In This Issue: Summer Events Prehistoric Touring Cuban Cigar Roller Museum of the Pacific War Local Historic Aircraft Hike & Bike Trails
Summer 2010
Welcome to the 10th issue of GeorgeTown & Country Magazine, a resource for residents and newcomers alike. The magazine’s primary focus is on Georgetown and secondarily, the beautiful Hill Country area. This issue of the magazine, as well as every other, has a lot of variety, including local business interest stories, upcoming events, day trips, recreational information and more. Every issue has been focused on bringing something back to our beautiful community and trying to create a publication that is representative of the area. My wife, Ellen, and I both love this city, especially the historic downtown, and are fully engaged in its preservation and success. We hope others will help support our downtown as well because that is what makes Georgetown a truly unique community. I really appreciate your support and positive response to the magazine and would to thank our loyal advertisers, without whom this publication would not be possible. And also, thanks to my wife for her dedication in writing wonderful and interesting articles! I value your feedback, so let me know if there’s something that you think might make the magazine better! Also, if you would like to be an advertiser or would like to contribute an article for the magazine, please feel free to contact me at 512-863-3263. I hope you enjoy the magazine and find it useful! Lucas Adams, Publisher
Your Guide to Georgetown & the Hill Country 18 33 31 31 26 9 27 9 11 32 21 18 29 6 29 13 29 31 17 23 6 21 23 23 11 27 28 7 6 27 32 12 9 8
Abbey’s Home Furnishings Book Pride Camille & Co. Chupa Rosa Cianfrani Coffee Company Dia Thai Cuisine Down the Alley Bistro Franklin & Company Jewelers Gatherings Georgetown Winery Georgetown Antique Mall Harper-Chesser Historic Inn Hippy Cowgirl His and Her Treasures Hollandaze Gourmet Inner Space Cavern Kiss My Beads Keller Williams Realty La Maison Laurie’s Too Lone Star Properties Monument Cafe Plaka Greek Cafe Roberts Printing Rough & Ready Antiques San Gabriel House B&B She, Etc Sweet Serendipity The Collector The Escape Tony & Luigi’s Tribal Impressions Wonderful Things Zoot Pet Hospital
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Phone 512-863-3263
for more information or visit www.georgetownandcountry.com for rates and to view previous issues © 2010 Lucas Adams. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without express written permission from Lucas Adams, of any portion of this publication is prohibited. Reasonable efforts have been taken to prepare this publication for accuracy, however the publisher assumes no liability for errors. Content in GeorgeTown & Country Magazine may include paid advertisements. Booklet designed, photographed and published by Lucas Adams. Phone 512-863-3263.
Cover photography: Rodeo parade on Austin Avenue in historic downtown Georgetown
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4 Summer Events
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Prehistoric Touring
Three events in the park, one at the library
Dig sites and discoveries
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Georgetown Winery Wins New awards for local winery
10 The Art of Cigar Rolling A Cuban’s story
11 San Gabriel Park Favorite jewel
13 Hike & Bike Trails
Miles of scenic paths
15 National Museum of the Pacific War Day trip to Hill Country museum
17 Celebrate Bastille Day La Maison event
19 A Local Piece of WWII History Devil Dog aircraft still flying
22 Southwestern University Artist Carlos Barron’s strong visuals
24 Zoot Animal Hospital State-of-the-art facility
25 History Book
By author Donna Scarbrough Josey
30 Special Finds
The Mansion at Judges Hill
Business Happenings La Maison
La Maison, open at the corner of 8th Street and Church Street, is now serving Sunday brunch, with traditional American favorites as well as those from Europe. They serve brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, phone 512-868-8885 or visit online at www.lamaisontx.com.
Poppy Tots
Georgetown’s newest retail business on the historic downtown Square is Poppy Tots. Scheduled to open late in May in the old Shafer Saddlery building, Poppy Tots will carry children’s clothes, accessories and furnishings. They will accept your gently used items and exchange them for store credit. They are also opening in Salado in the former Sir Wigglesworth location. For information, visit www.PoppyTots.com.
The Exchange at Annarella
Located next door to the Palace Theatre on Austin Avenue, The Exchange is a clothing consignment and resale shop. They also offer a party and meeting room in the atrium of the Makemson-Steele-Weir Building. For more information, phone 512-864-9822.
Abbey’s Home Furnishings
Abbey’s will be hosting a fine art show in June with artists from Sun City’s Visual Arts Association. Abbey’s is located one block off the Square at 212 West 7th St. For more information, phone 512-930-7171.
