Austin | Historic Images & Postcards - Page 8

Homecreek · #**141** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 6:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

I especially like the Camp Mabry photo. That was really in the middle of nowhere instead of the middle of Austin like today. It looks like a frontier outpost.

It looks like part of this building is still standing. If you go to google maps and go to the street view near the 35th street exit you will see it. Part of it has been sliced off to make room for MOPAC!

KevinFromTexas · #**142** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 6:35 AM**

I see it! Yeah, it's the building that sits right at the southern end of the jogging track very near Mopac.

hookem · #**143** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 7:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homecreek

It looks like part of this building is still standing. If you go to google maps and go to the street view near the 35th street exit you will see it. Part of it has been sliced off to make room for MOPAC!

I see it too. Wow, must have seemed worth it to only demolish half the building back then.

Nice catch, and nice first post.

BevoLJ · #**144** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 8:00 AM**

http://goo.gl/maps/kM81

KevinFromTexas · #**145** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 7:19 PM**

Now every time we drive by it I'm going to be looking at it in a different way. haha

Anyone know when that photo was taken? That photo reminds me of the scene in Back to the Future III when Marty walks around the train station and catches a glimpse of Hill Valley in 1885 for the first time. It's stuff like this that takes my mind elsewhere and makes me wonder what it must have been like in Austin way back. Can you imagine witnessing the Capitol being built? That must have been amazing to see in the 1880s.

East7thStreet · #**146** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 7:38 PM**

Where are all the trees in that picture? Crazy.

Downtown_Austin · #**147** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 8:37 PM**

Snapped this photo of a photo at Iron Works BBQ. Shows the intersection of Red River @ Cesar Chavez. You can see what existed prior to the [new] convention center, and what used to occupy the Fairmont site.

KevinFromTexas · #**148** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 9:24 PM**

That building at Camp Mabry did always look funny to me so close to Mopac.

There's a Facebook group "Do you remember when Austin?" or something, and it has some interesting old photos of Austin on there. It mostly deals with stores, buildings and restaurants, old festivals and stuff. It's pretty interesting. Facebook is being weird right now, so I can't find the link, but it's worth the look.

photoLith · #**149** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 9:57 PM**

This thread is amazing. Since people have been taking photos from the Congress St. bridge looking towards the capitol since the late 1800s it would be sweet to see a progression of photos for every decade since it was built looking towards the capitol.

KevinFromTexas · #**150** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 10:39 PM**

http://austinpostcard.com/

Austinpostcard.com is a nice source for that. They have postcards from the 1880s all the way up to the 1970s looking down Congress. That site also shows a lot of buildings that no longer exist.

BevoLJ · #**151** Posted **Jul 1, 2012, 10:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinfromtexas

anyone know when that photo was taken?

1915

KevinFromTexas · #**152** Posted **Jul 2, 2012, 6:53 AM**

Here's the Facebook group: Does you 'member when? Austin, Texas Version's Albums

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Does-...n/370348560851

KevinFromTexas · #**153** Posted **Jul 2, 2012, 7:02 AM**

Speaking of which, looky what I found there.

Notice the crane atop One American Center.

This was 1981/1982.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...8560851&type=3

This would have been after the 1970 census.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...8560851&type=3

the Genral · #**154** Posted **Jul 2, 2012, 5:50 PM**

That picture with One American under construction looks like it was taken during the 1880's what with the yellowing and blemishes. I drove my 1978 Camaro up and down Congress Ave during that building boom. I believe our population was around 360K at that time. Not only was the architecture of the new buildings elegant free, so were the cars Detroit was pumping out, yeeech!

Downtown_Austin · #**155** Posted **Jul 2, 2012, 10:05 PM**

The special thing about this photo is that it captures the 100-200 blocks of Congress Ave during this era. While there's myriad photos capturing the Paramount and the upper part of Congress, there seems to be a shortage of old photos of the southern part (but still north of river).

MichaelB · #**156** Posted **Jul 3, 2012, 2:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Funny you should say that cause I was thinking how I liked it better after they added the new floors cause it made it taller LOL.

Shallow Hal

Jdawgboy · #**157** Posted **Jul 3, 2012, 4:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Shallow Hal

???

MichaelB · #**158** Posted **Jul 3, 2012, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

???

how about this...

Size Queen.

Honestly Jdawg. Bigger does not equal better!

Jdawgboy · #**159** Posted **Jul 4, 2012, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

how about this...

Size Queen.

Honestly Jdawg. Bigger does not equal better!

It did for that building lol

LoneStarMike · #**160** Posted **Aug 12, 2012, 2:31 PM**

This is an article with old photos that discusses some of the history of that building at 901 Congress Avenue that most likely will be razed.

The Historic Building That Isn't: Wrecking Ball for 19th Century Structure
by Jeffrey S. Kerr
The Austin Post
August 8, 2012

Quote:

When does an historic building stop being historic? When it’s remodeled? Damaged and repaired? Covered over with a new façade? How about if its appearance is altered and later restored? What if the restored appearance, while true to the original building’s era, differs from the original? Is it worth preserving?

If you are the owner of the 19th-century structure at 901 Congress Ave. in Austin, the answer to the last question is an easy “no.”

The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank that owns the building, has been granted permission for demolition. In a recent article in the Austin American-Statesman, foundation spokesman Joshua Treviño spoke of creating a new “landmark” to replace the old.