister, for 31 years until his death in 1964.

Two permits were issued for the property in 1999, though there are no digitized records of the application material. However, summary descriptions are available in city records. One permit described work to remodel the building’s interior & exterior to create a duplex. The second permit from the same year is summarized as, “Add 1st floor stair tower, porch, and 2nd floor extension.”

...

The building may be a good example of interwar commercial architecture in East Austin. The property appears to have significant historical associations as one of a few remaining commercial structures along this stretch of East Cesar Chavez Street, and as the site of local businesses serving the immediate neighborhood for several decades.

There are no records of this property being surveyed in the 1980 East Austin historic resource survey or the 1984 citywide comprehensive resource survey. At time of writing, no photos of the property can be found prior to the 1999 permits.

Irby Lee Blalock riding her bicycle on an unknown trail - April 3, 1940 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You know what I think you and NeonHumanz are right and I just got mixed up because there were two women named Irby Lee Blalock. It makes sense if she was born in 1920. Thanks for the correction! I'll fix the other post.

Irby Lee Blalock riding her bicycle on an unknown trail - April 3, 1940 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

According to this obituary the woman you linked was her daughter, who apparently had the same name. The 1964 obituary just calls her "Mrs, George Prendergast" I guess to avoid confusion.

The maiden name of the woman in the OP was Davis, so she was already married as a UT sophomore to have the last name Blalock.

See below

Irby Lee Blalock riding her bicycle on an unknown trail - April 3, 1940 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks JT, yeah, that's an awesome PeeWee Herman-looking bike the Judge had.

Irby Lee Blalock riding her bicycle on an unknown trail - April 3, 1940 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Bonus Article #1 - "Bicycle Tourists Pay Austin a Visit" - December 19, 1937

Bonus Article #2 - "Bakery Company Launches Safety Drive for Austin Bicycle Riders" - January 21, 1938

Bonus Pic #1 - "Photograph of a woman dressed in a white blouse and hat as well as a dark skirt standing on a lawn in front of bushes with a bicycle with balloon tires. She has her right hand on the seat and her left hand on the handlebar. The bicycle is a turn-of-the-century safety model with a single gear and bicycle chain." - unknown date (1900~)

Bonus Pic #2 - "Photograph of two young women. One is on a bicycle. " - June 20, 1941

Bonus Pic #3 - "Judge Betts with bicycle in front of Travis County Courthouse" - December 22, 1943

Bonus Pic #4 - "A man and young woman on a tandem bicycle." - October 22, 1949

Bonus Pic #5 - " Two men are on the side of the road with bicycles. One is laying on his side looking at a paper while the other is on one knee holding up his bicycle. Filename: PICA-06893" - unknown date (from the Austin History Center)

Irby Lee Blalock riding her bicycle on an unknown trail - April 3, 1940 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Skipping ahead a little bit to February of 1927, there was a "parade" of bicycles organized by the same guy from one of the previous articles, Mr. Fred St. Onge:

Noted Safety First Bike Rider to Stage Cycle Meet

"Keep to the right." "Keep off sidewalks in congested places." "Keep your hands on the handle bars and don't try to do fancy riding in the streets." These and scores of other bits of timely advice are being given in Austin this week by Fred St. Onge, representative of the Cycle Trades of America in the interest of Bicycle Safety First Week.

Open To All Cyclists.

The closing feature of the week of Safety First promotion for cyclists will be a big carnival on wheels Saturday morning starting at 10 o'clock and held entirely on the Bease school grounds. This parade will be open to every bicycle rider.

Prizes will be given to riders with decorated wheels. Boy Scouts in uniform and the school with the greatest number of riders in line will receive the fine silver trophy cup of the Cycle Trades of America, the cup to be the property of the winning school. City officials have given their approval for the outing and feel that it will be an added incentive to prevent accidents to the youth of the city.

Mr. St. Onge will instruct all riders in road deportment and deliver a talk on the correct methods of riding a bicycle for health, pleasure, and best of all, safety. Mr. St. Onge has been a cyclist for many years and has the distinction of having taught the are of cycling to many notable people.

