Memories Of Riverside Terrace

[PapillionWyngs]

In my younger days (1960's), my mom's boss lived on Laurel Drive. His best friends lived across the street - two houses, two different families, and they were both gorgeous homes. I would like to go there to see what everything looks like. I wonder how much it has changed. Anyone else remember the "This House Is Not For Sale" signs? In the 60's, the neighborhood was full of them.

[KinkaidAlum]

Why is a post about Riverside Terrace in the Woodlands thread?

I know Niche doesn't think Riverside is part of the 3rd Ward, but the Woodlands?

[KatieDidIt]

Riverside Terrace is a section of River Oaks........

[VicMan]

Riverside Terrace is a section of River Oaks........

Katie, this particular Riverside Terrace is the neighborhood in the Third Ward area.

[Original Timmy Chan's]

Riverside Terrace is a section of River Oaks........

Actually, the Riverside Terrace neighborhood was developed by wealthy Jews who weren't allowed to buy in River Oaks due to RO deed restrictions.

Some of the homes in Riverside Terrace may compare with River Oaks, but RT is not in RO...they're several miles from each other.

Edited August 21, 2006 by Original Timmy Chan's

[VicMan]

The (Houston ISD) schools that Riverside Terrace is zoned to include -

Four separate elementary schools:

* Lockhart Elementary School - http://es.houstonisd.org/LockhartES/

* Macarthur Elementary School - http://es.houstonisd.org/MacArthurES/

* Thompson Elementary School - http://es.houstonisd.org/ThompsonES/

* Turner Elementary School - http://es.houstonisd.org/TurnerES/

Two separate middle schools:

* Cullen Middle School - http://ms.houstonisd.org/cullenms/

* Ryan Middle School - http://ms.houstonisd.org/ryanms/

All residents are zoned to:

* Yates High School - http://hs.houstonisd.org/yateshs/

Profiles:

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Lockhart_ES.pdf

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Macarthur_ES.pdf

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Thompson_ES.pdf

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Turner_ES.pdf

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Cullen_MS.pdf

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Ryan_MS.pdf

http://dept.houstonisd.org/profiles/Yates_HS.pdf

I heard wealthier residents of Riverside Terrace get transfers to schools on Houston's west side...

Edited August 21, 2006 by VicMan

[The Great Hizzy!]

I heard wealthier residents of Riverside Terrace get transfers to schools on Houston's west side...

Years ago, in the late 80s, I had a cousin who graduated from Bellaire High, and her family lived in RT, so there may be something to it. I wouldn't know for sure, though.

[57Tbird]

I spent the first years of my life in the late 30's in the Riverside/Riverside Terrace area at 2655 Oakdale, just west of Ennis. I wonder what that house looks like now. Neighbors were Leon Jaworski, a young, up-and-coming attorney, and a very young Bill Archer, future congressman, both of whom some of you may know of. I attended kindergarten and first grade at Sutton Elementary, which was not too far from my house. I see there is now a Sutton in Sharpstown. I guess the original Sutton I attended was renamed.

[VicMan]

I spent the first years of my life in the late 30's in the Riverside/Riverside Terrace area at 2655 Oakdale, just west of Ennis. I wonder what that house looks like now. Neighbors were Leon Jaworski, a young, up-and-coming attorney, and a very young Bill Archer, future congressman, both of whom some of you may know of. I attended kindergarten and first grade at Sutton Elementary, which was not too far from my house. I see there is now a Sutton in Sharpstown. I guess the original Sutton I attended was renamed.

http://es.houstonisd.org/suttones/Sutton/History.htm - The school was "relocated" to Sharpstown.

Edited August 22, 2006 by VicMan

[JLWM8609]

I would be interested to see some old photos of the Riverside Terrace/Riverside area from its beginnings up through the 60's or 70's if anyone has them. I have done a search and my results have been quite minimal at best. Also, I heard that the land these houses sit on was once owned by the Kuhlman family. It was farmland for their dairy farm that was along the banks of Brays Bayou, not sure if it was on the north banks (Riverside Terrace) or south banks (Riverside) of the bayou. There is a Kuhlman St. and Kuhlman Gully in the area so I imagine there is some truth to that.

[Vertigo58]

I would be interested to see some old photos of the Riverside Terrace/Riverside area from its beginnings up through the 60's or 70's if anyone has them. I have done a search and my results have been quite minimal at best. Also, I heard that the land these houses sit on was once owned by the Kuhlman family. It was farmland for their dairy farm that was along the banks of Brays Bayou, not sure if it was on the north banks (Riverside Terrace) or south banks (Riverside) of the bayou. There is a Kuhlman St. and Kuhlman Gully in the area so I imagine there is some truth to that.

