Hill Country homes and "Early Texas Architecture" (2000) by Gordon Echols are both excellent reference material. Hill Country homes The term, "Hill Country homes", refers to an architectural style of housing found in the part of central Texas, known as the Texas Hill Country. In the early history of the Republic of Texas, before Texas joined the United States, a land rush began in the middle of the 19th century. This land rush to central Texas included many immigrants from Germany. They created settlements with names like Fredricksburg, Bergheim, Boerne, Gruene, New Braunfels, and many others. These early German immigrants to Texas made
Gibson Country Western In common with other Gibson and their sister line Epiphone instruments of the period, the bridge on the Country Western was of a "belly up" design, which changed to "belly down" in 1969, along with some modifications to the top bracing. In 1970, additional structural reinforcement to the top (the (in)famous double-X bracing) was introduced which, although it contributed to improved structural stability, had a deleterious effect on the tone. Along with the SJ, the Country Western was discontinued in 1978. The 1960 Gibson catalog listed the (round shouldered) "SJN Country Western" at $179.50 (without case), as compared to $165.00