Three Legged Willie’s
Located on the west side of the Square at 708 S. Austin Ave., Three Legged Willie’s Restaurant and Bar is now open! Their theme is based on Texas history, with a colorful wall depicting famous characters from our past, such as our own Three-legged Willie, Sam Houston and others. Their menu includes meatloaf, beefalo burgers, quail, duck, seafood and more. For more information, phone 512-868-8900, or visit www. ThreeLeggedWillies.com.
Sweet Serendipity
Sweet Serendipity is offering free wreath-making classes in the evening to groups of six or more. To schedule a class for your lady’s night out group, phone 512-864-1511.
Amante’s
Located at the corner of 7th Street and Main in the historic Masonic Lodge building, Amante’s is now serving Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, phone 512-869-6662.
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Ribbon cutting for Three Legged Willie’s
May 16-July 9 The Texas Society of Sculptors is displaying their artwork at the Georgetown Public Library in May, June and part of July. There are 56 sculptures in the library’s public areas. This show runs through July 9. On June 12, artists will be demonstrating their techniques at the library. The TSOS also has sculptures in San Gabriel Park. You can view the sculptures online at http://gallery.georgetown.org/v/Library/ sculpture/.
JUNE 3-6 Georgetown will host the sixth annual Festival of the Arts at venues around the city celebrating the music of famed American composer and conductor Aaron Copland. Tickets to concerts, recitals and symposia may be purchased at events or in advance. Discounts are available for ticket packages. The screenings at City Lights Theater and the concert and fireworks in San Gabriel Park are free. More information is available on the FOA website: www.gtownfestival.org
JUNE 25-26 The 67th annual Williamson County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo is coming up! Enjoy a familyfriendly weekend with all your favorite rodeo events plus Mutton Bustin, Calf Scramble, Rodeo Clowns, Kids Corral Area and more! Whether you’re a genuine cowboy or a city-slicker, there’s something for everyone! For more information, visit www.georgetownrodeo.com.
JULY 4 Celebrate the 4th of July in San Gabriel Park with the Sertoma Club! There’s a kid’s parade with decorated bikes, arts and crafts, tasty foods, music, a children’s area and more. Enjoy a spectacular fireworks display in the evening.
Georgetown Events
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Prehistoric Touring in Central Texas to believe that massive animals It’ssuchhardas mammoths and saber-tooth tigers
once roamed the quiet farmlands of Central Texas. However, several museums and sites in Central Texas can help you learn more about these ancient creatures as well as some of our earliest human settlers.
Waco – Visit a Mammoth Site What some call the “Texas fossil find of the 20th century” occurred in 1978 when arrowhead hunters discovered a rare Columbian mammoth near the Bosque River just a few miles from downtown Waco. Columbian mammoths lived between 10,000 and 1 million years ago and were larger than the better known woolly mammoths. They stood 14 feet tall, weighed 10 tons and had tusks that grew to lengths of 11 feet.
Since 1978, Baylor University staff, students and volunteers have spent countless hours excavating the site. Twenty-four mammoths have been found to date, and additional ones may still exist. Archaeologists have also found remains of a juvenile saber tooth cat and a prehistoric camel at the site. They believe the Waco mammoths drown in a flood of the Bosque River about 68,000 years ago. Chris Dyer, the previous director of The Williamson Museum, was among the Baylor students who had the opportunity to work at the site. “It was really cool seeing the animals in situ when very few people had seen it before other than archeologists,” says Dyer, who grew up about five miles from the site. Today, the 5-acre excavation site is open to the public, thanks to an incredible fund-raising effort on the part of Waco residents, who raised $3.2 million to build
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Museum built directly over dig site in Waco
a covered interpretive facility over the dig site. The facility opened in December 2009 and is already a popular tourist attraction. The interpretive facility is only phase one of a planned three phases for the site, so it will be worth checking back on. Those involved with the site are seeking to have it declared a national monument, which will make the site a unit of the National Park Service. Waco Mammoth Site 6220 Steinbeck Bend Rd., Waco (take Exit 335C off Interstate 35 and head west for 5.5 miles) (254) 750-7946 www.wacomammoth.org 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday Adults - $7 Seniors (over 65) - $6 Children (4 -12) - $5 3 and under - Free Also in Waco is the Mayborn Museum at Baylor University, which has a replica of the mammoth site, as well as 16 themed discovery rooms. Mayborn Museum Complex 1300 S. University Parks, Waco www.baylor.edu/mayborn 254-710-1110 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday 1-5 p.m. Sunday Adults - $6 Seniors - $5 Children - $4
Day Trips
Belton – See an exhibit on the famous Gault Site Thirty-two miles north of Georgetown in Belton, the Bell County Museum is home to a new permanent exhibit on the Gault Site, which is located near the Bell County/Williamson County border. This site is providing archaeologists with new information on some of the earliest peoples in the Americas. Some mammoth remains have also been found at this site. At the museum, you can see an excellent film called “The Gault Project: An Adventure in Time,” which explains the significance of the site. Both the Bell County Museum and The Williamson Museum in Georgetown offer guided tours of the Gault Site. Bell County Museum 201 N. Main St. 254-933-5243 www.bellcountymuseum.org Noon - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday Admission is free
Georgetown – Visit a cave where prehistoric animals have been found Prehistoric animals, including a mammoth and a saber-tooth cat, have also been found in Georgetown in Inner Space Cavern, which was discovered when workers were constructing Interstate Highway 35 in 1968. For information on the cavern, phone 512-931-CAVE or go to www.myinnerspacecavern.com.