I too am really interested in it's beginnings. There still are areas throughout the neighborhoods that are on slopes and have what once were beautiful parks. Take a drive around and from some angles facing towards downtown and U of H you have a feeling you aren't even in Houston. Kind of takes one back in time when it must have been a very upscale and happening place to live in. I used to go to the frat parties in some of the big spacious homes and always wondered how they came to be and why Houston has left focus on that area. Take a look at the modern style of these homes. I always had the feeling they were copied after Frank Lloyd Wright's artistry. Now is the time to see them as progress will soon envelop and remove many of these one of a kind 1940's and 1950's moderne style homes. I wouldn't doubt if some of them appeared in House Beautiful magazine in those day's. True nostalgia.

[Original Timmy Chan's]

I...always wondered how they came to be and why Houston has left focus on that area.

To be blunt, the answer to the first part of your question is fear and/or hatred of Jews, and the answer to the second part of your question is fear and/or hatred of blacks.

I still think it's a great part of town...just underestimated by the general public because of the Third Ward label. There are certainly some old homes that have fallen into disrepair, but there are also some real treasures there. It's a good middle- to upper-class neighborhood...and probably one of the tightest-knit communities in the Houston area.

[Vertigo58]

This area should be added to "Houston Neigborhoods". Maybe Haif staff will add?

I also recall that some of these grand homes even had live peacocks walking around the grounds (fenced in of course) and many of the homes still have large swimming pools, another rare thing on this side of downtown for its day. The area is such an unsung hero of Houston.

Not sure why we always called it MacGregor area, but glad you re-emphasized the correct name. See we all learn.

[isuredid]

To be blunt, the answer to the first part of your question is fear and/or hatred of Jews, and the answer to the second part of your question is fear and/or hatred of blacks.

Houston does not have a sterling reputation historically when it comes to blacks and hispanics, but I have never seen any historical evidence for hatred of Jews.

[sevfiv]

Houston does not have a sterling reputation historically when it comes to blacks and hispanics, but I have never seen any historical evidence for hatred of Jews.

this article mentions the documentary of the neighborhood (This Is Our Home It Is Not For Sale)

The film describes how Houston's prominent Jewish families, such as the Sakowitzes, Battlesteins and Fingers, moved there in the 1930s because they were banned from River Oaks.

Then, in 1952, wealthy black cattleman Jack Caesar moved in. A bomb was detonated on his front porch, but he stayed.

As black families moved in, the film describes, many whites fled to the suburbs.

In the early 1960s, white residents who saw potential for an integrated neighborhood tried to stabilize it by posting signs that read: "This Is Our Home It Is Not For Sale", which is also the film's title.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/busine...ds/1488322.html

Edited March 27, 2007 by sevfiv

[WesternGulf]

Great story. Funny thing is, guess where Mr. Finger is now?

[PapillionWyngs]

this article mentions the documentary of the neighborhood (This Is Our Home It Is Not For Sale)

The film describes how Houston's prominent Jewish families, such as the Sakowitzes, Battlesteins and Fingers, moved there in the 1930s because they were banned from River Oaks.

Then, in 1952, wealthy black cattleman Jack Caesar moved in. A bomb was detonated on his front porch, but he stayed.

As black families moved in, the film describes, many whites fled to the suburbs.

In the early 1960s, white residents who saw potential for an integrated neighborhood tried to stabilize it by posting signs that read: "This Is Our Home It Is Not For Sale", which is also the film's title.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/busine...ds/1488322.html

It was a beautiful neighborhood, and I hated seeing those signs. Some of my family's best friends lived there - we were there 2-3 times a week in the 50's and 60's. One couple moved to Ft. Worth, one to Conroe, and the other widower passed away - the stress of the racial tension in the neighborhood at the time.

[Vertigo58]

Let's remember that the area is "presently" somewhat mixed contrary to what people think. I had a close friend who's mom was a teacher at U of H and she says alot of the campus faculty live in that area still. She is originally from Ireland so maybe she stood out but she always loved the vicinity and close knit neighbors. They had a big 2 story Traditional style home with carriage house and all on a corner lot. I remember it had a 4 car garage and big yard just like in the old TV shows of the 40's & 50's. It was a good feeling brought back great memories as a kid growing up in the late 60's.

