brucesw

Forgotten Freeport --- I came across this first photo while perusing my old high school annual. That's the 100 block of W. 2nd, I think. Anyone who's been to Freeport in recent years realizes how astonishing that photo is. In 1960, Freeport was still the commercial and retail hub of Brazosport and may have still had more residents than Lake Jackson but now that has completely reversed. You can drive that stretch of downtown Freeport during the middle of the day now and not see a single car or person. Everything on the left side of the street has been razed (to make way for Intermedics, I suppose, which later abandoned Freeport for a campus north of Angleton, then got bought out by a competitor in 1999 and shut down). Everything on the right hand side of the street is closed and boarded up, as I recall from my last visit. There are still 3 businesses in the next block, though. The Showboat theater, 219 W. 2nd Street, Freeport. The man looking at me taking the picture turned out to be the owner; he came over to talk to me and told me the Showboat opened ca. 1940-41 and closed in 1970. He said they're getting ready to put a jewelry store in there -- I didn't ask if Lee's Credit Jewelers is moving from the corner. It's sad to see the marquee and sign gone; I hope they don't remove the ticket booth. I have looked extensively for a picture from the 50s or 60s but haven't found one. I went to the Showboat only a handful of times. We had our own theater in my hometown, Lake Jackson, the Lake. I remember thinking the first time I went there it was quite luxurious compared to the Lake, which was rather spartan. I saw Bwana Devil there, the first 3-D movie, and, fittingly enough, Showboat. By the time I was old enough to go to movies on my own with my friends, we mostly went to the two drive-ins in the area, the Surf and Tradewind (or Tradewinds). The former was where the movies featuring Bridget Bardot, Gina Lollabrigida and Sophia Loren played, anyway. Marmer - is the pharmacy the one on the corner of Oak and Broad next to the former Wright Chevy-Olds-GMC (Bat-Wing Mowers in it's last incarnation) - I seem to remember that, a lawyer's office now, I think. Used to be a grocery across from that which was a local operation. I have a photo of another old movie house I'll post soon. I was away from the area for most of the 60s except for the first 2 summers when I came home and worked summer jobs; from 63-70, I was in Austin. I remember some harrumphing and snorting in the halls of BHS when the first talk of integrating the schools there began, even a couple of teachers who were quick to add they'd obey the law, though. I imagine there were others who had stronger feelings but kept them to themselves but I never heard of any incidents. I remember reading of the first sit-ins in Houston but never anything about Brazosport that I can remember. Lanier - was that the one on the old Angleton-Velasco road, now called FM 523? It was pretty contemporary with BHS as I recall, but I never went inside. I can't even remember if that was just a hi school or where all Blacks went to school. I remember reading once about the first Black family to move into Lake Jackson but I don't remember when it was or any particulars. I just wasn't that involved at all with Brazosport for the whole decade.

The company went into bankruptcy last year after struggling for several years and selling off some units. The one in Seguin was an attempt to re-invigorate the brand, I think. There should be an article on the closures in the San Antonion Business Journal on-line -- the company was based in SA at the time. The first Pig Stand opened in Dallas in 1921, the first Houston location in 1922 but I don't know if it was the one on Washington. I believe HCAD dates that one only to 1960. The early ones would have been curbside. They were the first drive-ins. Carhops (the first ones were all male) would run to the curb and hop on the running board of your car to take your order - that's where the term 'carhop' came from. There's a history on line, or used to be; I've lost my link. Besides inventing drive-ins, Pig Stand was credited with inventing onion rings and Texas toast, iirc. I thought the CFS was pretty good for what it was; I thought the signature pig sandwich was awful.

