By Pauline Tom.
Montage celebrates an anniversary this month. Seventeen years ago, Buda and Kyle and Neiderwald had columnists. I loved Mountain City, and wanted to read about what was happening in our “little city out in the country”. So, I offered to Bob Barton a willingness to write a weekly Mountain City chitchat column. He gave me the opportunity.
Back then, Mountain Cityians had to use “Buda” as the mail delivery address (still we share the zip code) and we had “Kyle exchange” phone numbers (those with home service still do) with General Telephone.
Few in the community (even many in the city) realized Mountain City was incorporated. Most everyone called it by the subdivision name, “Mountain City Oaks.” When John Andersen developed the subdivision, he created the subdivision name giving recognition to the small farming and ranching community established round about 1850 that was centered here. In the mid-19th century, Mountain City became the regional center of commerce, thriving with schools, churches, businesses, mills and gins.
So, do you know the modern history? According to the Texas State Historical Society, “In 1984 a subdivision previously known as Mountain City Oaks incorporated on the site under the name Mountain City and elected a mayor and city council.” JP Beth Smith, mother of current mayor Tiffany Curnutt, served as mayor for 14 years.
I gave this column the name, “Montage”, finding the dictionary definition (“a composition of juxtaposed more or less heterogeneous elements”) just perfect.
My husband, “RonTom”, has saved and mounted on paper in three ring binders every column all through the 17 years. There’s quite a bit of history therein.
And, there are nature-related tidbits that give a heads-up of when to expect particular avian species. For instance, the first column tells of my March 15, 1997, observation of a Black-chinned Hummingbird. I heard a hummer a couple weeks earlier.
So, heads up! It’s time to get out those hummingbird feeders, if you did not keep them out throughout the winter to provide for wintering Rufous Hummingbirds.
Back then, I periodically mentioned PAWS, which was founded in 1986 as a no-kill animal shelter.
In recent years, Loving Mountain City supported PAWS, our local no-kill animal shelter, with a collection for needed items in February. Now individuals have the opportunity to support with a financial donation that will be matched by another donor, dollar for dollar (until total of $5,000 is reached) on March 20 – 21 from 6 p.m. through Amplify Austin. Amplify Austin is an online giving event that brings focus to Central Texas non-profits.
Google “Amplify Austin.” Find “PAWS,” and you can pre-schedule your donation.
About 40 percent of the animals PAWS takes in are in need of medical care. Generous contributions will make possible the help they provide.
It’s that time again. It’s time for time change Sunday, which now falls on the second Sunday of March. Spring forward your clock by one hour on Saturday night (unless your clock is newfangled and smart, automatically making the change). Lose one hour of sleep.
Please find time to send tidbits. Email (subject: tidbit) [email protected] or phone (512) 268-5678, a Kyle exchange.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