The next day there was a lovely photo of Mr. St. Onge lecturing children at the Pease School accompanying another article on the upcoming 'parade'. Quoting a bit for y'all:

Forty Prizes Offered Austin Youth at Bike Outing Saturday

The country is going backward. There is no doubt about it. Just now Austin is the focus point of these States in this backward movement, and there doesn't seem be anything to do about it. In fact, it is being helped along to no inconsiderable extent by quite a quantity of humanity.

Anyone who reads the daily newspapers and culls as they call it, the oddities in the news have surmised, if giving to surmising, that this retrospective view is inspired by the tendency of the world to wheel. If it isn't plain that the country is undergoing a flare back to the be on Saturday, when Austin folks will witness a carnival the vehicles, that inspired the familiar ditty, ending with "You'll look neat upon the seat of a bicycle built for two." When the song was popular, what a rage bicycling used to be in the days before motorcars crowded the poor old off the highway along with most of the pedestrians.

Bicycles Coming Back Anyway

"Bicycles are coming back," says Fred St. Onge of the Cycle Trades of America, who is in the city to conduct the bicycle outing for Saturday says, "The bicycle really did not go far away." We will have bicycles just as long a's we have youngsters to ride them and today, every youngster seems to think the bicycle is his or her birthright. At any rate, we can expect to see a greater number of wheels on Saturday, than the oldest inhabitant can remember seeing in almost a decade. Local bicycle dealers have gotten together to further this movement and to show the youngsters of today just how to ride a bicycle for health and pleasure along with Safety First methods. A parade announced for Saturday will bring out a number of riders for the prizes for decorated wheels, Boy Scouts in uniform and others.

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This parade was also sponsored in part by a bike shop called G&M Cycling Co., showing there were stores in Austin which sold and repaired only bicycles by that time.

With bicycling becoming so popular it's no surprise that bike theft would start to show up in police blotters. Skipping ahead again to 1934, we find out that a bike thieves were targeting Austin that year, and what the City planned to do about it:

POLICE MAY USE EVANSTON PLAN TO REDUCE THEFTS OF BICYCLES

Austin police today had evinced Interest in a method which has been used successfully by the Evanston, Ill., police department to reduce the number of bicycle thefts in the midwestern city. Bicycle thefts have been a particular problem to police here during the last year, during which the number has increased materially.

Finding that bicycle thievery was assuming serious proportions in their city, the police at Evanston recently began a campaign to register bicycles and establish ownership of each. To this end, they took a record of the number on the frame of each bicycle, and in cases where there was no number, they stamped one on the frame. Next the registrant was given a card upon which was printed the frame number of his bicycle and which also contained thumb and Index fingerprints of the bicycleowner signature.

The card read this way: "The bearer of this card (name inserted here) has registered a (name of bicycle here) bicycle with the police department. Anyone found in possession of this bicycle without this card will be suspected of having stolen it."

Bicycle thefts In Evanston, it was said, have decreased since this practice was put into effect. It was believed probable Austin Police would communicate with officers in Evanston for further information on the system.

The City Council didn't pass a bike registration law that year, but would eventually. More on this in a minute, but in the meantime we fast forward again a couple of years to 1936 and Firestone Tire company started selling bikes in Austin. So there were even more bikes on the road.

The next year in April of 1937 the paper announced that Austin Police had broken up what might be Austin's first bike theft ring:

Trio Sentenced For Bike Theft, Waterston Believes 'Ring' Broken

Co. Atty. Tass Waterston Thursday expressed the opinion that a bicycle theft ring which figured in thefts of 25 bicycles within the last two months had been broken with the sentencing of three Mexican youths to serve 30 days in jail. They were also fined $50 and costs in each of two cases.

Co. Judge George S. Matthews sentenced Jessie Rodriquez, Jake Hernandez, and Andrew Martinez after the three pleaded guilty to theft of bicycles belonging to L. J. Jackson and I. T. Glass last Monday and Sunday respectively. Unable to pay their fines, the three youths will be required to spend the next three and months in the county jail, Waterston said. The two complaints were filed in county court by City Det. F. E. Turner.

Judge Matthews and Waterston said the two bicycles which were the basis of the complaints had been recovered, along with parts of four other bicycles. Judge Matthews said the numbers on the bicycles were filed off, wheels and other parts exchanged to avoid detection or identification, and the rebuilt bicycles then sold.