Austin – See dinosaur tracks from Glen Rose in the Texas Memorial Museum The University of Texas campus in Austin is home to the Texas Memorial Museum, which has a large collection of prehistoric animals in addition to extensive natural science collections. Hanging in the museum’s Great Hall is the skeleton of a largest flying animal ever found – the Texas pterosaur, which had a wingspan of about 40 feet. The lower floor of the museum has the skeleton of a mosasaur that was found by UT geology students in 1934 on the banks of Onion Creek, four miles south of Austin. Mosasaurs were 30-foot creatures with elongated heads that lived in the shallow seas that covered much of present-day North America during the late Cretaceous period. The museum’s Ice Age display has a skeleton of a glyptodon, which was a large, armored mammal related to the modern-day armadillo, as well as skeletons of a giant ground sloth, a Colombian mammoth and a saber-toothed cat. The Hall of Geology and Paleontology features more than 5,000 square feet of fossils from dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, including a Tyrannosaurus Rex. In a small building just outside the museum’s main entrance are casts of the famous dinosaur tracks found in the limestone bed of Paluxy Creek near Glen Rose in 1939. The trackway appears to show a sauropod dinosaur that could have weighed up to 30 tons being stalked by a smaller theropod dinosaur. The museum also has a Paleo Lab where visitors can see paleontologists at work and ask them questions. Texas Memorial Museum 2400 Trinity St. on the UT Austin campus www.utexas.edu/tmm 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 1-5 p.m. Sunday Admission is free
Bone pit was found at Inner Space Cavern
More than 100 tracks made by six or seven different dinosaurs, along with the bones of an ancient turtle, were found when workers removed limestone to make trails in Zilker Park in the 1930s. Researchers decided to map and make casts of the tracks, then rebury them to prevent Continued on next page
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Prehistoric Touring continued from previous page further loss from exposure. The park’s dinosaurs are commemorated with bronze sculptures in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden. For more information, go to www.zilkergarden.org
San Antonio – See exhibits on prehistoric peoples at the Institute of Texas Cultures The Institute of Texas Cultures in San Antonio has a tusk from one of the Columbian mammoths found near Waco, as well as several excellent exhibits on prehistoric peoples of Texas. Archaeology buffs will enjoy the museum’s collection of arrowheads found in Texas that date from 11,500 years ago until as recently as 500 years ago. This museum is located in HemisFair Park, which is easily accessed from Interstate 35.
Bronze sculpture at Zilker Park in Austin
Institute of Texan Cultures 851 E. Durango Blvd., San Antonio 210-458-2230 http://texancultures.com/ 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday 12-5 p.m. Sunday Adults - $8 Seniors - $7 Children - $6 ~ Ellen Davis
Local Park Devoted to Dinosaurs
If you have a young child who is an aspiring paleontologist, a park in the nearby city of Cedar Park is a great place to take them. Champion Park, which is located at 3830 Brushy Creek Rd. in Cedar Park (about 12 miles from downtown Georgetown) is devoted to the area’s paleontological past. There’s a playscape where kids can climb on sculpted dinosaur skeletons and eggs, and a “dino pit,” where kids can dig for concrete casts of bones from several different types of dinosaurs. For more information on Champion Park, visit the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department Web site at http://parks. wilco.org/
Digging for “fossils” at Champion Park
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A similar dino pit is located at the Austin Nature and Science Center near Zilker Park. For more information on this dino pit, visit www.dinopit.org.
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Georgetown Winery Wins Again!
ur local winery has won again in two competitions Odifferent
this year, bringing their total medal count to 22 over the last 3 years! Owners Dan and Becca Marek are rapidly becoming a local destination with their winery, located on the east side of the historic downtown Square. They took four medals at the renowned Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition - 2010: Reserve Class Champion - Raspberry Chocolate Port Silver Medal - Raspberry Chocolate Port Bronze Medal - Super BIG Texan Bronze Medal - Tawny Port (PORTEJAS) They took four more medals at the prestigious 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in New York: Silver Medal - Ice Wine Silver Medal - Sweet Blush Bronze Medal - Cabernet Sauvignon Bronze Medal - Chocolate Cherry Port This was not the first year that their Chocolate Cherry Port has won. Last year it won medals at both shows, proving it to be a popular choice.
