1913 Tivy Football team

Thanks to Jan Wilkinson, I now have a history of football at Tivy.  Here's a photo of the 1913 team -- the first year the team had uniforms, though the boys had to pay for the uniforms themselves.  This image was published in the Kerrville Daily Times in 1957, accompanying an article written by Eugene T. Butt, the second son of Charles and Florence Butt.

Click on image to enlarge

1913 Tivy Football Team, Kerrville.
Standing: Doyle Grinstead, Clifford Freeman, John Williams, Dan Auld, Leonard Denton,
Coach Alvin Dille, C Jones, and F. Jones
Seated: Sam Drake, Ed Allen, Jim Gumn, Harry Dietert, Gerald Walther

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Stonehenge II is moving from Hunt to Ingram.

Stonehenge II, a project of the late Al Shepperd and his friend and neighbor Doug Hill, is moving from Hunt to Ingram.  Built on a curve in FM 1340 near Camp Stewart for Boys, the structure is made from plaster on wire mesh.
I remember Al Shepperd.  He was quite a character.  In fact, after his funeral, Al's ashes were scattered at Stonehenge II.  It was a windy day.  All of us at the funeral undoubtedly took a little bit of Al back home with us.   As the urn was lifted and the ashes flew out in all directions, I swear I could hear Al Shepperd's laugh echoing from the nearby hills.
The structure is being moved to the Hill Country Arts Foundation property in Ingram, there on the Point, at the junction of Johnson Creek and the Guadalupe River.  David Cockerell, Executive Director for the HCAF is leading the effort, and you can click here to donate funds to help pay for the move.

Click on any image to enlarge

Stonehenge II as it appeared before the move.
Photo from the Wikipedia entry on Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II, being dismantled at FM 1340, Hunt

Stonehenge II, being rebuilt, Hill Country Arts Foundation, Ingram
Click here to donate to help rebuild Stonehenge II.

For more information, visit http://www.alfredshepperd.com/Stonehenge/main2.html

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From my collection: a Kerr Centennial Plate

Most Wednesdays I try to share something from my collection with you other than a photograph.

One of the biggest events in our recent history occurred in 1956: the Kerr County Centennial.  It was a really big deal, and people from all over the county participated.

While many of the things in my collection are ephemera, this particular item was meant to be saved and cherished.  Fired by the Vernon Kilns, the plate was designed and drawn by Olive Vandruff.

Here's what's printed on the back of the plate:
Kerr County Centennial
1856-1956
The Guadalupe Valley was the domain of Redmen [sic] when dauntless shinglemakers established the first settlement in 1846.  Ten years later, restless pioneers from the Old South joined freedom-seeking German immigrants in organizing Kerr County in 1856.  Livestock became the economic keystone -- first cattle raising, then sheep and goats.  Building of the railroad in 1887 opened a new era.  A century later scenic Kerr County is the home of 17,500 citizens and the summer mecca for thousands of vacationists.  The founders could have bequeathed no finer heritage to oncoming generations.


The plate is 10 1/2 inches in diameter.

Click image to enlarge

Kerr County Centennial Plate, 1956, designed by Olive Woodruff and fired at Vernon Kilns

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Then and Now: a little house on Main Street, Kerrville

Sometimes my photo collection yields surprises, but often you really have to look  closely for them.  Take these two images of a house at 1106 E. Main Street, in Kerrville.

The first shows the house as it looked around 1915.  The other I took today.  The structure was originally a home; now it houses professional offices.

Here are the photos, and I'll have some commentary below.

Click on image to enlarge

1106 E. Main Street, Kerrville, around 1915

1106 E. Main Street, Kerrville, taken September 2010

The first thing I noticed was the lack of vegetation  in the old photo.  That hill you can see in the background is either Tivy Mountain or the hill just to its west.  The little trees in the old photo didn't survive.

You might wonder how I recognized the house -- they look different from each other.  The secret is in the old photo: the railing around the porch.  Until the building was remodeled recently, that same railing was still on the porch.

I also noticed the little gazebo behind the house in the earlier photo, as well as what I suppose is an outhouse.

