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Houston In The 1920s


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You can also find this picture along with all kinds of other great stuff in the book (Houston Freeways) he (Erik Slotboom) wrote. I think there are still some copies available at the local bookstores. Maybe try his book's website @ www.houstonfreeways.com.

I know it seems like a shameless plug, but I bought a copy, and have learned he's just looking to break even sales wise. He's not trying to become a millionaire off of it. The worst part, is that in my opinion, the information in this book is worth at least double what I paid for it. It's a really good deal.

If you're out there Erik, good job! ;)

Glen

Another similar book that I found interesting is "Houston: Then and Now". I saw it at Barnes and Noble and the pictures illustrate what many buildings/areas used to look like long tinme ago.

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  • 11 months later...

Hi all,

I am looking for information on the 1920's brick bungalow houses found in neighborhoods like Montrose, Heights, and the East End. Normally, there is multicolored brick...

Specifically, I am probably moving into a 1920's birck bungalow type house with a porch...I wanted to learn more about it and its architectural style. Does anyone know books on the subject? Or websites that have info on these houses?

Thanks for your help,

JP

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thanks. i googled it and found a lot of sites that have general info on bungalows, mainly in california, but i was really interested in the small, brick bungalows that were built in the 20's in houston. i guess if anyone has specific info or links to info on these, that would be really helpful.

i've been googling and searching in libraries, but i thought i would throw it out there and see what other people knew.

i suppose pictures would help much more, but unfortunately, i cant take any at the moment. maybe i can put some up.

thanks,

jp

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I live in a Heights brick bungalow duplex. My landlady believes it was built in the 1930's. It's a really cool place, with big windows, high ceilings, wood floors, and a fireplace. But the drawbacks are that there is precious little storage place and the "nooks and crannies" make it a challenge to keep clean. Other than that it's a great apartment and I'd much rather live here than in an overpriced townhome in one of the "yuppie ghettos."

Check the Woodland Heights and Houston Heights neighborhood association websites. You can also check eBay for reproduction catalogs of 1920's homes.

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I'm interested in the same sort of information since I recently moved into a 1935 brick bungalow in the Broadmoor section of Eastwood. There doesn't seem to be much available and the various books on bungalows are mainly applicable to those built in the Arts-and-Crafts style. As a native Houstonian and fan of neighborhood preservation, I would like to see some local research done on these since they are often little gems worth renovating.

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hi silverartfox,

i think you understand what i am talking about. there is not so much info accessible on the internet about these houses. feel free to email me at jp79@mail.com.

i am interested in talking, doing more research, seeing what we can come up with. i also live in broadmoor now, but am moving across telephone into eastlawn soon. i am wondering which house is yours...

jp

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I don't think brick bungalows became en vogue in Houston until about 1930. Most bungalows built before 1930 around here have/had wood (usually old-growth cypress) siding. Personally, I prefer the wood siding, both for aesthetics and ease of maintenance.

I've never really determined what style the bulk of Houston's bungalows are truly in...they're not technically Craftsman, nor Californian, nor Queen Anne, but instead have elements of each.

However, most of the pinhead realtors in Houston will refer to them all as "charming Victorian bungalow".

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Guest danax
I've never really determined what style the bulk of Houston's bungalows are truly in...they're not technically Craftsman, nor Californian, nor Queen Anne, but instead have elements of each.

However, most of the pinhead realtors in Houston will refer to them all as "charming Victorian bungalow".

I agree that a real estate agent really demeans him/herself when they mislabel a house's style. This one at 7302 N. Walker in Pineview Manor is called by the catch-all term "traditional", usually meaning the agent is clueless, but that's another topic. 1zx4683.jpg

By the way, Pineview Manor, I believe, is the successor to Pineview Place and was developed in the 30s.

N. Walker St (not sure what the "North" is for as it's a continuation, albeit a broken one, of Walker St. in Downtown, which of course, runs east-west) is lined with these brick bungalows, one after another. The one above is 2166 sq. ft with a garage apt. selling for $119,900.

Those brick bungalows are many times English Cottage style, often with one small gable to one side, maybe with a slight curve or extension of the roofline near one edge. In Pecan Park where I live, which was largely developed between '27 and '45, we have many of that style, some with Moderne rounded portions near the front door and maybe a porthole too, although most are not brick, as it was probably cheaper to go with wood. Some here are part wood, part brick, although I'd have to look closer to see if the brick was a later addition. Many of them are just plain bungalows without a defined style other than what the builder was good at.