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Comprehensive Pet Care On Four Private Acres
Open Saturdays
◆ Full Service
◆ Professional
◆ All Suite Boarding,
◆ Dog Day Care
Veterinary Care
With their success with the winery concept in Georgetown, the winery has been constantly changing and expanding from when they first opened three years ago on Austin Avenue. (You may remember that they were formerly known as D’Vine Wine). They have steadily increased their capacity almost from the start, while continuing to focus on maintaining and improving quality. Marek has an eye on the future of the wine business, going so far as to actually start a vineyard in Rockdale. “It will be 3 years before the vines are producing,” he says, “and taking care of 550 plants is a lot of work!” For more information, phone 512-869-8600 or visit www.GeorgetownWinery.com.
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The Art of Hand-Rolled Cigars
Miguel Mejias hand rolling cigars at His & Her Treasures during Market Days event
Ever wonder where cigars come from? The art of
rolling cigars dates back a couple of hundred years. The person who first had the idea to take tobacco leaf and roll it into the familiar shape may never be known, but one of our local shops on the historic downtown Square can tell you who is rolling them today. Miguel Mejias comes from Cuba and has practiced his art for 12 years. He lives in Austin and works full-time at the University of Texas, rolling cigars on the side as a second job. Today at Market Days he is rolling at a table in the front window of His & Her Treasures. How he came to be in the U.S. is an interesting story. Wanting to forge a better life for her family, his wife, Damariz Tachin (wives keep their maiden names in Cuba) would play the lottery faithfully every week. However, this wasn’t a lottery for dollars, it was a lottery for freedom. When Damariz won that lottery the family waited for two years before taking the opportunity of coming to the United States. Miguel says he was unsure of the risk. He knew no one in America and wanted to go to New York but Immigration insisted he come to Texas. His ultimate goal is to become an attorney so that he can help others that are less fortunate. Life in Cuba wasn’t easy. Working in a world-renowned cigar factory, Miguel and his wife were required to roll 155 cigars each, per day. If three cigars did not pass inspection there was no pay for the day. When the cigars did pass inspection, the wage was fifty cents per day for the entire
155 cigars. Other opportunities arose, such as the time he was chosen to roll 6 boxes of cigars for the late Saddam Hussein. He was paid $10 for the job. Saddam paid $30,000...per box! When asked how life is in Cuba these days, he replies, “Much better now that I can send money back to my family.” His hands continue to work deftly, creating the familiar shape from whole fresh tobacco leaves. A customer waits patiently as Miguel finishes two of his cigars, then another customer steps up. “The tobacco comes from the Dominican Republic,” he says with a smile, “not Cuba.” He continues, “The tobacco is very good.” The other customer looks on and asks how many cigars he has rolled in his life. Miguel smiles again at the question and says simply, “Thousands...” I asked Miguel if he was happy he came and stayed in the United States. He smiled, “In five years, I have one house and two cars. I love it here.” Miguel can be found rolling cigars every second Saturday during Market Days on the Square at His and Her Treasures. He has become so popular that customers phone their orders in advance to ensure their monthly supply of Miguel’s hand-rolled masterpieces. He also teaches cigar rolling classes to those who have the desire to “roll their own.” For further information, call 512-868-3288.
Around Georgetown
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Georgetown’s
One of Georgetown’s jewels is no secret... it’s San Gabriel Park, located about a mile north
of the historic downtown Square. The historic marker in the park reveals a lot of great information such as the fact that it was a campground for native Americans, that the Spanish explorers were here, and that the park was a popular gathering place for settlers. With clear natural springs flowing into the San Gabriel River amidst giant pecan and cottonwood trees, it is easy to see why the park was, and still remains, a favorite recreation spot, with great hiking trails, biking trails, jogging trails, fishing, baseball fields, soccer fields and more. (See page 14 for the trail map).
The park is home to the Creative Playscape, constructed by volunteers, and located next to the Rec Center on N. Austin Avenue. The park is also home to the Sunken Gardens and Community Center, where annual shows such as the Gem and Mineral Show, Quilt Show and other events are held. For more information, visit http://parks.georgetown.org/
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Favorite Park
Feeding the ducks and geese at San Gabriel Park
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Frisbee golf course in San Gabriel Park
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Miles of Trails for Recreation
If you have never been on Georgetown’s hike & bike trails, you’ve got to get out there and enjoy them! The trails extend from San Gabriel Park all the way to the lake, making for a relaxing commune with nature. The trail crosses several low water areas and goes underneath the interstate as it winds around following the path of the North San Gabriel River for approximately 7 miles. It eventually joins the Corp of Engineers trail near Lake Georgetown where you can extend your hike or bike outing across the dam. Frisbee golfers can play along and just off the trail near Rivery Park on a course that is more rugged and natural than the one in San Gabriel Park. Animal life abounds along the trail, a perfect opportunity for photographers to capture images of deer, egrets and blue heron, as well as an occasional fox!