Okay I know the bowling alley; I thought you were talking about one across from BHS which I had totally forgotten. My parents were regulars at those lanes in the 50s, Wed or Thur night as I recall. I only went a couple of times. Next time I'm in Fpt I'll get some pics of the houses. I have meant to in the past but usually have so many errands to run when I go down there I run out of time or forget. I didn't know they'd torn down parts of LJJH - I'll have to go by and look. Agreed on the separate threads; I gave it some more thought. I have quite a bit of stuff I've been wanting to put somewhere in hopes of generating some interest and discussion (since I don't know of a similar forum for Brazoria Co.) but not enough to do my own website. Here's part of the Colegrove article on The River Inn for others interested. Episodes was published as a limited edition book and was so popular the Facts publisher negotiated for the rights to serialize it in the paper. So as to not risk breaking the spine of the book, this is from the paper: The article goes on to mention Antonelli would put up extra shade covers and barrels filled with iced watermelons in season. Early 'drive-ins' were practically curbside. I can remember pulling up to the curb on 2nd and getting out and standing under the flaps; Mr. Antonelli would come out from the back, take a mug out of a cooler, put it under the tap and fill it to the brim as described. Sometimes we got Root Beer floats but I don't remember ever having any of the other food items. It was a real treat. I found this is Creighton's A Narrative History of Brazoria County. I didn't remember reading that Dow had built a replica of the plantation house. I wonder what one has to do to see it?

I had forgotten all about the bowling alley. It was much closer to 288 than Weingarten's/Penney's wasn't it? I'm not sure it was even there when I was at BHS. I didn't find out about the sale of the park till many years later. A shame it's not open to the public but hopefully it's being kept up. I'll have some pics to post -- great memories of Dow company picnics and church and civic club functions. I had to spend a lot of time in LJ and the area closing my Dad's estate - I have the impression Lake Jacksonites (and Brazosportians - ?) are about as dedicated to preserving their heritage as Houstonians.

I couldn't find the first part of this clipping. When I find it, I'll come back and post it. I believe it had a picture of the stand in rather sad shape at it's orginal location on 2nd. I could post the article from Bill Colegrove's Episodes which I have both in book form and the serialized newspaper articles, for the benefit of those who don't have the book or a relative who knows the story. They shoulda put 'Antonelli's River Inn' on it. I've always thought this was kind of cheesy - I want to be able to climb on board and look in the wheelhouse. In fact, I was never sure it had been a real shrimp boat, maybe just a mock up. An acquaintance from hi school got into shrimping for some reason. As he said one time, if you want to make a small fortune in shrimping, start with a large one. But he loved it. I don't know much about the Mystery. I'm not sure if it was there in my time or just where it was. Was it above the Cherry Street Bridge (EDIT: this should be Velasco St. bridge)? If so, must've been there in my time. I'm not sure just when that bridge was built but I don't think you could get a shrimp boat under it. I wasn't that interested in Freeport then --- Jr. Hi rivals and all that. It galled us to have to be bussed to hi school in Freeport. Marmer - re: your mention of the DeSoto Firedome -- I think that Rambler place in Velasco (I'll always refer to that part of Freeport as Velasco) had also been a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer earlier; I have memories of going with a friend to look at the '55 Plymouths, which I thought were cool looking. Please do post what you think appropriate from Cite; I used to pick that up from time to time but do all my book shopping on-line now. I'll look around for back issues - which one was it? Do you think we need separate threads for the towns? I have more on Freeport, Lake Jackson, and a little on Angleton at this time. I'll post some stuff on BHS on that thread. Speaking of boats on the Old River (seguewaying nicely from topic to topic) - does anyone remember the boat that was being built by a Facts reporter or photographer who planned to go around the world? He was considered kind of a wacko in town; the boat was painted a horrid lime green. I don't think anyone ever thought he'd ever actually set out but he did; I saw one report from him - he had made it as far as Corpus - but never heard anything else.

Oh YES! Keg root beer in a frosted mug. I was so glad they saved that place. On 2nd across from where On The River is now, I think. That was a real treat when I was a kid - root beer at 'Aunt Nelly's.' I have an old Facts clipping I'll scan and post. Ca. the early 1950s there was a 'Brown Derby' on 288 where Gulf Blvd. intersects, may have been called a Dairy Queen. We went there about once a week as a family. Everyone got a brown derby and we sat in the car and licked 'em.

