On Friday I indicated I was going on a Lakeway heritage tour. Well, I did it and discovered that I have already shared most of the stops with you. The bus tour did not allow getting off the bus but did start at the Liebelt Cabin. So I have devoted this blog to it.
Here is a map of the tour. There are 22 points of interest.
Here is the Liebelt Cabin built-in 1868 by August Liebelt. It was initially located on 80 acres in what has become a commercial tract. In 2011 it was moved to its present location near City Hall.
Here is a pictorial of the move.
The cabin was positioned on its current site in the same orientation as it was originally built.
The cabin had three doors One in front, one at the side and one in back. This allowed for ventilation in the summer.
August Liebelt sold the 80 acres and all his possessions except for a mare for 500 dollars. He then went to Grayson County, Texas and died in 1911 at the age of 79. This marker is a replica of his gravestone.
Gwen and Joe Wunneburger occupied the land and raised goats and other wool-bearing animals. This object was used to place the wool that had been sheared for transport to market.
The person on the left is Gwen Wunneburger who briefly lived in the cabin until their home was built.
The marker near the cabin
A horse-drawn seed planter used on the land
A horse-drawn hay cutter also used on the land.
Interior view – The bed
Chair and shelves. Don’t know how the fan got there. There is no electricity in the cabin.
Stove and more shelves
The fireplace.
I also found one more sculpture Titled Two Herons
I hope you enjoyed a look at the Liebelt cabin
Fiction Favorites 
Loved the log cabin. Looks pretty sturdy – truly built to last, eh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has done well since 1868 so I think so. Thanks, GP
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tour, John. I love seeing how folks lived. We could all learn from their ingenuity. Thank you for the morning inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This lady is quite a character. She says she’s cried a creek of tears since leaving her land. Here is an interview with her. https://youtu.be/TrxGHY2cGIw
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is a character, precious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right?
LikeLike
How very interesting, John. A lovely share.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Robbie. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful tour, John. The cabin looks quite cozy. Thanks for taking us along. Enjoy your Sunday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for coming along, Jill.
LikeLike
Love historical places. Nice photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Joan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the affordable trip through time, John.
You’re the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Hook. Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Thanks for the tour, John. It is a fascinating cabin – a great reminder that most of us live in luxury compared to “regular” folks more than a century ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, John 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tour. Cool that someone who lived in the cabin is still around.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Her family was on the land for 80 years
LikeLike
Maybe they can get that couple from Waco to do a home makeover. Add a game room, a custom shower, maybe a new kitchen. (Amazing what we think we need today, compared to our ancestors.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right? Don’t forget shiplap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What’s your estimate of the interior size of the cabin? It looks a bit smaller than the hill country cabin I enjoyed for years, but my first thought when I saw it was, “I could live in that, happily.” The hill country cabin had no electicity or running water, so I’ve had a taste of that kind of life, and still think I’d enjoy it, especially if it came with a half-acre.
LikeLike
I would say it was no more than 20 by 20. Not sure I could do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someone did an exceptional job on the fireplace. Hope it looked like the original. Can’t imagine what it was like to cook over an interior fire during a Texas summer.
LikeLike
I love glimpses in history! And I love that bits and pieces of it are preserved for future generations. Thanks for sharing, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the lovely words, Jan
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always try to image living like that. Such a different life from now. Thanks for sharing, John
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is. One was so busy just living there was no time for psychological issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting tour! (I love historic places.) Thanks for taking us along.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for going with me, Liz.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good pictures, John. We see these big cabins in movies but this is much more realistic. If there was a large family or visiting relatives there must have been people laying all over the floor at night. 🙂 — – Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is true. (or in the loft). Thanks, Suzanne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I forgot about the loft. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always amazing to see how folks used to live. Thanks for the tour, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the visit, Teri. Especially after a busy weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely tour, John! This is one of the original “tiny house” models, isn’t it? Modern-day folk think they’ve come up with a novel idea, but our ancestors lived tiny long, long ago!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true, Jim. I had not thought of that before. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely visit, John.
And like Jim said, the tiny house way of living was the only way for most folks. Maybe that’ll help me gain perspective on this joint…
LikeLiked by 1 person
There you go. Tiny house for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an undertaking! It always fascinates me how they are able to move these old structures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know. I can’t imagine doing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great work though. They did a splendid job of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John, I talked you yesterday on the tour, and you mentioned your Blog. I decided tonight to find it.
Thanks so much for your comments + your readers! I’m so happy your readers appreciate Gwendolyn and her cabin reminiscenses. Please follow us on Facebook and city website and Save the date for unrelated event, October 22, 7 p.m. Lakeway Activity Center when ‘Beak’ Howell, former Director of NASA, will speak. Vickie Taylor, Chair, City of Lakeway Heritage Committee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for stopping by, Vicki. I have the date. Come back anytime. I feature Lakeway every Sunday.
LikeLike
I love the log cabin! There is a log cabin that is owned by the town’s museum nearby (I used to live in the town). I’ll try to get some photos.
This was such an interesting post, John. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love looking into heritage buildings, John. It’s so interesting to get a glimpse of how people lived. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is, Dan. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tour! That cabin sure has a lot of character. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rhonda
LikeLike
[…] John Howell shares views of his neighborhood each Sunday. Click to see this week’s edition. […]
LikeLike