west lake hills

Lost Tapes - A 1994 interview by Linsey Lane
At the age of 89, Emmett Shelton Sr. reflects on the strength of family love through the generations of his family and in his law practice.
He tells some of his favorite stories, including Hattie, Rob Roy and land development -- always with just a few new details. And a special guest appearance by Joyce.
Emmett has an interesting perspective in answering a question about the anxiety the younger generation has about the future. He advices the younger generation to be honest, be the best you can, don't spend it if you don't have it - keep your head up -- there is always another day. He talks  about the impact media has had over his lifetime and he talks about race relations in his family since the time of Thomas Jefferson.
He ends up with a question of how he spends his days: finishing up a New Civil War Novel, New Austin History Book, Tapes and Joyce always has something planned every day.
Emmett sums it all up by saying:
                In the End, Really Time Doesn't Mean a Thing
                             It's What You Do with It !

Music: Daddy's Dreams by Polk Shelton (Emmett's son)

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

We Just Found More Lost Tapes!!
Emmett Shelton, Sr. recorded this 1994 interview about Developing Westlake Hills. (It's marked Kimmell WLH 94).
Emmett shares memories of his work over the previous 50 years. He discusses his views of the need for public parkland in Westlake - he felt each family should have their own parkland. 
Emmett tells about bringing the newer Westlake children to the little country Eanes School and -- now, 50 years later Eanes Westlake are best in Nation. He talks of the first plan for a discount chain store that was re-buffed.
Emmett tells some WLH history about the 100% vote to incorporate in 1953. Next, was a turning-point for the village. In 1971, it proposed restrictions on its Extra-territorial Jurisdiction. Emmett owned the land and fought it in court. It was an interesting twist.
At the end, Emmett is asked what was the HighPoint - Emmett's Response: "Its a Picture that took a long time to paint and its realization is not finished yet. "
#AustinTexas
#Texashillcountry
#Austinhistory


Music: Daddy's Dreams By: Polk Shelton  - Emmett's Son

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

We Just Found More Lost Tapes!!
Emmett Shelton, Sr. recorded his 1994 interview about Developing Westlake Hills. (It's marked Kimmell WLH 94).
Emmett shares memories of early work with banks on appraisals, work with planners and issues like drainage and erosion control on hill country developments. He tells of a project his son, Jeffery Dochen, took on, the Forests of Westlake.
And, then Emmett shares a detailed, first-hand account of the 1961 fire that threatened our community's whole world.
Emmett was asked about his proudest accomplishment - he responded --the building of Our Westlake -- 4-5 thousand acres of purely residential development and it is an Anti-SOB Society.  Emmett ends with his claim that there are fewer commercial endeavors in Westlake 1994 than there were in the 1930s -- back then there were few families and 4 illegal stills in the area.

 (From Cyndie about the Fire - In 1961, We lived on Caravan Circle and us 4 kids were all under 7 and we had Chicken Pox. My Dad took our old firetruck and was fighting the fire for days. Our neighbors came over to survey the fire from the high hill. They helped Mother hose down the roof in case it came up the hill. 
Funny what you remember - watching my Dad on Austin TV.  "Uncle Jay" (Our local kids show's host , who moonlighted as a reporter) interviewed him about fighting the fire.  We hadn't seen him for several days - never forget - his eyes were red, he was coughing and his voice was hoarse - I thought he might not make it home.)

Music: Daddy's Dreams - Polk Shelton, Emmett's Son (Youtube)

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton, Sr. tells stories of the Greer-side of the family out in Dripping Springs -- dating back to a "plantation" in Navasota before the Civil War.  Emmett recounts his earliest memory of visiting Great GrandMa Greer prior to her death.  After a long life, with few modern conveniences  - Great Grandma was run over by a train!!
GrandPa Greer (William Henry Greer) served in the Civil War and met and married Grandma in 1872 at the Johnson Institute. He moved to Fitzhugh Rd. and was a horse trader after the War. They had seven children. Emmett tells a memory of a full day (25 mile) wagon trip from So. Austin to Dripping Springs. After Grandma Greer died in the 20s, GrandPa moved into our house  -- Emmett has even more stories about GrandPa adjusting to life in So. Austin -- Roughly 100 years ago.
If you have any Greers in your family, or live in Dripping Springs (Fitzhugh Rd.) be sure to listen in. 

Music By: Southern Rail - The Hills that I call Home (YouTube)

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton Sr. proclaims one of his greatest inspirations was the birth of Jennifer Shelton, Emmett's middle-son's, Gil's daughter.  What a blessing! Sending love thru Gil and Jennifer's voices! Everyday love.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton Sr. shares an intimate portrait of his second wife and business partner, Joyce Shelton, his greatest inspiration in his life.  They married in 1962 with a partnership that spanned 40 years. They worked hand-in-hand to envision a new community Westlake Hills. They wanted residential development of one-acre minimum lot size. They didn't sell houses, they sold land and dreams. She crafted property lines to save Westlake's majestic trees.   When Loop 360 was proposed, Joyce and Emmett donated their Westlake right-of-way. They bought back Westlake property they had sold in the proposed easement and also donated it for the new highway. 
Emmett tragically lost his eyesight in 1973, his dream would have been over, but for Joyce - she became his eyes and kept their dream alive. Emmett has many tales of big land deals and partnerships but none greater than his partnership with Joyce. 
In the last story of the episode, Emmett tells of the ultimate gift Joyce gave him in 1986. Emmett worked to get the bridge between Austin and Westlake built in the 1940s, but it was left unnamed. In the 1980s, Joyce worked the Ausin mayor and Congressman Jake Pickle to finally name the bridge: the Emmett Shelton Bridge. Bless you Joyce.