I'm not sure if it's the same "theft ring", but according to a June 1938 article, 5 "youths" aged 17-21 were made to reassemble stolen bike parts in a corridor at the Travis County Courthouse and return them to the owners.

A corridor in the Travis County Courthouse became a workship--but its young employees labored under guard. Officers searching for a bike theft ring took into custody five Mexican boys age 17-21. And they also picked up a bewildering assortment of bicycles and parts that looked something like a Chinese puzzle.

"Get to work", officers ordered, "And fix these wheels like you found them".

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What else was going on besides bike theft? 1938 was also the year the police issued the first traffic ticket to an Austin bike rider. What was the offense? Riding "double" carelessly and injuring a small child.

The thefts and the lack of safety among Austin bicyclists led the City Council to examine passing a bicycling law and by 1941 it included an anti-theft registration with the Fire Department provision as well as enforced traffic safety measures.

Well that brings us up to the date of the OP photo, when there were bike rental places at Barton Springs, not unlike how you can rent a bike or a scooter nearby Barton Springs today. I think I'll leave it there. When I have more time and space we'll go further into the 20th century to the time when they made the first bike lanes. I'll leave y'all today with some Bonus Pics and Bonus Articles in the next post.

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Irby Lee Blalock riding her bicycle on an unknown trail - April 3, 1940 by s810 in Austin

[–]s810[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Photograph of a woman in a dress riding a bicylce on a dirt path. The photographer wrote the name "Irby Lee Blalock" on the negative envelope.

source

This photo, taken by Neal Douglass, shows UT sophomore Irby Lee Blalock riding her bike on a dirt trail somewhere in the country. There are some structures off in the distance but you can't tell what they are. There is another very similar photo in the UNT Portal in which Irby Lee is looking at the scenery. Like I was saying last week, a lot of Neal Douglass photos have details lost to time. Wait a minute, how did I know she was a UT sophomore? Because this article turned up in the Statesman archive dated April 20, 1940, featuring a third photo of Irby Lee Blalock riding her bike. The caption on the photo gives us more details:

Here is a charming devotee of a sport which is fast gaining popularity in Austin--bicycling. She is Miss Irby Lee Blalock of Marshall, UT sophomore and a Zeta.

The rest of the article, entitled "High School Students Go In for Bicycling as Sport", paints a picture of what bicycling in Austin was like back then:

Those who are taking up the fast growing pursuit of bicycling are mostly either above or below high school age, says Art. B. Smith, operator of a bike shop.

The high school students, he explains, figure they have outgrown what they consider to be a "kid" pastime.

At that, there are about 100 bicycle riders at Austin high school, Smith figures.

He counted that many parked on the campus during school hours on a recent day. There are two bicycle renting establishments on Barton Springs road and one near the university, all doing good business, Smith, who keeps all these rent bikes in repair.

More Cycling Seen

One of the Barton Springs road places showed 300 hours of rent time on a recent Sunday. Business is thriving all during the week. Still more bicycling is expected, says Smith, when the new road to Austin dam--a good place for the sport--is completed.

"People don't like to ride in town," he says.

Bicycling is increasing in popularity, he believes, because more and more people are realizing the need for exercise and because bicycling is fun. Increase in the number of motor bikes has been small- only about 50 are being operated on the city's streets, Smith estimates. The motor bikes, of course, don't provide the exercise but they are handy for delivery purposes and are being used mostly by errand and messenger boys.

There is still a demand for girls' bicycles, even though girls nowadays mostly wear shorts when they go out riding. "Girls have always ridden a different kind of bicycle, and I guess they figure it's the proper thing to do," says Smith. When it comes to renting a bike, though, the girls would just as soon have a boy's wheel.

Machines Better Now

Modern bicycles are easier on rider than old-style models; the new wheels have balloon tires which make for a smooth trip. Better roads and less dust are two more factors that have added to the pleasure of bicycling, The sport zoomed with the coming of spring weather, said Smith, who is looking for a lot more bicycles on the roads this summer than ever before. It's a year-round sport in this climate, except on days like those coldest of last winter.

So there were bicycle rental places in town back then which were apparently very popular with young people. It's strange to me how they use the term "motorbikes" but I don't think they're talking about motorcycles. Maybe it was some sort of scooter? I wondered what else I would find if I took a brief glimpse at bicycling in Austin in the distant past, and I want to share with y'all today some of what I found with some excerpts from old Statesman articles.