Another addition to a local hike and bike trail is at Berry Springs Park. About a mile has been added to the existing paved trail, making it almost a 2-mile round trip. New paved hike & bike trail at Berry Springs Park
Georgetown Attraction
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best museums about World OneWarofIItheis located
less than two hours from Georgetown in Fredericksburg. And a new gallery in that museum makes a visit even more worth the trip. So how did a major World War II museum end up in the Hill Country? The answer is that a Fredericksburg native, Chester Nimitz, ended up being in charge of all the U.S. forces in the Pacific during the war. The 2 million men under his command had one job: to get to Japan. The museum began as a tribute to the life of Admiral Nimitz, but has grown over the years to become the country’s premiere museum about the Pacific Theater in World War II. The latest addition to the 6-acre museum complex is a 38,000-square-foot expansion of the George H.W. Bush Gallery. The $15 million expansion opened in December 2009. The 31 displays in the new wing trace the war in the Pacific from the first seeds of conflict in the 1800s
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Fredericksburg Museum Offers a Firsthand Look at World War II Japanese mini-sub from Pearl Harbor
“A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” ~ Robert Heinlein
to Japan’s surrender in 1945 and the liberation of the POW camps. Several displays feature actual pieces of equipment that were used in the war. One of their most unusual holdings is a 78-foot, 2-person Japanese midget sub that was captured at Pearl Harbor. Others include a B-25 bomber like the one James Doolittle used to attack Japan from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in April 1942, a Wildcat fighter plane and an M-3 tank. Interactive displays near these pieces of equipment show what it would have been like to be on the bridge of a ship during battle or the view from the periscope of a submarine. Complementing the pieces of equipment and interactive displays are videos of battle footage – many of which are in color – as well as interviews with veterans who were in the war. One of the galleries
talks about contributions Texas made to World War II – from bases for training troops to the production of oil. One could easily spend hours visiting this gallery and fortunately tickets to the museum are good for 48 hours. ~ Ellen Davis National Museum of the Pacific War 340 E. Main St. (US 290) Fredericksburg, Texas (830)-997-4379 Open 9-5 daily $12 adults (World War II veterans are free) www.Nimitz-Museum.org
Day Trip
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CeleBrate bastille Day In Georgetown on July 10th
What is Bastille Day? It is a significant day in
human rights in France, affecting the course of history for many nations. In May of 1789, King Louis XVI convened a meeting to hear the people’s grievances. What were those grievances? Basically, there was no constitution that gave the common man any legal rights. A group representing the common people formed the “National Assembly.” This group eventually included the Catholic Church and the nobility of France. By June, various factions had joined the group and King Louis was forced to recognize their validity. The group, or assembly, called itself the “National Constituent Assembly,” and in July it started to write a constitution. The act of breaking away created a distrust between the powers still in control and the common man. Consequently, the people of Paris were fearful that they would be attacked by the royal military. They sought to gain munitions for the people and stormed the fortressprison Bastille located in Paris. The Bastille held people imprisoned for any reason that the government wanted. Once jailed, there was no appeal. The Bastille held a large supply of ammunition and gunpowder, as well as political prisoners whose views had displeased the government. It was a symbol of the total control of the Monarchy-style
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government and so became a target for the masses to attack. Surprisingly, the mob proved to be a formidable match for the Bastille’s defenders. The commander of the Bastille tried to surrender to avoid bloodshed. In the confusion, somehow the fighting resumed and ninety-eight attackers died in the clash, as well as some of the other defenders, including the Mayor. As a practical act of defiance, the storming of the Bastille was more symbolic than as an effective act of rebellion. It became a rallying point of the common man, a sign that the masses could take back their future. Shortly after the conflict at the Bastille, feudalism, a form of economic slavery, was abolished and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen took effect. To celebrate this important date, La Maison is having an event at the restaurant which will include music all day by different bands and musicians. Some of these include Amanda Woosley, harpist, Manteca Beat and others playing jazz, R&B and more. They will also have a great variety of food, including the Amerian favorite, barbecue! La Maison is located in the historic Anderson House one block east of the downtown Square. For more information, phone 512-868-8885.
Chilled Strawberry Soup 1 1/2 lbs. fresh strawberries, cored and sliced 1 cup granulated sugar 2 cups sour cream 1 to 1 1/2 cups half and half 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract Put strawberries and 1/4 to 3/4 cup sugar in a food processor; puree until smooth. Add sour cream and enough half and half to make it pourable (consistency of buttermilk). Adjust sugar if needed. Add vanilla and chill at least 1 hour. Serves 6 to 8.