The biggest gripe I have is when they paint the brick.

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The biggest gripe I have is when they paint the brick.

This is a bit of a tangent, but my favorite S. Macgregor mansion was at the southeast corner with Bowling Green...until someone bought it and painted the whole thing pink a couple years ago. Annoyed the s*** out of me.

This is the home from the front.

This photo gives you a better idea of the shade of pink.

It got a new owner a couple weeks ago. Hopefully they can sandblast the brick or something.

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This is a bit of a tangent, but my favorite S. Macgregor mansion was at the southeast corner with Bowling Green...until someone bought it and painted the whole thing pink a couple years ago. Annoyed the s*** out of me.

This is the home from the front.

This photo gives you a better idea of the shade of pink.

It got a new owner a couple weeks ago. Hopefully they can sandblast the brick or something.

Great Googely Moogely !

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I agree that a real estate agent really demeans him/herself when they mislabel a house's style. This one at 7302 N. Walker in Pineview Manor is called by the catch-all term "traditional", usually meaning the agent is clueless, but that's another topic. 1zx4683.jpg

I saw that house in the MLS the other day and made a special trip to drive by and look at it. It looked like a reasonably attractive house that hadn't been Mexicanized, and the price was good. Well....the garage is actually attached to the house, and it looks like whoever did the work back in the day did a crappy job. The surrounding neighborhood is rather unappealing as well....but I was fairly certain the 'hood would be unappealing before I got over there.

While we're on the topic of painting brick and the east end, has anybody seen the split level house at Forest Hill and Santiago (I think that's the intersection)? Its on a corner lot, up on a bit of a hill, and the garage is tucked underneath. It was a very attractive, unique red brick house...now it is beige. UGH. It was for sale about a year ago, and I really would have loved to have bought it, but it was more square footage than I wanted to heat and cool, and more money than I wanted to spend.

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My grandmother used to live in a somewhat similar house off Godwin, near Austin High School. The neighborhood wasn't very safe in my opinion, but I wonder if the area has undergone some sort of revitalization in the last 10 years.

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My grandmother used to live in a somewhat similar house off Godwin, near Austin High School. The neighborhood wasn't very safe in my opinion, but I wonder if the area has undergone some sort of revitalization in the last 10 years.

That's in Broadmoor, two streets down from Sharpe St. Guy. According to him, the area's pretty safe because Victor Trevino and several cops live in the area. I'm sure he'll give a better description.

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My grandmother used to live in a somewhat similar house off Godwin, near Austin High School. The neighborhood wasn't very safe in my opinion, but I wonder if the area has undergone some sort of revitalization in the last 10 years.

I looked at a house in Broadmoor last year...talked to some of the neighbors...they indicated that it had gotten much much better than it was back in the day.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Hi all,

I am looking for information on the 1920's brick bungalow houses found in neighborhoods like Montrose, Heights, and the East End. Normally, there is multicolored brick...

Specifically, I am probably moving into a 1920's birck bungalow type house with a porch...I wanted to learn more about it and its architectural style. Does anyone know books on the subject? Or websites that have info on these houses?

Thanks for your help,

JP

Unfortunately, only one photo was posted so far. I once lived in one of these myself, off of fairview near shepard.

It is true that real estate people will call a house whatever they think will sell. If cowpies were hot sellers, they would call them all cowpies. They are not reliable for style

Another thing that is true is that elite achitects that build highbrow houses have a good sense of style, and their works are easy to place. However the average developer does not have that training.

My impression is that these houses are built in the 20-40 era, and they are a mixture of 3 styles

1 Craftsman-bungalow: though I cant see any such details on the posted photo that would make it in this style.

2. Period houses-west university place is full of these. They are small, boxy, stylish with references to tudor, french, spanish, colonial, etc. They were inspired by a renewed interest in historical architecture brought about by the restoration of williamsburg, and the new deal programs like historic american building survey.

They are small, cottage like and full of well designed details, but not really true to any period or style. Just good details

3. Minimal-traditionalist which have details like period styles, but tend to emphasize colonial revival details. They are small, because they were commonly built after 29 but before 1950, when money or materials were tight. Usually developers call them cottages or bungalows because mimimal traditional does not sound marketable.

It is not unusual to mix elements of different styles especially in middle class developments.

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In the top photo, left 1/3rd, you can see the Carter Building, 806 Main, before the top 6 floors were added. Next to it or perhaps across Main Street is another building of the same height. Can anyone identify that building? Is it still standing.

Thanks.

The Texaco Building.

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