Ch1 Developing Westlake Ep 103 Trading Diamonds for Austin Dam Site

Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells us the story of securing the land for the Dam site in 1938.

Emmett and brother Polk ran a tough primary against Lyndon B. Johnson in LBJs first Congressional race. After LBJ was elected in 1938, he made a visit to Emmett and Polk's office.

LBJ told Emmett that the new Works Progress Administration (WPA) was planning to rehabilitate all the dams on the Colorado River, including the Austin Dam which had been broken for 28 years. If someone would want to get rich.

Emmett talked to a local banker and showed him the 200 acre tract.of land on the western shore where the dam would be built. He offered him part of the acreage for the $3000 price. He didn't want the inaccessible land -- But brother Polk had a collection of diamonds, and he would take them in trade for the financing. 

Emmett re-sold the property to the City within 6 months of LBJ's election.  The WPA and the new Lower Colorado River Authority and the WPA built a series of dams on the river. Finally, in 1940, after 30 years without a dam or a lake, the Tom Miller Dam was operating.  Austin was protected from floods and the constant level lake was filling and low cost electricity lit Austin streets.,

Emmett tells of another deal he worked out for the James tract. That tract would be the future site of the bridge in 1948 -- it opened up West Lake Hills to the City of Austin.

#Austinhistory

#Emmettshelton

#westlakehills

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

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