Recipe from Treasures Too from Laurie’s Tea Room.
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a piece of history at our own There’s airport
that few people know about. It’s a Marine version of a B-25 from WWII named Devil Dog, one of only 25 or so left in the world. The amazing part is that she still flies, taking part in air shows like the popular annual Oshkosh Air Show and others. Visiting the airport to see this and several other WWII aircraft in April, I was fortunate to run into pilot Beth Jenkins and a member of her flight crew, Gregg Peterson. Jenkins is the only woman who is certified to fly this type of aircraft for the Commemorative Air Force. She is also the president of Pilot’s Choice Aviation, where it is hangered. Inviting me aboard to get out of the wind, we were able to talk. The first thing you notice about the airplane is that it is tight inside and everything has a purpose. The 50-caliber machine guns are immediately to my right and left, opposite of one another. As we talk, it is hard for me to picture two men in this confined space sitting at those guns. Jenkins’ love of the airplane becomes immediately apparent as she tells me some of the history. This aircraft is a PBJ, a Marine version of a B-25. The nose of the plane displays the Marine mascot now, she explains, but back when we were at war it would not have since it would have reflected light at night, making it a target. That also explains the deep blue color of the aircraft. “We’re keeping that Marine aviation history alive,” Jenkins says, “and honoring those men who served their country.” As part of this function they do tours and history lessons with school groups and organizations. “We want to keep this flying museum alive,” she continues. “The Commemorative Air Force is the largest flying museum in the United States. They have 57 groups, squadrons, wings, sponsor groups all over the United States, France, Switzerland and Australia. Some have only one airplane and others have several.” Midland, Texas, is the national headquarters of the Commemorative Air Force and there’s a gathering at their airport on October 9th & 10th for the big airshow event. “There will be more warbirds there than you’ll ever see anywhere else,” Jenkins says. Jenkins has been a member of the Commemorative Air Force since 1987 and is the only type-rated female pilot in the organization. Before becoming the pilot of the Devil Dog she was a copilot for several years, until the other two pilots retired. At that point her love of flying and the importance of the history dictated that she get her rating certificate.
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When asked about the proposed aircraft museum at the airport, Jenkins says that the funds are not there yet to complete the museum, but they are still working on it. I commented to her that after seeing the large number of visitors to the Museum of the Pacific (see article in this issue), it seems that it would be a huge win for Georgetown to acquire such a museum in terms of historical tourism. She agrees, and says, “It is an expensive venture and also to keep these planes flying. In order to keep this airplane and be a part of the Commemorative Air Force we have to maintain it.
Around Georgetown
Local Piece of History Still Flying
In the last 30 months we have had to raise more than $200,000 to keep it flying.� She says they had to put a new engine on after their last air show in Oshkosh when they had mechanical trouble. This was in addition to several other necessary repairs before the show. I asked her where they got the parts and she said that there are people and organizations that bought them before they were destroyed, dismantling some for the parts and storing others in the desert. For more information or to donate to this historic preservation effort, visit them online at www.DevilDogSquadron.com. ~ Lucas Adams
Pilot Beth Jenkins and Co-pilot Gregg Peterson
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This wood sculpture (approximately 5 ft tall) was part of Barron’s senior exhibit at Southwestern University
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t n e d u St Artist Creates g n o Str Visuals Southwestern University student
Carlos Barron has a strong sense of what is visually and aesthetically pleasing, translating this quality into his artwork. Barron’s love of art is expressed in a variety of mediums, including sculpture, architectural modeling, photography, painting and digital expressions. I first met Barron while shooting pictures for Southwestern University three years ago and was immediately intrigued by his use of 3D space in his building models. Over the past couple of years his work has developed and refined to the point of having a definite WOW factor.