Music by: Emmett's son, Polk Shelton

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton Sr. spent many years as a criminal defense atty in the hillcounty, getting (and keeping) bootleggers out of jail! In this episode he tells 7 of his favorite first-hand experiences. Prohibition was ratified nationally in 1919 and it was repealed in most counties in 1935.
Emmett's first story takes us to the days when Prohibition was just a proposal and Emmett's Papa, John E. Shelton, was against it at the South Austin Democratic Precinct level. 
Next, is a story of local Westlake Bootleggers who ran a local dance pavilion on Bee Cave Road in the 20s. Albert Brust killed his stepson Ernest Thurman after a family feud and a night of drinking. Emmett defended Ernest and he got off. Next, Emmett tells of a murder case of a Westlake Bootlegger, Earl Short. Emmett got him off on self-defense. Next, is a story of Ike Young, his still on Bee Creek and Westlake Drive, a murder of a Revenuer, and a possible hiding place of outlaw, Ben Thompson.
Emmett follows with a tale about an interesting trial of a bootlegger where the defense atty drank the evidence, with a gulp, during the trial. Emmett has another tale about the Capitol Bootlegger Fred Roose who got cross-ways with the Texas Rangers and lost out on his planned trip to Europe.
And then, Emmett tells a very interesting bootlegger trial involving a state's stoolpigeon who (Emmett pointed out) had transported the evidence crossed county lines. 
Finally, just before prohibition was repealed the liquor distributors were preparing - but a gun shot gave them away. Emmett had an interesting experience emptying a liquor warehouse before police could raid it.

Music: The Alcoholic Blues (Prohibition Song) by Bill Murray (1919) 
                 The Alcoholic Blues by Slipdixies (2017)

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton Sr. tells stories of his second family, after marrying Joyce and her son Jeffery Dochen in 1962. The stories tell of working through many of the same issues other blended families face. Jeffery helped Emmett clear land, plan new subdivisions, build Westlake Hills and later took over for Emmett and Joyce as a major broker for people looking for that perfect piece of land in Our Westlake - Paradise.

Note:  Many of you remember Joyce Shelton, the Patron Saint of the Peninsula. Joyce was Jeffery's mother and her birthday is July 4. We publish this Episode on her birthday in her memory.

By Polk Shelton - Emmett's Son

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Emmett joined the Marine Corp and went overseas. He had three young sons at home. On return, He made up for his absence with a move to the "Big House on Caravan Circle - Our Westlake Wilderness".
At the age of 70, Emmett Shelton Sr. tells a father's favorite memories of raising young men in Westlake Hills, roughly 100 years ago. 

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

At the age of 70, Emmett Shelton Sr. tells a father's favorite memories of raising young boys, and their dogs, in Westlake Hills, roughly 100 years ago. For Emmett, every day was Father's Day!

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

At the age of 70, Emmett Shelton Sr. tells a father's favorite memories of raising young boys in Westlake Hills, roughly 100 years ago. Stories include incidents with the boys and bus driver Della Edwards and the Bullian family. For Emmett, every day was Father's Day!

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells of acquiring the land for Westlake Drive. Anticipating the renovation of the dam, Emmett bought the Stroder Tract at $10 an acre which he thought included the dam site. They financed the sale with family diamonds as collateral. Emmett worked with the City of Austin in a colorful twist of land deals Emmett made for the City to secure the adjacent land.
Emmett includes an intriguing tale of possible evidence of a Ben Thompson visit in Westlake Hills in the 1850s.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton )1905-2000) recalls the early history of the land he referred to as the "Pennisula", or the western area of Westlake. He includes the interesting characters who were the original owners of the Davenport Ranch area and the initial land deals. He includes personal recollections of the Rob Roy Ranch and a deal Emmett made to buy 500 acres of land from the Roy sisters for $4 an acre in1929. 

Music by Emmett's son Polk Shelton

Stories told by Emmett Shelton
 

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Chapter 1 - Episode 1 - Early Land Grants in Westlake - 200 years of investment opportunities - as told by Emmett Shelton Sr. 1905-2000 Original Developer of Westlake Hills (Updated Sound 1/1/2024)
Emmett recalls the early history of the land of Westlake Hills.  He begins in 1836 when Gen. T.J. Chambers was awarded 137,000 acres in Travis and Hays Counties for helping Texas and Mexico develop its court system. He got an additional 1000+ acres (most of Westlake) for service in the Texas Revolution. Emmett includes tales of the few people who lived on this isolated land in the 1800s around Stonehedge Estates. The dams in the Colorado further isolated WLH. Austin businesses saw the investment potential. Some divided parcels into 10 acre lots. Westlake even attracted the McCullough Land and Cattle Company.
For the past 200 years, Westlake has been the land of investment opportunity and Emmett can tell you all about it.
#westlakehillstexas
#traviscountytexashistory

Music: Daddy's Dreams by Polk Shelton (Emmett's son)

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.