Back in the day before the Internet, sportsmen got most of their information from word of mouth, Outdoor Life and Field and Stream.
One of the favorite Central Texas spots for information and hunting/fishing related goodies was a small shop in Marble Falls named Burnham Brothers. It was like Disneyland for sportsmen, nothing like a Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop today but still a mecca.

I remember fondly my visits with my Dad before he passed away in 1963 and visits later in life with friends.
One of the attractions was a glass showcase that faced the street and contained snakes, mostly rattle snakes of the large variety.
When it was feeding time, folks gathered around inside and outside as the workers would pitch in rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
The patrons would often wager on how long each critter would survive inside the case.

On one particular day while my Dad and older brother were there picking up reloading equipment, the show was about to start and the snakes were hungry and ready to take care of business. There was a gentleman that showed up with a rock squirrel in a cage and dared them to put him in the cage saying he would last longer than anything ever had.

Of course, this only stirred the pot, wagers were made and the rock squirrel was pitched into the glass case.
The battle was epic and carnage that ensued was the stuff legends are made of as the squirrel turned Ninja. As each snake would strike at the rock squirrel, he would sidestep the attack and bite the snake in the head as it went by. He did in quite a few and the store owners were in panic trying to kill the rock squirrel before it cleaned out the case of it's largest and most prized snakes.
Needless to say, it was a bad day for the snakes, the gentleman who brought in the squirrel made a nice chunk of pocket change and my Dad had another story to tell.

I used to go in there alot when I was a kid. To bad they closed up. I think it's a furniture store now.

Yeah, I went to a wedding in Burnet two weeks ago and drove by the store and it wasn't Burnhan Brothers anymore...

Sad to see places like that go away

Man i remember them, they were so neat to talk to, we used to go and fish max starcke,(the ramp) during the winter, before the power plant was put on lbj. when were finished we would go to the store every time when were about to leave town. good time's!!!

There used to be (and may still be) a Burnham Brothers in Menard. I won a rifle in a raffle and they opened up on a Sunday to give me the rifle.

Gary Roberson purchased Burnham Brothers some time ago and moved everything to Menard. It is a great store also and the gang is great to deal with.

Here are some photos of the current headquarters.

Bob

1st Class group/store FOR SURE!!!!!