A sample of Barron’s insect macro photography
While at Southwestern, Barron began making larger models and realized that he really enjoyed exploring the use of space and materials. His pieces of sculpture were featured at a Senior Exhibition with other students this spring and Barron revealed the origins of his work. “My dad was a carpenter,” he explained, “and I would pick up the scraps of wood and make things from them, like little cities. I just liked doing that.” He was a recipient of a King Creativity grant, one of only six that were awarded from Southwestern for 2009-1010. His project consisted of macro photography of insects, amazing in their detail. Barron’s experimentation with non-conventional use of lenses was very creative, using them in reverse arrays that gave the desired telescopic macro effect. “I like photographing and enlarging these tiny creatures to a point where they have personality,” he explained at the event. Barron has received a grant to create banners of his macro photography for display along Georgetown’s hike and bike trails, so be on the lookout for them this summer. ~ Lucas Adams
Georgetown Artist
Barron with his architectural model for a new World Trade Center
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Zoot Pet Hospital Excels
After the announcement that Zoot had won the Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition, which recognizes exceptional veterinary facilities, we decided to check out their new building located west of town on Hwy 29. I asked owners Jim Root and Dr. Wayne Zeh how long they have known each other. Almost in unison they replied, “More than 30 years. We grew up in Houston together.” While both majored in business, Dr. Zeh decided to change career paths and become a veterinarian. It was a natural fit for someone who loves animals and had a variety of them growing up–including iguanas, boa constrictors, rats, African Gray Parrots and more. I asked how the idea of partnering to create a pet facility came about and learned that it was during a casual visit in Plano over margaritas that the idea was born in fall of 2004. Root had been working a corporate job and wanted to settle down after numerous transfers around the country and Dr. Zeh was working in Harker Heights as a veterinarian. After talking through the idea, they realized that it was not only feasible, but something they both wanted to do. The first inklings of the animal hospital were scribbled on a napkin, as many great ideas usually are. The seed was planted and it developed.
Jim Root and Dr. Wayne Zeh at Zoot
children’s business venture. That wasn’t what they originally intended on calling the animal hospital business, however. They intended on calling it something like West Georgetown Animal Hospital. “We contacted UT’s advertising and design department, and became one of their class projects for their graduate students,” explained Root. “They came up with our logo and color pallet and the students said, no, no, you’ve got to call it Zoot!” He continued, “The talent level of those students was excellent and it was a powerful presentation that they gave when presenting their work to us.” When asked how the hospital design came to be, Dr. Zeh explained that they looked at a lot of different publications related to veterinary clinics, picking many of the best features. They both agreed that they wanted to build an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional building, something that fit in with the local architecture. The architects designed exactly what they needed and four years after their initial meeting, Zoot Pet Hospital + Luxury Boarding opened in July of 2008.
Root and Dr. Zeh came up with the name Zoot when they were children, combining their names for their first
The hospital and pet hotel is a state-of the art facility with 40 air-conditioned cage-free dog suites and 10 kitty condos. Six of the dog suites have web cams for their owners to check in on their pets during vacation, a feature that Root says is very popular. They also have four tree-covered acres of land for the dog boarders to romp around on, as well as a staff of 25 to care for them. The hospital is equipped with the latest hi-tech equipment, such as a digital X-ray machine and has plans to acquire more equipment in the future as needed.
Dr Zeh with state-of-the-art digital X-ray imaging
For more information about Zoot Pet Hospital, phone 512-864-ZOOT (9668) or visit www.ZootPets.com.
Georgetown Business
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New Book Takes a Look at Earlywhich several of the old buildings in town have been renovated for new Georgetown – in Photos uses. The massive cottonseed mill
When the numbers from the 2010 census are in, Georgetown may officially become a city of 50,000 people. It’s hard to believe that as recently as 1970, Georgetown was still a city of 5,000 residents.
In recent years, several books have been published to help remind people of the town’s early days. The latest of these is a new picture book written by Donna Scarbrough Josey, a daughter of one of the first chroniclers of Williamson County history, Clara Scarbrough. Josey’s book is part of the Images of America series produced by Arcadia Publishing. It contains photos taken by Josey and her mother, as well as photos from collections of the Georgetown Heritage Society, Southwestern University and the Williamson County Sun. Images of America: Georgetown is divided into five chapters. The first chapter tells about the town’s founding before the Civil War and its first settlers such as John Berry. It talks about how alligators could still be found in the San Gabriel River and how cattle drives “could take several days to pass through town.” The second chapter tells about the town’s growth and prosperity after 1880 following the establishment of Southwestern University and the arrival of the railroads. A sewer system and water works company were built, telephone lines and electricity became available, and an ice factory manufactured ice that was hauled to houses, where residents could hold up fingers to indicate how many pounds of ice they wanted. The third chapter focuses on the period in the early 20th century when growth slowed as a result of the World Wars and the depression. Georgetown was like many other small towns in America, and celebrations such as May Fete and the Fireman’s Picnic were the social events of the year. The fourth chapter tells about the city’s revival in the 1980s as a result of its participation in the national Main Street Program. This program helped revitalize the downtown area after the construction of I-35 took traffic from downtown and new shopping centers were built in outlying areas. The final chapter focuses on the 21st century, during
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that used to be located at 17th and Railroad Streets is now the site of Habitat for Humanity’s Old Mill neighborhood. The city pecan orchard is now the city dog park. And the old power plant is now the police station.
