Bug's Guidebook to Texas.

[Bugman]

The series has been on hiatus due to the record setting heat wave, but the weather has moderated and I'm getting out more. Today I visited the University of Texas Campus here, and will be posting some pictures I took.

 

[Bugman]

The University of Texas was established in 1881 by the Texas Legislature, on 40 acres of land north of the State Capitol. It was known as "College Hill" and construction of what was known as the "Old Main Building" began late in 1882. Today, the entire campus is fondly referred to by many as "The 40 Acres." The University was also given some land in West Texas, to generate what revenue it could.

By 1916 it was thought the region might be rich in oil and natural gas deposits and exploration began in 1919. On August 21, 1921 Santa Rita No. 1 was spudded in in Section 2, Block 2, University Lands in Reagan County. In oil industry jargon a well is spudded when the drilling begins. On May 23, 1923 rumbling was heard from the well bore and a fountain of oil burst forth on the Texas Prairie. On August 24, 1923 the University received its first royalty check for $516.58.

Santa Rita No. 1 was the first producing oil well on University owned land, and oil and gas royalties would make the University of Texas one of the wealthiest universities in the world. These pictures are what remains of Santa Rita No. 1, not a replica.

 

[cloudgazer2k]

Nicely done, sir!

 

[Bugman]

Herds of Mustangs once roamed much of Texas. This statue, near 24th and San Jacinto on the campus pays homage to them.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/tcm02

 

[milagros317]

Very interesting campus and university history. Thanks for the photos and link. 😀

 

[Bugman]

Nicely done, sir!

Thanks my old friend. Call me sometime, it has been far too long since we last talked.

 

[Bugman]

Very interesting campus and university history. Thanks for the photos and link. 😀

My pleasure Mils. There is more to come, so stay tuned.

 

[Bugman]

These pictures are from the grounds of The Texas Cowboys Alumni Association building. Founded in 1922, the Cowboys are a men's service organization. One of their duties is the care and feeding of Smokey the Cannon, which is fired at home games of the Longhorn football team. Some prominent members over the years include former Texas governors Dolph Briscoe and Allen Shivers, sports legends Tom Landry and Earl Campbell and Denton Cooley, who was a world famous heart surgeon.



http://www.texascowboys.org/index2.cfm

 

[Bugman]

James S. Hogg (March 24 1851-March 3 1906) was a doctor and lawyer. He served as Attorney General of Texas 1887-1891 and was elected Texas Governor in 1890, serving in that office 1891-1895. The 20th governor of Texas, Hogg was the first native born Texan to hold that office.

The Hogg's had four children, three sons and one daughter. This unfortunate girl was given the first name of Ima. Yes, you read that right. Her name was Ima Hogg. Ima was (and is) well regarded though, and her last home in Houston has been lovingly preserved and is a Texas treasure.

http://www.famoustexans.com/jimhogg.htm

 

[Bugman]

This is the Littlefield Fountain, on West 21st Street. Major George W. Littlefield (June 21 1842-November 10 1920) mustered into Terry's Texas Rangers as a sargent during the Civil War and earned a brevet promotion to major. After suffering serious wounds he was discharged and later became a prominent Austin businessman and philanthropist. Littlefield also served on the UT Board of Regents. In 1917 Governor James Ferguson vetoed fuding for the university. A furious Littlefield announced he would personally fund the upcoming academic year, and state funding was quickly restored. Littlefield donated over $3 million dollars to UT, an enormus sum at the time. He also established a $250,000 Trust Fund, and some of that money was used to build the fountain, designed by Italian born sculptor Pompeo Coppini. The fountain was dedicated in 1933, in honor of students and facality members who died in WWI.

Due to the severe drought the fountains have been turned off to conserve water.

 

[Bugman]

Our tour concludes with a visit to the UT Clock Tower. The Old Main Building mentioned earlier once stood here. It was demolished in 1934 over a firestorm of protest, and the current building was completed in 1937.

It was here, on August 1 1966 that Charles Whitman, a UT student dressed as a maintenance man hauled a footlocker full of firearms to the top of the tower and began firing on random targets. Whitman had murdered his mother and wife the night before. Before his rampage was ended by APD officers Houston McCoy and Ramiro Martinez (who would go on to become a Texas Ranger) 16 people lay dead and 32 were wounded. Even today, walking around there gives one an erie feeling, thinking about the terror and death Whitman caused that day. The Tower was closed to the public for many years but can be visited today. You must pre-register at the University Visitors Office and be escorted by a UT police officer or someone from that office.

 

[milagros317]

Very impressive campus. 😀

I remember that 1966 massacre. 🙁 I was in high school at the time.

 

[Bugman]

Very impressive campus. 😀

I remember that 1966 massacre. 🙁 I was in high school at the time.

It is a beautiful campus Mils, and there is much more to see. I'll be back.

I too remember that day. I was 11 years old.

 

[kopfhorer]

Our tour concludes with a visit to the UT Clock Tower. The Old Main Building mentioned earlier once stood here. It was demolished in 1934 over a firestorm of protest, and the current building was completed in 1937.

It was here, on August 1 1966 that Charles Whitman, a UT student dressed as a maintenance man hauled a footlocker full of firearms to the top of the tower and began firing on random targets. ...

I remember hearing and seeing national news reports about it as a kid, as well as seeing a newsreel entry about it in a theater immediately before a movie.

Fellow Texan, Kinky Friedman (heck of a name!) did a song about it around that time. This is an informal documentary by him.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nXwcq4i2gII?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nXwcq4i2gII?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

 

[Bugman]

I remember hearing and seeing national news reports about it as a kid, as well as seeing a newsreel entry about it in a theater immediately before a movie.

Fellow Texan, Kinky Friedman (heck of a name!) did a song about it around that time. This is an informal documentary by him.

<object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nXwcq4i2gII?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nXwcq4i2gII?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Kinky is quite a character and much loved here. He has run for several elected offices including at least twice for governor but never got far. Heck, I don't know that he could be any worse than many of the clowns we currently have in office.

 

[paracarl44]

Thanks for the nice guide and pictures. I will look up a link for you about Texas Lore.

 

[Bugman]

Glad you enjoyed it Carl. 🙂 And I'm always intrested in reading about Texas.