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Winner Announced: Photo Caption Contest

I'm pleased to announce this week's winner.  Several made me chuckle, but this one was both funny and topical.  According to the highly-secret algorithm, James Partain is this week's winner.   As our winner, he gets all bragging rights this week plus a copy of this photo!  Thanks everyone for playing!

"Now, all those in favor of the Convention Center being located...."
submitted by James Partain.

A tour of downtown Kerrville as it was before 1920.

As I reported last week, I've been looking for something in my files, which means I've been finding all sorts of other interesting things other than the thing that started the whole search. This seems to be the story of my life right now.

Last week I shared a letter postmarked November 1995 which included a map and a description of Kerrville before 1920. Unfortunately there was no signature -- so I was not sure who sent it. But one of my history friends, Lanza Teague, knew exactly who the author was: Anna Belle Council Roland.

That's what happens when you have smart friends. Thanks, Lanza.

Let's continue our tour with Ms. Roland of downtown Kerrville, as it appeared before 1920:

Weston Saloon, Kerrville

"Close to [Weston's] Saloon was a barber shop with the usual bathtub. It wasn't until bobbed hair became acceptable after World War I that women went into barber shops. It was an invasion into a 'man's world.'" 

The Weston Saloon was in the building at the corner of Earl Garrett and Water now housing Francisco's Restaurant. The barber shop she describes was on Water Street, next door.

Next, "in a small building was the First State Bank, organized in 1907.

"Fawcett's Furniture store was about in the middle of the block.

"The Dixie Theater was located between Fawcett's and Noll's (the present day Home Center). It was a barnlike structure. The movie screen was at the fron, the seats were crude wooden benches, and the floor was dirt. This was the only movie we had from about 1920 to 1927.

Trade coin from H. Noll Stock Company

"On the corner was the H. Noll Stock Company. It was a general merchandise store. It was run by Mr. Noll, his two sons, and his son-in-law. I don't remember when it closed. Later there was a Goodyear store there, and now the Home Center."

At this point the tour doubles back to Earl Garrett Street, starting at the tall stone building now housing Sheftall's Jewelers.

The building, before 1920, was "the Masonic Hall. Until about 1919 the post office was downstairs, and the Masons and Eastern Star met upstairs. This building still stands.

"There were several small occupancies along the street in frame buildings. About three-fourths of the way down the block was a large store built of concrete blocks that housed a saddle and harness shop. They also sold buggies.

"The corner building, a masonry structure, still stands. It was at first a store and later Wheeless [sic] Studio."   When I was a boy (in the 1960s), Fuzzy Swayze had a studio in the corner building; today it is a law office. I think the Kerrville Mountain Sun was also in the building for a while, early at the turn of the last century.

On the corner across the street from the Guthrie building, going north on Earl Garrett, was the Mercantile. "On one side they carried piece goods, men's clothing, and shoes. The other side was more of a hardware store with pots and pans, dishes, etc. Also, this was where you bought school supplies and textbooks before the state began to furnish them in 1918. They also carried toys -- here you contacted Santa Claus. They had a good candy case.

"In about the middle of the block was Mrs. Florence Butt's first grocery store. She, too, had a case full of good penny candy."

Mrs. Roland also described the Kerr County Courthouse in her letter:

Third Kerr County Courthouse, Kerrville

"A two-story limestone structure very similar to the present Bandera County courthouse. There was also a square building with the jail upstairs and the jailer's family housed downstairs. The present courthouse was built in 1926."

I hope you've enjoyed this pre-1920 tour of old Kerrville. Our little town was very different not too many years ago.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who is still looking for something in his files.

The West Texas Fair, Kerrville at the turn of the last century

Warren Klein sent me this information on the West Texas Fair years ago --
"The West Texas Fair was held each year around the 4th of July." This fair took place in grand buildings built especially for the fair. The site was on the river side of the intersection of Water Street and Junction Highway, called Five Points, about where Norwest Bank is today.
"One thing I remember about the fair of 1915: a man had an airplane and he would take people up for a ride. The thing I remembered about the airplane was that it didn't have a self-starter. The propeller was at the back of the plane. In order to start it, a person had to turn the propeller by hand, but he wanted 'back up,' so he joined hands with 6 other men. One thing that still puzzles me today is where my brand new straw hat went when that plane started!"
Oddly enough I believe I have a photo of that airplane and its pilot.  I'll look for it and publish it here later.
Here are some images of the West Texas Fair grounds from my collection:

Click on any image to enlarge

West Texas Fair, Kerrville, held each July.  The fairgrounds were at Five Points
about where the Wells Fargo main bank is today.