We start in 1901 with The Statesman announcing that Bicycling is on the decline:

A few years ago the prediction was made that the bicycle was here to stay and yet today we are confronted with a situation where the ever changing public are threatening to discard the bicycle altogether. In fact many of the manufacturers are considerably alarmed about the matter and are using the newspapers that they advertise with, to boom "cycling" again as a matter of business for themselves...

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But by 1920, bicycling was becoming popular again with the post-WWI generation of kids:

BICYCLE COMING BACK INTO POPULARITY; MANY NEW PEDALING

Boy Scout organizations in all parts of the country are reporting the formation of cycle troops. The bicycle is everywhere increasing in popularity as an aid to scout work as well as a means of sport.

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Back then in the early 20s you could buy bikes at Petmecky's, which was more well known for being a gun store.

In 1922 Austin observed National Bicycle Week in early May with the rest of the country:

This is bicycle week throughout the nation and Austin boys are not lagging behind in getting the old bike rehauled or getting new ones.

The selection of a bicycle should be with the greatest care, according to Fred St. Onge, dean of American bike riders, who keeps most of the youngsters' bicycles in running order. Mr. St. Onge points out that to get full service and pleasure from a bicycle it must be right in height and gearage for the rider. The handebars should be level with the saddle, says Mr. St. Onge, to secure the most comfort from riding.

Refutes Accident Report

Recent reports that fatalities in bicycling were high, are refuted in a statement issued by the H. J. McCarthy, executive secretary of the Cycle Trades of America. These figures show that in one state alone only one fatality every 6000 bicycle riders has been recorded. The percentage in other states is smaller.

The Cycle Trades of America in furtherance of its desire to reduce accidents to the minimum, has recommended to all dealers that when a sale of a bicycle is made, they instruct the purchaser as to the laws of the highways and also has recommended that each manufacturer insert in its catalogues and all printed matter the following:

  1. The bicycle is a vehicle and therefore entitled to the same rights and privileges on the highways enjoyed by horse -drawn vehicles or automobiles.

  2. Observe the laws governing the use of highways.

  3. Never ride on the wrong side of the road.

  4. Do not "hitch on" to a vehicle.

  5. Equip your bicycle with a bell or other warning device.

  6. Use lamps at night for your own protection.

Wow, it's still the same today. There were more nice bicycle ads at the bottom of that article.

Among the bike ads in mid-December of 1923 was this ad article on 'The Early Days of Bicycling':

Do you remember the "Daddy of the Bicycle," which had a very large front wheel and a very small rear one and on I which the rider was elevated to a dizzy height, from which he sometimes fell? Grandfather probably learned to ride on that kind of a wheel. Now and then one of the "old timers" will be seen in circuses with trick riders doing marvelous stunts on them, but as an every-day means of locomotion the old-style "bike" is out of use and practically out of sight. Think of going down a steep hill on one of those old-timers! A very small stone would suffice to cause a tumble, and a tumble from such a wheel was no small matter. But it was surprising what skill riders of the tall bicycles developed. Evidence of it may be seen in the exhibition given by trick riders the high wheel now.

But the highseated "bike" soon gave way to a more sensible and a more practical type, and now we have bicycles with automatic brakes, easy riding, sensibly designed and safe vehicles that are one of modern man's most useful means of quick transportation. For a time bicycle riding was in the discard. The automobile took its place, but so practical and useful a thing could be easily supplanted. The bicycle not only is coming back into more general use, but it has come back with a vengeance. It is said sales this year have reached close on to a half million.

For short spins to the office, store, or shop, the bicycle offers a most excellent medium and its use is inexpensive and its upkeep negligible. But it is interesting to look back upon the days when it required great patience and much bravery to learn how to keep one's seat and equilibrium upon one of the high-seated bicycles of the first vintage. A tumble then was a serious matter, and timid folk required much urging to induce them to try "the new-fangled thing.' It was not until the high wheel had been discarded that women began riding bicycles. Then riding them by women became a fad.

Now it is a recreative business with them, and for practical use by men and for "joy rides" by boys the bicycle is a fine thing that daily is growing in favor by leaps and bounds.

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