EastEnd Susan

I loved traveling down OST. When we went to Rosenberg on Sundays to visit kinfolk we would take Wayside to OST to South Main, South Main to Rosenberg. That was before 610 and 59. It was a long trip. When I was dating one of our favorite places to go was to the putt putt golf course on OST. We liked that one because there wasn't any street noise like the one on the Gulf Freeway. And It had 3 different courses. Get a hole in one on the last hole and get a free game. What fun. I also like watching what I used to call the "Army Men" while they were training at what I think was the National Guard facility. It was a very cool street.

Does anyone remember Park Memorial Baptist Church? Wayside Drive ran in front and Ave. K and Ave. J ran on the sides. I spent the summer of Watergate in their gym on the trampoline because there was nothing on tv except Watergate. I loved hearing the churchbells ring on Sunday morning. Hated to see it demolished, but I did manage to get a brick from the church.

I liked going to Bill Williams restaurant on OST right before Southpark, across the street from MacGregor Park.

Back in the 60's, my Mom and Grandmother used to take my brother and I to a mexican food restaurant called Berthas. All I remember was the food was good and the restaurant was in a big white house with big columns on the porch. It seems like it was close to downtown. You parked on the street and walked up a long sidewalk to the porch. There was also another mexican restaurant that used to be a house but it was located on Canal, south of downtown. Can't recall the name. Does anyone remember these?

Oh man! Roast Beef Dip sandwiches at Fat Ernies. The Best!!

Does anyone remember the Italian Beef House? It was located I believe on the corner of Dumble and the Gulf Freeway right under the giant neon coca cola sign. I went to Austin high and sometimes we would sneek off campus and have lunch there. They had the best meatball sandwiches in town. It was just a tiny place but it was always packed.

Thanks Gnu. I have to go downtown today and will check for the old sage.

Does anyone remember a store called Sage? It was on the east side of the gulf freeway somewhere between edgebrook and shaver. It sat at a funny angle to the street and had a huge parking lot. I never went to that store and have no idea what they sold but I remember it being very big and always packed with cars.

I used to skate a small skating rink in the eastend on Capitol. Can't remember the name though.

I remember Gulfgate when it wasnt closed in. Joskes had the best eating place in the basement called the Bamboo Room and a sweet tiny waitress named Margie. I also remember Battlestiens, Sakowitz, Playhouse toystore, Newberrys, Flagg Brothers, Russell Stover candy store and Walter Pyes. There was actually a grocery store at the mall. I believe it was a Weingartens. I also remember all the neat places in downtown Houston like Neiman Marcus. When we shopped in downtown we would always eat at James Coney Island.

I had all my birthday parties at Peppermint Park until I was 11. I have some 8 mm film of the place which I had put on VCR format about 20 years ago. It shows the little roller coaster, The helicopter ride, the boats, the carrousel and the ticket booth. And yes, it was located at 610 and 45 before 610 was there. I guess that car dealership sits where it used to be. Right by the Carrousel Hotel.