This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DhB.2ACE/947.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Sorry, I should have posted it for you in the original message: http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbrown/brownphotos.htm Look towards the bottom of the photos and you will see Byrd's Store and a few others from that area. I took them, and as I recall, it was about 2 yrs ago. Maybe summer of 2002. The picture labeled "Brownwood Lake" is taken standing in front of Byrd's store. The area you are looking for is very, very small. Byrd's/Byrd's Store is literally down a 1 lane street. There is the lake, Byrd's Store, the Church, and a cemetery. I don't think any of them are operational today. Hope this helps some.
Byrds Store was a thriving community and active store up until at least the late 1940's. The last time I was there was about 1947. It was "old" even before I was born in the 30's. Lake Brownwood was built in the "great depression" as a part of the WPA. The dam was built with mules and man power. My daddy worked on it operating a "fresno." This is a device that scrapes up dirt, pulled by mules, that was used in the building of the dam. Prior to the building of Lake Brownwood, Byrds Store was on the banks of the Jim Ned River. We always went there to go fishing before the lake was built. After the lake was built, you could get there by boat from the Lake by going up the Jim Ned. My daddy caught a yellow cat fish that weighed 103 pounds only about 100 yards from the Byrds Store in 1948. We lived on the lake and daddy (Valton Royall) owned and operated "Flat Rock Crossing" Marinia, on the lake, he rented out boats, sold bait, tackle, rented out camping spaces and cabins. It was a great place for a young boy to grow up. This was in the 40's. There were no homes on the lake. They were prohibited by law. The state of Texas owned all of the shoreline around the lake. A business could lease the land. There were only 3 business on the lake. All were fishing places with camp grounds. Charlie Royall San Angelo, TX. > >