Traces of Texas
@tracesoftexas.bsky.social
Purveyor of Texas history and culture. Cowboy boots junkie and advocate of all things Lone Star. 100% organic, free-range Texas content. A politics-free feed. DON'T get political! Buy me a coffee? Click here: https://buymeacoffee.com/tracesoftexas
One, two, one, two, tres quattro!
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🙂
January 19, 2026 at 4:26 AM
One, two, one, two, tres quattro!
🙂
🙂
Dangit! Everybody knows Texans can't play in the snow!
January 18, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Dangit! Everybody knows Texans can't play in the snow!
My goodness. Traces of Texas reader Tyler Valkin was nice enough to send in this razor sharp photo photo of Spindletop outside of Beaumont some time during the time that his grandfather Artimus Spivey worked there. I watched every episode of "Landman" and don't recall cattle as a hazard. 😀
January 18, 2026 at 9:09 PM
My goodness. Traces of Texas reader Tyler Valkin was nice enough to send in this razor sharp photo photo of Spindletop outside of Beaumont some time during the time that his grandfather Artimus Spivey worked there. I watched every episode of "Landman" and don't recall cattle as a hazard. 😀
A logging crew near Jasper, Texas. I'm not sure when the photo was taken, but I'm thinking perhaps the 1950s. All I know is I would like to have been a seller of overalls in East Texas back then. 😉
January 18, 2026 at 7:47 PM
A logging crew near Jasper, Texas. I'm not sure when the photo was taken, but I'm thinking perhaps the 1950s. All I know is I would like to have been a seller of overalls in East Texas back then. 😉
"See that my Grave is Kept Clean" was written by Blind Lemon Jefferson, who was born in Coutchman, Texas, busked in Dallas, wrote this classic, and recorded it in 1927. It has been covered by Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, the Grateful Dead --- and Mavis Staples. SUBLIME!
youtu.be/BzG2M3Hvg4o?...
youtu.be/BzG2M3Hvg4o?...
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Mavis Staples
YouTube video by foxbr68
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 2:52 AM
"See that my Grave is Kept Clean" was written by Blind Lemon Jefferson, who was born in Coutchman, Texas, busked in Dallas, wrote this classic, and recorded it in 1927. It has been covered by Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, the Grateful Dead --- and Mavis Staples. SUBLIME!
youtu.be/BzG2M3Hvg4o?...
youtu.be/BzG2M3Hvg4o?...
An utterly classic view of two men sitting on the porch of an old hotel in Beaumont, 1943. The man in the center appears to be perhaps 75 years old. I'm sure he had some stories to tell. I can almost hear the sound of lemonade being poured in the kitchen!
Taken by John Vachon.
Taken by John Vachon.
January 18, 2026 at 1:19 AM
An utterly classic view of two men sitting on the porch of an old hotel in Beaumont, 1943. The man in the center appears to be perhaps 75 years old. I'm sure he had some stories to tell. I can almost hear the sound of lemonade being poured in the kitchen!
Taken by John Vachon.
Taken by John Vachon.
A 7-11 on a rainy night in Austin, November 13, 1947.
An awesome shot taken by noted Austin photographer Dewey Mears. Isn't it wonderful how he captures that lonely, dreary atmosphere of a lonely night in a sleepy Austin? But, hey ... cold beer! Courtesy the great folks at Austin History Center.
An awesome shot taken by noted Austin photographer Dewey Mears. Isn't it wonderful how he captures that lonely, dreary atmosphere of a lonely night in a sleepy Austin? But, hey ... cold beer! Courtesy the great folks at Austin History Center.
January 17, 2026 at 11:19 PM
A 7-11 on a rainy night in Austin, November 13, 1947.
An awesome shot taken by noted Austin photographer Dewey Mears. Isn't it wonderful how he captures that lonely, dreary atmosphere of a lonely night in a sleepy Austin? But, hey ... cold beer! Courtesy the great folks at Austin History Center.
An awesome shot taken by noted Austin photographer Dewey Mears. Isn't it wonderful how he captures that lonely, dreary atmosphere of a lonely night in a sleepy Austin? But, hey ... cold beer! Courtesy the great folks at Austin History Center.
One of my own photos. I took this shot of an abandoned house near Castell, Texas, in 2019. I was out there by myself and at one point I swore I heard the laughter of children but then decided it must have been the creaking of the windmill.
