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 Texas : Towns A-Z / Central Texas South : Smithville

SMITHVILLE, TEXAS

Bastrop County, Central Texas S
Hwy 71
40 miles E of Austin
12 miles E of Bastrop
20 miles W of LaGrange

Population 3,901 (2000)

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Smithville Texas masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
TE photo 2002
Unlike most "railroad" towns, Smithville's main street (First) doesn't run parallel to the tracks.

In addition, the railroad hasn't completely left. Repair facilities still work on cars, although not to the degree of days past. If you start at the Railroad Historical Park and walk North you'll pass the commercial district, The Smithville Times, City Hall, the Library, the Post Office, residences and eventually you’ll come to a rest area overlooking the Colorado River.
Colorado River Bridge - Smithville, TX c1910
Colorado River Bridge in Smithville
Postcard courtesy The William Beauchamp Collection
Smithville, Texas main street
Smithville street scene
Courtesy Cissy CeCe Wong
Smithville's Dexter

Smithville's Dexter - From Underdog to Best of (Picture) Show by Ted R. Krueger
"Adena Lewis called asking us to bring our dogs to a casting call for the movie "The Tree of Life" that was soon to be filmed in Smithville. The director, Terrence Malick, wanted the "hero dog" (to be called "Shep" in the movie) to be an untrained dog..."

Movie Theme in Smithville

At present, Smithville displays artifacts (mostly bogus storefronts) from the movie Hope Floats. We think it’s worth mentioning that Smithville was called Smithville in the movie, the only time we can remember that happening. Even Hollywood couldn’t improve their name.

The restaurant Pockets (Hwy 90 and First St.) displays many more of the signs used in the picture.

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Movie artifacts Star Biscuit  sign on brick wall
A ghost sign of a product that never was - but is.
Smithville, Texas

TE Photo, 2003
movie sign
Bright and Early
A ghost sign in Smithville
TE Photo

Railroad Theme in Smithville

Riverbend Park out on Highway 71 has a real caboose on display in addition to the two others in Railroad Park.

Smithville Blast of 1911:
Locomotive Boiler Explosion
Scene of locomotive boiler explosion, Smithville Texas
Locomotive Boiler Explosion
Smithville Texas post office WPAmural -The Law - Texas Rangers, 1940 by Minnie Teichmueller
Smithville, Texas Post Office "WPA" mural
The Law – Texas Rangers, 1940 by Minnie Teichmueller
Smithville Chronicles
Texas War Casualties
Delhi, Smithville and Praha. Stone markers and chapels quietly reveal where America gets its soldiers.

For the curious: There are at least 28 families with the surname Smith living in Smithville. That's one out of 143. Bastrop has a ratio of one Smith out of 86. Not one person named Bastrop lives in either town.
L - Smithville School TE photo
R - Texas Cuisine Courtesy Valentine Ricé
Smithville, Texas Nearby Destinations
Buescher State Park
2 miles NW of Smithville on Hwy 71.
From Hwy 71, go north on 153 for .5 mile to enter Park Road 1.
Austin | Bastrop | LaGrange
Snake over the door

The snake over the door
Courtesy of The Smithville Times.
Smithville Library

We recently called the library on a Monday and said; "Oh, you’re open!" The response was: "Why? Is it a holiday? Are we missing out on something?" This is representative of the openness (and the ever-present fear of missing out on something) of Smithvillians.

A few more words about the Library: They have a new copier with a "photo" key, which copies a photo better than you’ve ever seen. They also give you a choice of a regular borrower’s card, or one of their bar-coded, state-of-the-art, postage stamp-sized cards that fit on one’s key chain and (wait, there’s more) they’re waterproof! Unlike many current trendy libraries, these folks aren’t hell-bent on making shelf space. We’ve found many books other libraries have discarded. If you haven’t read it, it’s news to you. Our only complaint about the library is that it is underused. The staff is competent and friendly. It’s rare to find this mixture of "cutting-edge" technology and practical tradition. They have even been heard saying "thank you" when books are returned.

And while we’re mentioning subtlety (the kitten's names-not Geraldo), a visit last year found three of the hour hands knocked loose from the four-faced clock at the end of First Street. Less than a week later we returned and all had been reattached and were in perfect synchronization. These are the same people who put Christmas lights on their old Fire-truck, and fence the fire station's property with old fire hydrants as posts. What's not to like about Smithville?
Smithville, Texas
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