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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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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. |
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Smithville,
Texas Post Office "WPA" mural.
TE photo 2002 |
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Smithville
street scene
Courtesy Cissy CeCe Wong |
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. |
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Bright
and Early
A ghost sign in Smithville
Photo by John Troesser |
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A
ghost sign of a product that never was - but is.
Smithville, Texas
Photo by John Troesser, October 2003 |
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.
Area Hotels - Book Here & Save
Bastrop
Hotels
More Hotels |
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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?
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Smithville
Chronicles
Texas
War Casualties
by John Troesser
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. |
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- Smithville School TE photo
R - Texas Cuisine Courtesy Valentine Ricé |
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