January 17, 2026 at 7:41 PM
One of my own photos. I took this shot of an abandoned house near Castell, Texas, in 2019. I was out there by myself and at one point I swore I heard the laughter of children but then decided it must have been the creaking of the windmill.
T-Bone Walker, the pride of Linden, Texas, is universally recognized as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Here he is with a whose who: Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry etc ... Holy cow.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK...
T-Bone Walker w/ Jazz At The Philharmonic - Live in UK 1966
YouTube video by xraymusicdotcodotuk
www.youtube.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:19 AM
T-Bone Walker, the pride of Linden, Texas, is universally recognized as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Here he is with a whose who: Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry etc ... Holy cow.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqK...
"Night Life" BB King ft Willie Nelson
YouTube video by Willie Nelson
youtu.be
January 17, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Here's a question for my scientific notes: will a short video of the bubbles in my beer from my favorite dive bar on a Friday night in Texas get any response? 😃
January 17, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Here's a question for my scientific notes: will a short video of the bubbles in my beer from my favorite dive bar on a Friday night in Texas get any response? 😃
According to the esteemed Mike Cox, Texans eat 800,000 chicken fried steaks per day. I got my RDA of CFS earlier today, but I've heard some of y'all may be slacking!
January 16, 2026 at 11:49 PM
According to the esteemed Mike Cox, Texans eat 800,000 chicken fried steaks per day. I got my RDA of CFS earlier today, but I've heard some of y'all may be slacking!
Traces of Texas reader Bill Green kindly shared this great shot of his stepfather's mother, Mary Fleming, with her grandfather playing horsey in Rosebud, Texas. Many parts of the human experience are transient, but the joy of a little girl when it comes to riding an adult "horsey" transcends time.
January 16, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Traces of Texas reader Bill Green kindly shared this great shot of his stepfather's mother, Mary Fleming, with her grandfather playing horsey in Rosebud, Texas. Many parts of the human experience are transient, but the joy of a little girl when it comes to riding an adult "horsey" transcends time.
Pearl brewery owner Emma Koehler holds the first bottle of Pearl beer to come off the line after Prohibition was rescinded, 1933.
January 16, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Pearl brewery owner Emma Koehler holds the first bottle of Pearl beer to come off the line after Prohibition was rescinded, 1933.
For awhile there it looked like Austin band The Reivers would be the next big thing. The band released four critically acclaimed albums and put on great shows but never really hit it. Their version of Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is interesting. Great harmonies.
youtu.be/xCyrOb5cDNU?...
youtu.be/xCyrOb5cDNU?...
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
YouTube video by The Reivers - Topic
youtu.be
January 16, 2026 at 3:01 AM
For awhile there it looked like Austin band The Reivers would be the next big thing. The band released four critically acclaimed albums and put on great shows but never really hit it. Their version of Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is interesting. Great harmonies.
youtu.be/xCyrOb5cDNU?...
youtu.be/xCyrOb5cDNU?...
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Crawford inside their San Antonio grocery store, Ebenezer's Grocery & Market, which was located at 1401 N. Zaragoza there in the Alamo City. No date given, unfortunately, but I'm thinking 1950s. From the T.B. Willis Collection at The Portal to Texas History
January 16, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Crawford inside their San Antonio grocery store, Ebenezer's Grocery & Market, which was located at 1401 N. Zaragoza there in the Alamo City. No date given, unfortunately, but I'm thinking 1950s. From the T.B. Willis Collection at The Portal to Texas History
Spectators at a palomino horse auction in Eldorado, Texas, 1939. A classic assemblage of hats and khaki pants! West Texas in a picture.
From the one and only Russell Lee.
From the one and only Russell Lee.
January 16, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Spectators at a palomino horse auction in Eldorado, Texas, 1939. A classic assemblage of hats and khaki pants! West Texas in a picture.
From the one and only Russell Lee.
From the one and only Russell Lee.
The Dallas skyline in 1943. Falstaff beer? It looks almost ---- ALMOST ---- quaint. How many of y'all saw Pegasus on top of the 29-story Magnolia hotel from miles away at night while returning from a long road trip and said "We're almost home!!"?
Photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE magazine.
Photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE magazine.
