Austin's History (Spring, Burnet, West: houses, live, store)

[MattV]

Being new to this city I started to do a little research about the history of Austin. The "isn't this the most incredible town" feeling hasn't hit me yet and I've been purplexed as of why people have that feeling. I'm still trying to understand that mentality and the blind love for Austin. I beleive I've taken a big step in that direction. My research has made me look at this city and the people who live and have lived here in a better light.

This is a city that almost never was many times over. It was a frontier settlement that fought to exist and fought for its status. Austin's history is rife with character and characters. The city has been loved by some and disliked by as many. It isn't and never was a diamond, but it has charm.

I think I am getting it. Austin is in no way a perfect city and probably doesn't desire to be. And as many flaws as it has, it has it's charms too.

Please tell me your least favorite or favorite part of Austin's history.

[capcat]

My favorite was the late 60's through the 70's, but I wasn't here before then. I imagine the Austin of the 40's, 50's was much more quaint. I think the population was around 250,000 when I moved here.

Local television personalities sort of defined Austin's easy-going style for me, or at least they were my introduction. The gentlemanly meteorologist Gordon Smith, with his outstretched palm gesture, and "Let's take a look at the weather" Gordon Smith Fan Club (http://www.steveccook.com/gsfc/index.html - broken link) and the voice of Cactus Pryor Cactus Pryor

I could go on, but I've mentioned what I would say so many times before. Generally, I simply miss things of that era, things that were smaller and more personal. Maybe that could be anywhere, not just Austin. But, I am drawn to places in Austin that remind me of it and the way Austin was. Many are gone, but some are still there. Places like Bark n Purr pet store rather than PetSmart, Austin Vacuum rather than Best Buy, and the Pit BBQ on Burnet Road, which has no comparison. There are many more.

[TelecasterBlues]

Does anybody have any old pictures of Austin or links to older pictures? It's tough to find anything prior to last decade and the skyscraper boom.

[orngkat]

As a teenager, my friends and I used to make the trek to Austin on the weekends before it was the crowded place it is now. I recall the beauty of Zilker Park, the hippies everywhere and the huge houses that lined MLK across from Guadalupe (all gone now.) I like to read about the way East Austin used to be and I like to visit the State Cemetery to see all the historic Texans buried there.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by TelecasterBlues

Does anybody have any old pictures of Austin or links to older pictures? It's tough to find anything prior to last decade and the skyscraper boom.

Here are some I found
http://www.texasfreeway.com/austin/h...c_photos.shtml

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/photo.htm

http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/gall...o/HisPhoto.htm

[CptnRn]

Here are a few links you might find interesting.

Meanest ol' bartender in Austin... she will be missed.

Texas History

The Fantastic and Utterly Disreputable History of the Bevy of Sin Known as Guy Town

[CptnRn]

And these:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/...ustin-1896.jpg

This 1910 topographic map of Austin is interesting as it shows how few streets existed then. There wasn't much at all of South Austin at that time. Cesar Chavez Street (First Street) did not exist West of Congress Avenue. The area north of UT was named Sieder Springs. There was no Town Lake and Lake Austin was called Lake McDonald. There is a low water crossing shown near Zilker Park and another near the Fiesta Gardens area.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ustin-1873.jpg

[centralaustinite]

Take a look at the 1990 Natural Geographic that features Austin (cover story). It give a great sense of the city at that point and you can see the elements in place that made it the city that it is today.

It took me two years to fall in love with Austin and my spouse at least 5! Now we wouldn't live anywhere else. It takes time.