Shy Pond - that rings a bell, but I can't place it. Southern Oaks Drive was called Big John Drive when we built there and the short street parallel to Willow was Little John Drive, after John T. Suggs, owner and developer of the subdivision. EDIT: Sugg's company was Southern Materials as I recall, said to be the richest man in Brazosport. The Packard dealership was closer to Oak than the hardware store; can't remember if they abutted. I remember the Rambler place in Freeport/Velasco - quonset hut type building as I recall. We looked at the Rambler wagon there; I really wanted one of those - I thought they were so 'cute' - and of course the Metropolitan out of curiosity. We did buy a 59 Hillman Minx there as best I recall. That would have been the first foreign car dealership in Brazosport. That was a cool little runabout. 5 speed on the floor, red leather upholstery, we had it air conditioned, 4 door sedan on a wheel base about the size of a Beetle. My brother liked to push it like a Porsche and speed shift; that car got a lot of hard use in the few years we owned it. That same year, we bought a Mercedes at Mosehart-Keller on Shepherd in Houston, the first Benz dealership here I think. Dad had always bought Olds from Wright's (Freeport, Angleton, West Columbia) but the 58 98 was an absolutely piece of garbage and he swore off American cars for years (except for Chevy pickups). Yes, that's the Weingarten's, now HEB (last I was there). Yes, that's the Chronicles book; I hadn't looked at that for some time and was thinking that was another Bill Colegrove work so I didn't flash on your reference. A lot better pics in it than Colegrove's book about Dow, which has some LJ pics. Have you ever checked out the pics on line at the Brazoria County Historical Museum site? Kind of difficult to navigate and find what you want and not that much about LJ, but fascinating stuff, especially of old Velasco. Have you heard of Sugar, Planters, Slaves and Convicts by Joan Few? It's about the archeological digs at the Jackson plantation. I wanted to go to her lecture at BCHM but was ill that day; got the book from amazon.com but they probably have it at the museum. Haven't read it yet. Looks like I'm going to be up all night this weekend scanning and posting. Sorry to hear that about Freeport High; I had seen the notices they wanted to make it into a cultural center or something but hadn't heard they gave up. Of course the old Freeport Hospital on Broad @ Oak where I was born is long gone. Poor old Freeport! Has anybody ever documented those Dow houses on 2nd -- the stucco ones?, probably designed by Alden B. Dow, too. My Dad worked on those as a carpenter working for Austin Construction Co., how he first became aware of the Brazosport area. There were also the Dow apartments on Broad and the Dow Hotel in the east end, the swankiest accomodations and eatery in the area; these were built for the influx of Dow execs. Thanks for starting this thread; this is going to be so cool. Not that I don't enjoy reading every word you post but there are quite a few HAIFers with LJ/Bpt connections and I hope they'll join in.

There have been discussions of Albritton's on HAIF before, maybe even a thread devoted to them. Try the search feature and I'm sure you'll find something, possibly even pictures. I think the last one was on Waugh between W. Gray and W. Dallas.

Interesting. The website history says they didn't enter the Houston market until 1965. I don't remember the Kopper Kettle or Suzanne from Subdude's post cards but here's another one I do remember, from the Chron Dining Guide (partial): "L-C Cafeteria - .. A seating capacity of ... ons, the L-C Cafeteria ...ged by Jerry Karisty ...said to be the largest ... ial cafeteria in the ... located with entrances ... at Walker and Travis ... er it is open for break .... nch and dinner. Featur- ...widest variety of foods. ... specializes in Kentucky ... icken, a lunch for less .... cents and a ribeye .... for $1.35. The cafeteria ... its own pastry shop .... tries served there and ... e-out trade.. There is .... of room for banquets ... ies. Continuous service ... :30 to 8:30 pm daily .... Sunday." I remember going there once, ca. 1963, when I was on my own in Houston for the first time. Seems to me there were 2 long serving lines.

Cleburne is good but portions are humongous. To me part of the reason for going to a cafeteria is to get a variety of items. An entree, 1 side, at the very most 2, a bread and beverage and that's already too much for me. Doggie bags are readily dispensed, however. I can't even look at their desserts. Pricey for a cafeteria, too. I prefer Harry's on Tuam - smaller portions, more modest prices, good food, better people watching. Cleburne is one of Houston's oldest restaurants, dating to 1941 downtown on Cleburne at Fannin. There's a history and link to a NY Times write-up on the website: http://www.cleburnecafeteria.com/

