Austin | Historic Images & Postcards

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Does anyone remember where the downtown post office was in the mid 1980's before the one over by Republic Square opened?

Wasn't it here - across from the Pickle Federal Building? I was working at 8th & Brazos at the time and have vague memories of cars lined up under that canopy every April 15th dropping off their income tax returns.

I guess I haven't been paying attention. I thought that building was still a USPS facility. I didn't realize it closed when the one by Republic Square opened.

[hookem]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Does anyone remember where the downtown post office was in the mid 1980's before the one over by Republic Square opened?

Wasn't it here - across from the Pickle Federal Building? I was working at 8th & Brazos at the time and have vague memories of cars lined up under that canopy every April 15th dropping off their income tax returns.

Yes, that was it. I remember doing the tax return thing there, just like you describe. I remember they had post office workers outside under that canopy to take your return without you even leaving your car. That, along with registering for my UT classes by standing in lines at the Erwin center, are some of my earliest Austin memories...

[resansom]

Originally Posted by hookem

Yes, that was it. I remember doing the tax return thing there, just like you describe. I remember they had post office workers outside under that canopy to take your return without you even leaving your car. That, along with registering for my UT classes by standing in lines at the Erwin center, are some of my earliest Austin memories...

And that goes way back - I remember my Mom, who was an accountant, going to drop off tax returns at that post office right up until midnight on 04/15 - back in the 1960s...

[The ATX]

The architect of some of Austin's modernist buildings passed away yesterday:
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/aust...Q1RUbuYaYF8rL/


This was one of his buildings:

[The ATX]

Here's an aerial of Cesar Chavez where it crosses Waller Creek. I don't recognize any buildings as still standing.


https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67...9/m1/1/?q=east

[KevinFromTexas]

Palm Elementary is still there, of course. And look at I-35. Wild.

[The ATX]

This one is pretty amazing. Here's the still existing train bridge from when it was still in service that crosses Shoal Creek between the Greenwater and Seaholm developments.


https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67...th123907/m1/1/

[KevinFromTexas]

That picture seems to show the addition they made to the Stephen F. Austin Hotel. They added 2 floors years after it was built. They also did the same for the Brown Building. You can also see the old Alamo Hotel on the site where 300 West Sixth is. It was torn down in 1984 I believe.

[Speculator]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's an aerial of Cesar Chavez where it crosses Waller Creek. I don't recognize any buildings as still standing. Waller Creek was diverted at some point about where Willow St. dead ends.

Great photo. I wonder how many of those houses are the actual rainey st bars (before this current bulldozing and building trend)?

[the Genral]

The erosion on the banks of Waller from high water is amazing as are the structures within a few feet of what looks like sheer cliffs 20 to 30 or more feet straight down in a few places. Why do so many people insist on building in flood prone areas especially from the near side of the creek (from that photo).

[The ATX]

Here's a dusty Koenig Lane looking east towards that fancy new reservoir in 1937. N. Lamar now crosses Old Koenig just past the reservoir.


https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123948/


The reservoir still exists today on Old Koenig Lane. The above photo was taken from about where Old Koenig Lane splits off from the new Koenig Lane which now passes the reseroir to the right in the old photo.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Here's a dusty Koenig Lane looking east towards that fancy new reservoir in 1937. N. Lamar now crosses Old Koenig just past the reservoir.

Wow! I had not idea that reservoir was so old. No wonder it seems so out of place.

[KevinFromTexas]

Check out the horseshoe prints in the dirt there.

[KevinFromTexas]

1957


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

[drummer]

I mean, I kinda wish they would restore the river to its 1957 condition. Am I alone in that?

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by drummer

I mean, I kinda wish they would restore the river to its 1957 condition. Am I alone in that?

Meaning all dirt and no trees??

Joking?

[jg6544]

Originally Posted by drummer

I mean, I kinda wish they would restore the river to its 1957 condition. Am I alone in that?

There was a nice little stretch of rapids downstream of the Lamar Blvd. bridge.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by drummer

I mean, I kinda wish they would restore the river to its 1957 condition. Am I alone in that?

I kinda wish they renovated the Parmer Event Ctr instead of butchering it into the current Long Ctr. The lack of funds destroyed the original rendering which I liked and turned it into an eyesore on the outside even though its fantastic on the inside. Its like a TARDIS, it looks and feels bigger on the inside.

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I kinda wish they renovated the Parmer Event Ctr instead of butchering it into the current Long Ctr. The lack of funds destroyed the original rendering which I liked and turned it into an eyesore on the outside even though its fantastic on the inside. Its like a TARDIS, it looks and feels bigger on the inside.

Would you be able to share the original rendering? I like what they did to the Long Center, but I'm curious to see what the original plan was.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Would you be able to share the original rendering? I like what they did to the Long Center, but I'm curious to see what the original plan was.

I can't find it, and I've looked. Perhaps Kevin can locate it.