All the copy in the 127-page book is well-written and informative. It tells about some famous figures in Georgetown’s history, such as banker Emzy Taylor and cattle rancher Dudley Snyder, who helped bring Southwestern University to Georgetown; Charles Belford, whose lumber company built many of the fine houses that can still be seen today; and women’s rights activist Jessie Daniel Ames. It also has some interesting tidbits, such as the fact that Bill Moyers, who went on to become press secretary to President Lyndon Johnson, once served as a student pastor at Wier Baptist Church. Or that Elvis Presley used to frequent a small burger place named Greenways at the corner of Austin Avenue and 19th Street in Georgetown while he was stationed at Ft. Hood. Nancy Morrow, the eldest daughter of Sam Houston, apparently had Santa Anna’s saddle in her home on College Street, and let “a few lucky children” sit on it. The book has photos of several things I had heard about, but had never seen pictures of. For example, there used to be a city park just a few blocks from my house where the Wesleyan Retirement Home was later built. The book has a picture of the park as it appeared in 1926. It also has a photo of the first Methodist church built in Georgetown in 1882 on the southwest corner of the original Southwestern University campus, across the street from the present-day First United Methodist Church. The book has a photo of the old train depot in Georgetown, which stood at the northeast corner of Eighth and Forest Streets, and the Palace Theater as it appeared when it was originally built in 1925. The book also has photos of some things I never knew Georgetown had, such as opera house and an Airdome, an open-air theatre that was a forerunner to
Donna Scarbrough Josey signs copies of her new book
movie theaters. It mentions the odd spherical rock that is at Edwards Park was found 100 feet below ground in a Rockdale coal mine and has been “a Georgetown curiosity since 1930.” There are many other fascinating photos as well, such as a photo of Georgetown’s old stage stop, a photo of a commercial mineral springs that used to be in San Gabriel Park, and a “sprinkler wagon” that was used to keep down dust on the dirt streets in dry weather. Images of America: Georgetown is available at the Hill Country Bookstore or The Williamson Museum for $21.99 or may be ordered online from Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com. ~ Ellen Davis
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Handcrafts Unlimited's Handmade Treasures Located on the south side of the historic downtown Square, Handcrafts Unlimited is celebrating its 28th year of business! Handcrafts Unlimited is a nonprofit consignment shop, started originally by Southwestern University history professor Martha Allen and Mary Engvall in 1983. They are one of the most successful endeavors on the Square and have outlasted and survived many changes downtown, including a fire that ruined the Inn on the Square B&B that was located upstairs. With more than 200 artists and quilters represented, Handcrafts is one of the favorite places to visit when thinking about handmade quilts and other
handmade items. Often, one can find several ladies working away on their one of their unique, one-of-a-kind quilt creations. They also have mesquite vases, porcelain, ceramics, wind chimes, toys, paintings and needlework, in addition to quilts. Handcrafts Unlimited is located in the historic Allen & Landrum Building at 104 West 8th St. and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, phone 512-869-1812. Better yet, go by and visit them!
Award-winning quilts
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These Businesses Are Located at
Agave Court and Embree Group Office Park on Williams Drive
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The Mansion at Judges Hill in Austin
One of the great things about living in Georgetown is the close proximity to Austin and the
Hill Country. In a matter of minutes, one can be in Austin, experiencing a slightly different style of life.
One such experience is dining at a historic house such as the Goodall Wooten House, now known as the Mansion at Judge’s Hill.
result being a magnificent visual experience.
The Mansion is located The property reopened in very near to the University 2003 as a boutique hotel and Dining room at The Mansion of Texas campus, at restaurant. The Mansion also has an event center that is the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Rio popular for wedding receptions. Grande. It is the last remnant in that neighborhood of a bygone era. The house was originally built in 1900 as a The Mansion at Judges Hill is only 27 miles from wedding gift for Miss Ella Newsome and her husband, Georgetown and it is easy to get there: Just take I-35 Goodall Wooten. The home remained in the Wooten south to the Martin Luther King exit and head east family until 1944. After the Wooten family sold it, later on MLK. The Mansion is just a half mile past the owners converted it for student housing and a drug and Blanton Museum and the Bob Bullock Texas History rehabilitation center. Museum, at 1900 Rio Grande. You could even spend an afternoon visiting museums and then head to the A developer bought it in 2001 and was planning to Mansion for dinner. Free valet parking is available turn it into office space, when he fortunately realized when you get there. that it would be better to restore it to its previous glory, preserving a small part of our rich Texas heritage. It was For more information, phone 512-495-1800 or visit remodeled with great care and sparing no expense, the www.mansionatjudgeshill.com.
Special Finds
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• Huge selection of hardback & paperback books • Bring your books in for store credit
512-868-3363
Visit us in our other new location in Salado at 110 N. Main Street
Located on the Historic Downtown Square At 109 West 7th Street, Suite 115