Here's the history of Luby's from the website: http://www.lubys.com/06aboutusHistory.asp Looks like they have about 33 locations in the Houston area. The first cafeterias in Houston from this company were called Romano's. Here's a clipping (partial) from a 1961 Chronicle Dining Guide that may explain why: "...the entire family en .... ing Luby's, loated at .... Gray and S. Shepherd...a complete line of en .... nd fresh, tasty vegeta ... the menu everyday .... are another speciality at .... where the diner has .... han 20 varieties from .... he can make his choice. ...er dinner treats try the .... is the desserts prepared fresh .... or Luby's cafeteria cus .... The diner has a choice ... cakes and a number ... er dinner treats here. ...afeteria is open ... h Saturday from 11am ... :30pm and from 4:30 ... ntil 8:30 pm for the din .... de. Sunday the cafete .... ains continuous serv ... m 11am until 8pm." I don't remember a Luby's on W. Gray @ Shepherd; that is the only location given for a Luby's in the guide. Was there a locally based Luby's before the group from San Antonio came in? There was a Wyatt's in Sharpstown Mall. The Piccadilly on W. Bellfort does a booming business.

Los Troncos - where Westheimer and California meet, where Da Marco is now: Ari's was in this old residence @ Westheimer @ Mandell: I lived just down the street in the early 70s and ate at Ari's many times; I learned to love escargot but never tried the frog legs. I read somewhere that Ari's owner had run a French restaurant at HemisFair 68 in San Antonio, wanted to stay in the US so moved to Houston and opened the restaurant ca. 1969. It was sometimes said to have been Houston's first sidewalk cafe (there were umbrella covered tables and chairs practically out to the curb) but I doubt that was a valid claim. I never ate at Los Troncos. Both were still there when I moved out of the neighborhood ca. 1974. By the late 70s, Ari's had moved out on Memorial near Dairy Ashford. I ate there just once, ca. 1980. It had little of the charm of the original and I had lost interest in French cuisine and never went back. A Houston Post clipping: The 4 Bill Williams: S. Main @ Holcombe, OST @ MacGregor, just north of Richmond on 59, and .......? The name rings a faint bell. I do think it had 'uncle' in the name. Szechuan as I remember it. Only went once, ca. 1979, on the company dollar.

According to HCAD the Beaconsfield was completed in 1911, shortly after Carter's Folly. At 7 stories it probably was taller than any other residence at that time, so, a high-rise? The Carter building was the tallest building in town, completed in December, 1910, at 17 stories. The next tallest was only 12, I think. Neils Esperson was a resident of the Beaconsfield when he died in December, 1922.

In the mid-to-late 70s and maybe into the early 80s there was a place on Shepherd one block north of what was still the Alabama theater at that time called My-T-Bite or My-T-Byte that served the mini-burgers. Damn good ones, too. Maybe the same as the one on S. Post Oak? They also had a location at one time on Bissonnet @ Beechnut which is now an El Pupusodromo. The place on Shepherd was originally a Toddle House and then an egg roll place (now closed but the building is still there). I haven't had a good slider in Houston since My-T-Byte went out of business.

Thanks for the reference bachanon; I'll have to get a copy of that. For the OP, what's the budget? $5-10? Hard to find much below $5. Kelley's - 5 locations, only one in the city limits is I-45 @ Park Place, the exit to Hobby. Daily lunch special (meat and 3) $6.49, dinner $6.99. Food is pretty bland and veggies overcooked to my taste but you'll leave full or with a doggie bag. Great, humorous review in the Press a couple of months ago. CFS is one of the best in town. I've seen a 350 lb. man unable to finish one of the Texas sized baked potatoes stuffed with chicken breast strips @ $6.99. Dot Diner - part of the Pappas group; I-45 @ Woodridge, just inside S. Loop 610; lunch meat & 3 $7.99, dinner $8.99. You'll be full. Very good food for the price. Indian buffets (ayce) - in the Village - Shiva, lunch $8.50, Bombay Brasserie, $10.50 Middle Eastern - DiMassi's - in the Village and Richmond @ Post Oak, plus other locations, lots to choose from, $10 including beverage. Vietnamese sandwich shops - banh mi usually starting around $2: Les Givral on Milam, 'original' Givral's in the decrepid shopping center one block away (hold your nose until you get inside the restaurant and you'll be okay); Thiem Hung on Leeland or Pease, just east of 59, downtown. NY Pizzeria - Beechnut across from Meyerland Center, Holcombe @ Greenbrier and other locations - lunch special is reasonable; slice of pie (from a 28" pie) starts at $3.50. Kroger Signature stores - W. Bellfort @ S. Post Oak, below Meyerland, and many locations around town; ready made sandwiches starting @ $2.99; soup and salad bar; ready to bake pizzas for less than $10. Antone's - our local poboy place, original owner's last location in the Village @ Dunstan and Kelvin, I think. Franchise locations all over town, poboys also available at Kroger's and other grocery stores. About a dozen varieties of poboys, all less than $5. James Coney Island - in Meyerland Center and all over town; dogs, chili pie, chili. Easy to get out for less than $10. My latest fave, Himalaya, Pakistani restaurant @ Hillcroft @ SW Fwy (SW corner) - lunch special, $6.50 - 7.50. huge amount of food, sampler plate sometimes includes 3 entrees; quirky little place but very good food. Excellent nan. Compared to the food the beverages are way overpriced. Across Hillcroft is Sabri Nihari, another Pakistani place, with a $7.99 ayce lunch buffet. Food's not as good, but the nan is glazed with ghee (clarified butter) and is addictive. sdmarc you're living in one of the best eating cities in the country -- we don't have the reputation, but it's true. Get out and enjoy. Several of the above have websites with menus; you can look all of them up on b4-u-eat.com for more reviews and maps.