[JLWM8609]

I think most of the UH campus faculty members who live in the area live in the houses off of N. MacGregor between Cullen and Calhoun, I think that section is called University Oaks? To show how university oriented that section is, they have a Faculty St.

[Dan the Man]

Great story. Funny thing is, guess where Mr. Finger is now?

Where is Mr. Finger now?

By the way, does anyone on here know anything about the Weingarten House that he designed? It is one of my favorite old homes in the Riverside Terrace area. I would love to find the plans, or at least some old photos of the interior, as I cannot discern its interior layout, since it is difficult to see all 4 sides of the house from the street.

[JLWM8609]

Is the Weingarten House located down on S. MacGregor?

[Don Julio]

Riverside is my home and no, it's not for sale. (Since I rent and don't own. )

Seriously, I've been looking for that documentary but can't find it. Anybody on here know where I can score a copy?

[sevfiv]

Riverside is my home and no, it's not for sale. (Since I rent and don't own. )

Seriously, I've been looking for that documentary but can't find it. Anybody on here know where I can score a copy?

i have never seen it available for sale -

i'm pretty sure that Rice is the only place that has a copy (VHS), but i don't think it circulates (beyond the hedges )

Edited April 5, 2007 by sevfiv

[Vertigo58]

Riverside is my home and no, it's not for sale. (Since I rent and don't own. )

Seriously, I've been looking for that documentary but can't find it. Anybody on here know where I can score a copy?

Not sure if this helps but try www.rootsweb.com

worth a try for any documents/articles on Riverside T.

actually, I just checked and that may not be the correct link, sorry! I was told that if you search in that site you could find but it seems more towards family/geneaology searches, maybe someone can assist?

Edited April 5, 2007 by Vertigo58

[spikey2]

Not sure if this helps but try www.rootsweb.com

worth a try for any documents/articles on Riverside T.

actually, I just checked and that may not be the correct link, sorry! I was told that if you search in that site you could find but it seems more towards family/geneaology searches, maybe someone can assist?

[spikey2]

The film on Riverside Terrace is impossible to locate. I contacted PBS which aired it several times, but they have no copies for sale. The internet list the directors, etc but no one seems to have this available.

As for the neighborhood, it is on the rebound there are two mega mansions being built across from each other on S Macgregor and Scott, A large McMansion is going up on Roseneath near MacGregor Park, a more modest mansion is going up on N Roseneath, a new Mediterranean Mansion now sits on S. Macgregor near Scott

The once abandoned southeast end from Charleston to OST is now called West Macgregor Estates and the new homes priced from the 200's to 400's sell before they are built.Charleston St. famous for it's "Christmas On Charleston" is under going rapid change, the tidy little post WW II homes sitting on their large treed lots are being torn down and replaced with large stately homes. The southwest end near Grocers Supply is getting it's first set of town homes off Dixie Dr. Along one of the most prestigious streets S. Parkwood sits a new Mansion on a hill that can only be matched by the best in River Oaks!

The old homes and mansions are being spruced up, and the neighborhood is becoming more integrated. You can find not only Blacks, but there are also Asian, Hispanic and Whites.

[marmer]

I found a listing for it at UH's Architecture School Visual Resources center, though the link seems to have disappeared.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:cFfhg...cd=21&gl=us

marmer

[Willowisp]

The movie was played at the MFAH a year or 2 ago. I thought I heard it was going to be released on DVD. It's completely indie so financing needed to be done.

Jon Schwartz was the director. Maybe you can find a website for him. I had no luck right away.

Jason

I found a listing for it at UH's Architecture School Visual Resources center, though the link seems to have disappeared.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:cFfhg...cd=21&gl=us

marmer

[tmariar]

Here are some more Chronicle articles about (or that mention) the movie, from around the time it was being made/released:

8/7/87 Maxine Mesinger mention

9/13/87 Barbara Karkabi article

12/1/87 Barbara Karkabi article

12/29/87 mention

1/27/88 mention

4/30/88 Louis B. Parks article

5/10/89 Louis B. Parks article

5/10/89 Barbara Karkabi article

The director is on IMDB as "Jon Schwartz".

There was actually an earlier HAIF thread about the movie, in which someone said he tracked down a copy, but that it was very difficult. [Edit: I sent him a message mentioning this thread.]

I hope this helps someone find it - I'd love to see it. Even if it's over 3 hours long.

Edited April 17, 2007 by tmariar

[JLWM8609]

When it came on PBS, my father taped it, so it's somewhere on VHS here in the house. I'd like to see it again as well.