The 26th Texas T Party was held October 2-4, 2003, at Seguin, Texas.  Hosted by Space City Ts of Houston, this regional tour for the Model T Ford Club of America is always well attended by Model T Ford enthusiasts from across America and beyond.

Remember . . . You can click on the thumbnail photos (the small photos with a frame around them) to enlarge the photograph.  Then click the right mouse button and select "Back" to return.

A number of Texas T Party attendees were returning from an early tour around Seguin when we arrived Wednesday afternoon, October 1.  We had stopped on the way at Bastrop where we spotted a huge stationary steam engine.

This is a 100 hp Monarch Steam Engine made in 1856 in Kansas City, U.S.  According to the owner, that means that it was made in the Kansas Territory before Kansas became a state.   It has a 16-1/2' flywheel with a maximum 30 rpm.  This engine ran everything in the cotton gin at Bastrop.

Two historic buildings in Seguin's historic downtown were the Log Cabin and the Doll House.

The Log Cabin dates before 1850 when it was built eight miles southwest of Seguin.  Members of the same family occupied this house for more than a century.

This gingerbread Doll House was built in 1910 by German-born master cabinet maker Louis Dietz for his adopted daughter, Alice, who had come from New York City on an orphan train.

Thursday, October 2, was a half-day tour to Gruene (pronounced "green").  Now a part of New Braunfels, Gruene was established in 1845 by German immigrant Ernst Gruene, his wife Antoinette, and their two sons.  Gruene boasts Texas' oldest dancehall which you may have seen in John Travolta's movie "Michael". 

Early Thursday morning at the hotel, repairs from Wednesday's early bird tour were well underway.

This gentleman and a full crew had pulled the transmission in order to replace a clutch plate.  This "Dallasite" shall remain unidentified since he refused to give his name to the lady interviewing him for the local newspaper who ran a feature photo of the work in progress.  The gentleman in the dark blue jumpsuit lives in England.  All work was completed and this Model T was ready to go by 1:00 p.m. when we headed out for Gruene.

On the way, we passed the National Weather Service Building near the New Braunfels Airport.

Once we hit the parking lot, everyone scattered!  The ladies worked in lots of shopping before, during and after Blue Bell ice cream at the Gruene General Store.  The guys for the most part made shopping their second priority.

Just one of many antique and specialty shops at Gruene.

Friday morning , October 3, we had our photos taken at the Old Kingsbury Aerodrome.  The Aerodrome is home to a growing collection of pre-World War II planes and memorabilia, and the Vintage Aviation Historical Foundation's  working lab for aircraft preservation.

The first hanger was only the beginning . . .

This Model T wrecker came from Fred Houston in Oklahoma.

We're not sure of the make of this vintage wing warper but assume it is a Bleriot.

This vintage Pietenpol received lots of attention! It is powered by a Model A Ford engine.

Well decorated Model Ts parked near the restoration hanger.

  

Just inside the the restoration hanger was this beautifully restored aircraft - perhaps an early Waco?

 

Part of the immaculate restoration shop where one restorer answered numerous questions from interested Model Ters.

 

Departing the Aerodrome, we headed to Luling for a special barbecue lunch at the Watermelon Thump Pavilion.

 

Luling hosts the Watermelon Thump Festival every June and the watermelon theme prevails throughout the town.  Established in 1874, this crossroads frontier settlement was once known as "the toughest town in Texas".  Oil was discovered there in 1922 and continues to flow today.

The cars sit abandoned while the drivers and passengers visit the numerous shops and Oil Museum.

   

 

We were heading out of town and when we crossed the railroad tracks we spotted Luling's famous decorated pump jacks which have been featured on Bob Phillips' TV show, "Texas Country Reporter". 

Each of the four pump jacks sits atop a producing oil well. As the pumps rock back and forth, the butterfly flaps his wings, the cow jumps over the moon, the boy eats the watermelon as his eyes roll back and forth, and the young girl is picking flowers.

 

Saturday, October 4, the sky was overcast which made for a comfortable, cool morning tour through the edge of Texas Hill Country.  Our first stop was Natural Bridge Caverns. 

   

Lava rock outcroppings were evident everywhere.

 

The rock climbing tower in the background was a popular scenic outlook.

 

Lunch was a special buffet at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch at New Braunfels before a leisurely tour back by way of Canyon Lake.

 

We'll leave you with these two final photos of two unusual accessory Model T  tail lights so you'll know that this is . . .

   

 

THE END.

 

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Original material and photographs in this website are © P & S  Morris, 2003.