Another view, West Texas Fair, Kerrville, turn of the last century

Saturday Nostalgia -- images from "Mayberry."

I like the photos in my collection that show a simpler time, a time when you felt like you knew everyone in town, when you walked down the street, people said hello.  These photos make me feel that way.  Perhaps it's just that they're black and white, I don't know.

If you recognize anyone, please add their names in the comments below.  It's easy to comment, and you don't have to register or anything, and you don't have to put your real name.  You can make up a "handle."

Click on any image to enlarge

A party, Kerrville, late 1960s.  I recognize the late Josephine "Dodo" Parker.

Tivy Royalty, Homecoming, either 1967 or 1968, Kerrville

Tivy High School Science Lab, Kerrville.  I recognize Betsy Ross.

Winn's Girl, Kerrville, late 1960s. 
(She contacted me: her name is Franziska "Frankie" Borkowski Schmiz.)
Winn's was at 423 Main Street.

New Photo Caption Contest -- ends 9/26/10

Here's the Friday Photo Caption Contest!

Last week's was fun and the entries were funny!  So here's this Friday's  "Write Your Own Caption" contest -- please provide a caption for this photo in the comments below.  (Comments on Facebook will not count in the contest, your entry must be in the comments below.)

I will be the sole judge of the contest, based on how humorous your entry is.  Please, no naughty captions -- this is a family blog, strictly rated G (or at worst PG).

Winner will receive a print of the photo plus the warm glow of victory and bragging rights.  Entries accepted through 11:59 p.m., Sunday, September 26th, 2010.  Enter as many times as you'd like.

Good luck!

Click on image to enlarge

Hypnotist, Kerrville, late 1950s

A digression on the Linotype machines at the Kerrville Daily Times and Mountain Sun.

I recently posted some photos of the pressroom of the old Kerrville Daily Times, including this photo:

Linotype machine and operator, Kerrville Daily Times,
Kerrville, late 1960s

And then I ran across this snippet of a film -- about Linotype machines, and I thought it might interest one or two of you -- 

Linotype: The Film Trailer from Linotype: The Film on Vimeo.

Photographs of the Schreiner Store over time

For many years, the Charles Schreiner Company was the economic focal point of our community.   Many community leaders also had their first jobs at the store, which operated in Kerrville for over 130 years.
As the old building is being restored by the Cailloux family, I thought it might be fun to post some photos of the building over time.

Click on any image to enlarge

Charles Schreiner Company, Kerrville, probably before 1890.

Charles Schreiner Company, Kerrville, perhaps around 1900.
From Lanza Teague's collection

Charles Schreiner Company, perhaps around 1900.  A. C. Schreiner among the men pictured.
From Lanza Teague's collection

Water Street, Kerrville, before 1900.  Charles Schreiner Company is on the left side
of the street, past the stone building, which I believe was the wool warehouse for a while.
From the collection of Lanza Teague.

Architects' rendering of the renovations of Charles Schreiner Company, Kerrville.
From the collection of Lanza Teague

Charles Schreiner Company, not long after the renovations.  Note the stairway down
to the basement along Earl Garrett Street.
From the collection of Lanza Teague.