January 15, 2026 at 11:54 PM
The Dallas skyline in 1943. Falstaff beer? It looks almost ---- ALMOST ---- quaint. How many of y'all saw Pegasus on top of the 29-story Magnolia hotel from miles away at night while returning from a long road trip and said "We're almost home!!"?
Photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE magazine.
Photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE magazine.
The 1920 West Texas State Normal College football team, 1920s. It's interesting that not a single one of them is looking directly at the camera. Some of their facial expressions are rather fierce, don't you think? Clearly, a team not to be trifled with!
Courtesy The Portal to Texas History.
Courtesy The Portal to Texas History.
January 15, 2026 at 8:54 PM
The 1920 West Texas State Normal College football team, 1920s. It's interesting that not a single one of them is looking directly at the camera. Some of their facial expressions are rather fierce, don't you think? Clearly, a team not to be trifled with!
Courtesy The Portal to Texas History.
Courtesy The Portal to Texas History.
A lonely house near Lamesa in rural Dawson County, 1939. My goodness. I am a man who doesn't have any problem with "alone time," but this would probably provide A LOT of alone time. I can imagine that keeping dust out of the house was an ongoing battle.
Taken by Russell Lee.
Taken by Russell Lee.
January 15, 2026 at 4:53 AM
A lonely house near Lamesa in rural Dawson County, 1939. My goodness. I am a man who doesn't have any problem with "alone time," but this would probably provide A LOT of alone time. I can imagine that keeping dust out of the house was an ongoing battle.
Taken by Russell Lee.
Taken by Russell Lee.
You probably didn't know that you need to see this video tonight, but you do.
youtu.be/7RUjb9zHh-A?...
youtu.be/7RUjb9zHh-A?...
Willie Nelson & Richard Pryor | Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain | Pryor's Place | 1984
YouTube video by Official Richard Pryor
youtu.be
January 15, 2026 at 4:07 AM
You probably didn't know that you need to see this video tonight, but you do.
youtu.be/7RUjb9zHh-A?...
youtu.be/7RUjb9zHh-A?...
I saw Gary Myrick the play "She talks in Stereo" in Austin back in 1980 and it slayed me. I still love this song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRF...
Gary Myrick, The Figures - She Talks In Stereo (Official Video)
YouTube video by GaryMyrickVEVO
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:59 AM
I saw Gary Myrick the play "She talks in Stereo" in Austin back in 1980 and it slayed me. I still love this song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRF...
If joy was a sound ...
youtu.be/PCORFRz7Sb8?...
This was in June, 2024. Augie Meyers is 84 years old in this video and still sounding great.
youtu.be/PCORFRz7Sb8?...
This was in June, 2024. Augie Meyers is 84 years old in this video and still sounding great.
"Who were you thinking of last night?" by Augie Meyers & Los Texmaniacs
YouTube video by KIII 3 News
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 5:58 AM
If joy was a sound ...
youtu.be/PCORFRz7Sb8?...
This was in June, 2024. Augie Meyers is 84 years old in this video and still sounding great.
youtu.be/PCORFRz7Sb8?...
This was in June, 2024. Augie Meyers is 84 years old in this video and still sounding great.
In light of the fact that the Texans are currently playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wildcard game, here's one of my favorite quotes by a football coach of all time. Does anybody else remember watching this in real time? Luv ya, Bum!
youtu.be/c_Dn9T5NUBQ?...
youtu.be/c_Dn9T5NUBQ?...
Bum Phillips greatest speech in pro football RIP kick the door in
YouTube video by HowTo101Channel
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 3:54 AM
In light of the fact that the Texans are currently playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wildcard game, here's one of my favorite quotes by a football coach of all time. Does anybody else remember watching this in real time? Luv ya, Bum!
youtu.be/c_Dn9T5NUBQ?...
youtu.be/c_Dn9T5NUBQ?...
Denise Richter kindly sent in this 1904 photo of The Alamo taken, as you can see, during a Retail Merchants of Texas Association meeting. Denise's husband’s great grandfather, Will Richter, founder of Richter’s Bakery (Butter Krust Bakery) is top right, standing above the fourth column in 1904.
January 13, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Denise Richter kindly sent in this 1904 photo of The Alamo taken, as you can see, during a Retail Merchants of Texas Association meeting. Denise's husband’s great grandfather, Will Richter, founder of Richter’s Bakery (Butter Krust Bakery) is top right, standing above the fourth column in 1904.