Great photos, danax. Thanks. Pardon me if I've missed them but are there any photos of the buiding in its prime as a Sears store, 1929 to 1935?

Suniland sold out to Louis Shanks of Austin a number of years ago; I think the Main street store had already closed by then and the main store was on Fondren just south of Westheimer.

Yes I think that Atchafalaya did become a Landry's; I had forgotten about that. Sad news about the Frisco. It's been several years since I ate there. Will have to try to get out to Austin soon for a Frisco burger and a Top Chop't steak -- used to love those (and the frozen Top Chop't steaks don't compare).

Yes there was a Nighthawk here and it was on Westheimer around that intersection or further out near Gessner; I'm not sure of the exact location. It was only briefly in the 70s. I think it became one of the original Atchafalaya River Cafes when the blackened seafood craze hit. There was also a Nighthawk in SA. The only thing left of Harry Akins' old Nighthawk restaurants is the Frisco Shop on Burnet Rd. in Austin which is like a time warp and the frozen entrees at the grocery store.

I thought you'd be getting around to that one. HCAD says 1975 but that must refer to the body shop attached on the left. Filling station on Navigation

I never knew what these cards were for. Postcards? The original is 5x8.

Great stuff isuredid, bringing back many memories, at least partially. Some dates would help. I keep looking for a mention of a macrobiotic restaurant that was at Grant and either Missouri or Hyde Park as I remember, probably short-lived, may have been gone by early 1971. I can't remember the name. My boss loved it and we went often. Which color? There were several. These are some of the bumper stickers: Then there was the short-lived Air Corps:

An engineer has confirmed that the KXYZ plant sits on the site of the original KTRH transmitter. The site has also been used by KRCT/KIKK when it moved to Pasadena from Baytown. The current structure looks nothing like the 1930s building. Thanks again for your help.

http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/clayton/clayton_history.html I was there for the dedication of the historical marker ca. 1993 but have never been back since they re-opened the home. Re: your PM which I accidentally deleted: The Iris was at 612 Travis, originally the Travis theatre. Will Horwitz bought it in 1919 for $150 (he had been working at Camp Logan showing films). Unable to afford a new sign, he knocked the bar off the T, blocked out the A and V, and so was born the Iris, which happened to also be the name of his daughter. The other theatre you mentioned was probably the Isis; it's been mentioned in other threads on HAIF. Try the search feature.

I never knew there was a Stables on Weslayan. There was one on Westheimer just east of Weslayan and on S. Main @ Kirby. Steak House Associates: Stables, Courtyard, Bud Bigelow's and Bordman's (where Chuy's is on Westheimer). All very good restaurants. Love the cars in front of Lamb's. Let's see: 55 or 56 Buick wagon, Volvo of undetermined vintage, 57 Chevy, 54 Olds. I'll have to go look up some of these extant buildings to go look up since I don't recognize many from the pics. I saw your comment before the pic finished loading and was expecting to see some young men plying an old profession, as they have on lower Westheimer for years. Maybe that's what we are seeing!