A Map of Kerrville before 1920

I've been looking for something in my files, which means I've been finding all sorts of other interesting things other than the thing that started the whole search.
For instance, I found a letter postmarked November 1995 which included a map and a description of Kerrville before 1920. Unfortunately there was no signature -- so I'm not sure who sent it. But one of my history friends, Lanza Teague, knew exactly who the author was: Anna Belle Council Roland.
It's a walking tour of downtown Kerrville, and it's fascinating.
Start with our "guide" and me at Pampell's:

Water Street, Kerrville

Pampells is "perhaps the most interesting building in town from an historical viewpoint. It was built for a hotel by my great uncle, Bill Gregory, in the 1880s. He sold it to Mr. Pampell who put in a confectionery on the first floor with an ice cream parlor at the back for the ladies, an opera house and dance floor upstairs, and in the basement he bottled soda water and made candy. His candy consisted of taffy and boxed chocolates. Access to the upstairs was by way of an outside staircase on teh Sidney Baker side. Here was where we had our first moving picture show. You bought your ticket on the sidewalk and then climbed the stairs. The seats were wooden folding chairs. Just when the heroine in the movie lay on the tracks with the train approaching, some youngster would become so excited and wiggly taht the chair would slip out from under him with a terrible crash and many were the screams. Pampell's was originally a frame building, but in 1926 it was remodeled and bricked.
"A few doors down from Pampell's was the Favorite Saloon. The building still stands (cut limestone)."  I think, on the map, it's the building the Rectors now own, which houses their Hill Country Living Store at 709 Water Street. "The saloon belonged to Ernest Schwethelm. About where the Arcadia is now there was an open area, an entrance to the camp yard between the buildings and the river. Here the freighters who came in with the covered wagons full of wool and mohair camped. It was convenient to the barber shops, all of which had bathtubs for their convenience, it was also convenient to the two large saloons located downtown. Here they stayed until their wool and mohair was weighed and credited to the proper rancher. Then their wagons were loaded with supplies according to the ranchers' lists. These supplies were charged to their credit from the wool and mohair; hence, Schreiner became a banker.
The walk continues past a fire station "with a bell on top which rang out to call the volunteer firemen. Their equipment consisted of a fire hose mounted on wheels which they pulled manually to the fire.
Next was a blacksmith shop. "I believe it belonged to Jake Lawson."

Schreiner's Mill, Kerrivlle

Then Ruff's Cafe and then Schreiner's flour mill.
Heading back to Pampell's, our guide crosses the street: "Here was the St. Charles Hotel, the largest hotel in town and very popular with the summer visitors."  This hotel was on the site of the former Sid Peterson Hospital, which is now being torn down. "There was a large lawn that extended to the west wall of the wool house."
That wool house was torn down in the 1980s to make way for the surgical annex of the old hospital, but it was "a rock structure," and "the largest primary wool market in the world (circa 1916)."

St Charles Hotel, Kerrville

Next came the Schreiner Store and Bank. "The bank was at the west end of the store. In 1919 they built the bank on the corner of Water and Earl Garrett streets. The entire store was remodeled about 1926."
Across the street, where Francisco's Restaurant is today stood "the Weston Saloon, the largest and most prosperous of the saloons, and  likely the busiest. Ladies turned their heads and children were told not to look in that direction, but I can still remember the sour odor."
At that, let's pause in our tour -- to continue again next post.
Until then, all the best.

1905 Kerrville and Kerr County -- in words and photos

Jan Wilkinson, a friend with ties to Kerrville, sent along a pamphlet by J. E. Grinstead about Kerrville and Kerr County in 1905.  Jan was kind enough to let me share it with you here.  This little pamphlet makes for some interesting reading about our area!

Click on any image to enlarge

Kerrville and Kerr County pamphlet, 1905,
courtesy Jan Wilkinson

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Kerrville gets a new library, Part 4

My long-time friend Raye Haney brought by some photos she took the day the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library opened, in August 1967.   It was a big day for Kerrville and Kerr County.  One of the featured guests was the First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.   Here are a few images from Raye's photos.

Click on any image to enlarge

Mayor Gordon Monroe and Lady Bird Johnson.
Opening of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, Kerrville, Aug. 1967

Part of the ceremony was the planting of a tree.
Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt (in hat), Howard Butt (Sr.),
and Lady Bird Johnson
Opening of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, Kerrville, Aug. 1967

And the dirt flew.  Howard Butt seems to get a chuckle at this.
Opening of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, Kerrville, Aug. 1967

• To share these photos with your friends on Facebook, click . I really want you to share these images.  The more people who can see these photos, the better!
• To email this story and photos to your friends, click .
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