Our Westlake

           Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells first-hand experiences in the 1930-50s in South Texas Politics. He tells of Election interference using poll tax exemption certificates, vote reporting and other shenanigans.            Austin's Shelton Law Firm represented many of the South Texas border county officials, including Sen. Archie Parr, (who never lost an election) his son was County Ju...

     Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) starts a New Chapter "Austin Law Tales" with first-hand stories from his family's 50-year career as criminal defense lawyers in Austin - roughly 100 years ago.       The 1915-30s in Texas were the days of Prohibition, Ku Klux Klan, Lynchings and Bonnie and Clyde. The Texas Rangers took on the Devil himself -- in defense of Texas.          Capt. Hammer...

            Emmett Shelton Sr, (1905-2000) continues his tales as a lawyer in Austin related to Hill Country killings, 100 years ago. The first story is that of Emmett's friend and right-hand man in Westlake, Earl Short. He was a hard-working cedar chopper, rock worker and bootlegger. He got crosswise with another bootlegger and killed him. Emmett tells an interesting tale about defending Ear...

      Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells first-hand stories of three early Westlakers: Tom, Homer and Jesse Teague.       In the 1910-20s, Tom was a cedar chopper - a Hill Country "go to guy" for hard jobs. As a young man, he joined in a rock fight in Austin one night. He hit a boy and broke the boy's back. The court banished Tom to the Hills. A few years later, Tom got into a feud wi...

             Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells of the life of two early Westlake brothers who lived on Bee Cave Road, H.B. "Rush" Riley and John T. Riley.  They were both hard-working cedar choppers. Rush was known by the authorities for bootlegging and selling it on Lake Austin Blvd in Austin. One officer told Rush he was not smart enough to bootleg.  "I arrested Rush for selling li...

             Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells the story of one of the earliest Westlaker, John Teague, roughly 100 years ago. The Teague family was one of the first families in the Hills. At the turn of the Century, the family owned a large tract of land near Commons Ford and Bee Cave on both sides of the Bee Cave Road.               John was a horse trader.  One night in South Austin in 1911, Joh...

        Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells of the life of Ernest Thurman in the 1920s and 30s. Ernest sold Emmett 50 acres of land for $50 worth of lumber. The family built a Dance Pavillion on Bee Cave Road across from the County Line.          The Thurmans were bootleggers and had a good business with drinking and dancing at the pavilion. Ernest was a hard worker, who lived off the land and carrie...

         Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells first-hand stories of the earliest Westlakers - many called Cedar Choppers. Westlake was a land rich with natural resources but no transportation and few business or educational opportunities. Cedar was a major resource for railroads and heating -- but required strong men to harvest. Cutting and hauling cedar and brewing whiskey was their livelihood.     ...

         Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells of the Shelton family's further conflict with the KKK in So. Austin. Emmett's father, John E., was Director of Sunday School but was kicked out of So. Austin Baptist Church for being an anti-prohibitionist.                Brother Edgar was singing at the Baptist Church when robed KKK Members marched in with a donation. Someone shut off the lights...

         Emmett Shelton Sr. tells the first-hand account of murder charges brought by his father against 21 prominent members of the KKK in Austin in 1921.          The KKK promoted 'law and order' and many local officials in Austin and San Marcos were members.           The KKK opposed bootleggers and sent a note warning the Shelton Law firm to "get out of town" for its work d...

         Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells of growing Up in South Austins 100 years ago. His was a difficult home birth without a doctor. As the 5th of six boys, that was not his mother's first challenge! No cars, no lights, no inside plumbing - life was very different in South Austin.            Emmett tells of seeing the first airplane, the first street-car and playing with the boys of t...

           Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) tells of the Eastern area of South Austin in the 1920s.            Emmett was born at home on West Live Oak in South Austin. A friend had the first bicycle, and they watched the first streetcar on So. Congress. We had a blacksmith Bakery, Feed Store, Livery, Grocery, Saloon and others.            Emmett tells of John Wendy's Store at Barton Springs R...

      Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells of his passion as a Texas Democrat in support of Eisenhower in 1952.  After being a key democrat in the Texas state convention - He declines the Governor's offer to the Ntl. Democratic Convention, explaining his support for a republican named Eisenhower.        Emmett describes his worked to build Democrat support for Eisenhower in a State that had s...

          Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells the story of Mr. J.H. Patton, state delegate from Oak Hill, and his hair-raising buggy and train ride to the 1894 Dallas Democratic Convention. It was a tie vote to choose Charlie Culberson for Governor of Texas. Patton made it just in time to determine the course of Texas history.           Next Emmett tells the story of his first Democratic State Co...

           Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) was born and lived in on West Live Oak in South Austin, roughly 100 years ago. He tells colorful stories about life in the early 1900s on the streets of South Austin.            This episode focuses on the West side of Congress Ave. Landmarks include the Lone Oak Gas Station at the South edge of town; Feuds over the Gravel Pits on the floodplain banks of t...

As our Nation moves into election cycle - we want to look back for a glimpse of the local precinct 'conventions' held in store fronts on South Congress Ave. in Austin, Texas - roughly 100 years ago.           My Granddad, Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) was born and raised on West Live Oak in South Austin. His father was a prominent lawyer and on the board of the Deaf School. He was activ...

         Emmett Shelton, Sr. shares a very interesting first-hand story about a tip he got from Lyndon B Johnson in the 1930s that encouraged his interest in developing West Lake Hills.  Emmett knew the Roy Sisters were schoolteachers in Houston and had over 1,800 acres. Emmett negotiated with them at $4 an acre a total of $12,500. It was north of Bee Cave Road to the river. He shares colorful sto...

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) is the Original Developer of Westlake Hills.           When Emmett got his law license, the Depression was on. On credit, he bought 120 acres of property way out on the Bee Cave Road on a hill that is now the home of the County Line Restaurant. He began working to clear the land and build a clubhouse. One day, his stone mason Earl Short told Emmett all the land on t...

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) opens this Chapter as he and his wife, Joyce, expand their work in Westlake Hills to the north and west. There were no roads between Bee Cave Road and the River. No Pennybacker Bridge, No Loop 360. Their new range covered the entire Westlake Peninsula.  In Episode 1, Emmett describes the territory in the 1930-40, access to Austin, existing roads, and the unclear own...

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) is the Original Developer of Westlake Hills. In this Episode, Emmett shares the story of the initial development of the Bull Mountain area.  Abe Bull, of Austin Ntl Bank, came to Emmett offering to sell the family's 160 acre Bull Mountain tract of land for $500/acre.  The nearest roads were the High Road and Trail of Madrones.  Emmett took the offer to a fellow...

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) is the Original Developer of Westlake Hills.  In this Episode, Emmett tells of two high-finance land deals involved in selling these two picturesque mountain tops. The Bull family had offered to sell Emmett their 160 acres of Mountain overlooking the lake and City of Austin. There were no roads except the High Road but Emmett saw the opportunity - and so did Sterlin...

Emmett Shelton, Sr, (1905-2000) tells of the challenges and reward in the sale of Mt. Stroder, more commonly known as Putnam's Hill. Prof. Mckorkell, from UT bought the tract for $3,000 in 1949. Emmett tells first-hand tales of building the Lakeshore Addition for access to the lake. Ike Young's still had been operating on the lake and a revenue agent had been killed. It is home to Little...

Thirty-five years after the Korean War, Gen. Charlie Cooper reflects on his time in the Korean War to his B-1-5 Company men at their first Reunion in 1989. The all-expense paid, Atlantic city Reunion was hosted by Lt. Pat McGahn (B-1-5) who was then, Donald Trump's lawyer. Lt. Charlie Cooper came to the B Company battlefield in April 1951, as a replacement commander straight from Annapolis. W...

              Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells of the history of the efforts to develop the central area of Westlake Hills around Red Bud Trail.  In the early 40s, the lake was very active with Riverboats and races. Locals built the Yacht Club on the Lake by Bee Creek.              Emmett focused his efforts on abstracting the land around Central Westlake and building access to the lake. The C...

      Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells of the early development of Westlake Hills along Bee Cave Road prior to the 1980s. He had to pay $1500 for the land where Eanes School is now.  They doubled our community bingo games to raise the money.       Emmett tells about the landowners 100 years ago along the Bee Cave Road. Families like Delanie, Hatley, Euing and Dollie Bryant owned major parcels...