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In 1928, Joseph Finger planned a four-story building for the Levy Bros. Dry Goods Co. Jesse H. Jones later commissioned Alfred C. Finn to add five-floors of office space above the Levy Bros. store. At the same time, Alfred C. Finn removed most of Joseph Finger’s proposed Art Deco ornamentation. In 1939, Jesse H. Jones commissioned Alfred C. Finn to increase the building’s height to 22-stories. At this time, the company was nicknamed Levy's for short. Note* I had help from the following website: http://www.houstondeco.org/1920s/levys.html

A little confusing, but I believe this Joseph Finger building did not get built. Jesse H. Jones hired Alfred C. Finn to increase the height and change a few things. The original design by Finger was not selected.

wow!! I discovered a new (to me) department store in Houston! I searched around HAIF and there was only 2 or 3 mentions over the past 15 years. Figured I would create an official thread so people can gain more knowledge about the company. In terms of the company name, and searching around the internet, the name was spelled many ways. Levy Brothers Department Store Levy Bros. Department Store Levy Brothers Dry Goods Company Levy Brothers Dry Goods Co. Levy Bros. Dry Goods Co. Levy Brothers Company Looks like the official wording, per company letterhead and invoices, was Levy Bros. Dry Goods Co. From an invoice dated December 12, 1952: Several online Houston history blogs indicate the address was 309 Main Street. The 1907 Sanborn Houston map had the company surrounding the addresses 309, 311, and 313 Main Street. I searched through old newspapers for both 309 and 313 Main Street and did not find any information containing Levy Bros. When searching for 311 Main, I got results. From the newspaper The Houston Post. dated March 8, 1914: Department Stores Dexter, Fred F. 230 W. Seventeenth Ave., H. Hts. Taylor 205 Levy Bros., 311 Main. Preston 36 Munn Co., W.C., Travis St. Capitol Ave. and Main St. Preston 218; A1131. The Houston Post. dated June 24, 1914: J.B. Westover, Adv. Mgr. Levy Bros. Dry Goods Co. Dry Goods and Women's Furnish'gs 311 Main St. Phone P675 From a 1907 Sanborn Houston map: A photo of the Levy Bros. Dry Goods Co. building at 311 Main Street.

Alfred C. Finn designed this proposed "Name Here Department Store" in the 1920s. Alfred Finn’s office prepared this rendering in the 1920s for a massive, but ornately designed, department store. The tile work along the eaves suggests that this store would have been another addition to the many Mediterranean style buildings that were constructed in Houston during this time period. Had several proposed Mediterranean-style buildings actually been completed during the 1920s, it would have helped to produce a more uniform architectural style throughout the city.

wow!! I never knew there were two different Woolworth's in downtown! The original F.W. Woolworth Co. 5-10 and 15 Cent Store was located at 920 Main Street. This building was designed by architect Alfred C. Finn. The other building at 613 Main Street was designed by Kenneth Franzheim. Almost every city and town of any size or importance in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century had a Woolworth’s Department Store. Houston’s downtown branch was located at 920 Main Street. The photo can be dated to 1917–1918, because during that time architect Alfred C. Finn maintained an office, visible on the left side of the second floor, in the Woolworth Building. When Woolworth store chain founder Frank W. Woolworth died in 1919, there were over one thousand Woolworth stores in the United States alone.

Didn't see a thread for this specific building but wanted to get one started since it sounds like work will be taking place in the near future. https://realtynewsreport.com/historic-building-redo-planned/ " HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – A 119-year-old building at the corner of Main and Franklin in downtown Houston has been acquired for redevelopment by NewForm Real Estate, which has renovated other nearby historic properties. The six-story downtown structure, designed by architectural firm Green and Svarz for Commercial National Bank, opened in November of 1904 and operated as a financial building until 1970. Located at 917 Franklin, the building will expand NewForm’s redevelopment effort, called Main & Co., which includes several adjacent historic structures, namely the Raphael, Dorrance, and Brewster buildings. The project will have office space with street-level retail. CBRE is leasing the reimagined 35,000 total SF of office suites while Transwestern is leasing the 5,158 SF of street-level retail space. The building was acquired from LALM LLC, which is affiliated with Lewis Marks."

I was looking at the publication Texas State Journal of Medicine dated July 1925 and came across a hospital that I've never heard of. It's the Houston Eye, Ear, And Throat Hospital located at 1300 Walker Avenue. Houston Eye, Ear, And Throat Hospital 1300 Walker Avenue, Corner of Caroline Street Open April 1, 1924 A modern, fire-proof Hospital, for the care of eye, ear, nose and throat cases. Staff: Eye: Dr. W.W. Ralston Dr. E.L. Goar Ear, Nose, and Throat: Dr. John H. Foster Dr. Lyle J. Logue Dr. Claude C. Cody Superintendent: Melanie Perry, R.N.

Very cool piece of history! I found this in The Houston Post dated July 1, 1916.

I discovered an old downtown amusement mark, or hall, called Dreamland. This advertisement is dated April 14, 1914: Dreamland. First of the dancing competition for a grand prize of $50. July 12, 1919: Benefit at Dreamland. A big benefit entertainment for the Boys' Truant Home will be held at the Dreamland Hall, Milam and Prairie, Wednesday night, July 16 - Adv..

June 16, 1927. Was this the same family that ran Jim Jamail And Sons Food Market At 3114 Kirby? Maybe their decedents because wasn't there a 50 year gap between the stores? This was the original Jamails then! Spring Vegetables Every Day in the Year J. Jamail & Bro. with the A.B.C. Store 2802 Main Street No Matter Where It Grows We Have It Phone Hadley 1597. After doing some more research, they had 4 stores in total: 1905 - Houston City Market 1927 - 2802 Main 1946 - Shepherd 1967 - Kirby Nageeb “Jim” Jamail, the founding father of the store, began selling produce to the carriage trade from the stalls of Houston’s old City Market in 1905, a time when Houston City Hall was on the second floor of the market. He made his reputation selling the freshest, choicest produce at fair, if not inexpensive, prices. Before World War I, he had expanded his business to include leasing produce stands in the new chain stores. Then, in 1946, when his three sons Joe, Albert, and Harry came home from the war they opened a store on Montrose, which offered a little friendly competition to some of their relatives, the Jamail Brothers Food Market on Shepherd. By 1959, their own growth and that of Houston (Southwest Freeway was plotted to run right through their doors) forced them to move. They then built the Kirby Drive building, which they enlarged in 1967, and are in the process of enlarging again. Bellaire resident Joe Jamail, 93, has vivid memories of the Jamail family grocery business:

I was reading the newspaper The Houston Post dated June 27, 1917 and found this advertisement for Jake Freedman Watermelons At 900 and 902 Commerce St. Jake Freedman is Headquarters for Watermelons. In car lots or less. Hotels, Cafes, and Watermelon Gardens our Specialty. Cold Storage in connection. Phone Preston 1453. or call 900 and 902 Commerce St.

From The Houston Post dated February 3, 1926: $50,000 Loss in Kenedy Fire. The dry goods store of Jake Freeman located on Main street, was destroyed by a fire Saturday night. The conflagration being the most disastrous to occur here since the destruction of the Breeden-Runge Co. warehouse six or eight years ago. The brick building, the property of Ira Hinton of Oakville was completely gutted by the fire. Mr. Freedman had only recently competed taking invoice and he computes his loss at between $42,000 and $45,000. The building, which had a front of 60 feet on Main street, was conservatively valued at $12,000 with only $4,000 in insurance carried by Mr. Hinton. Mr. Freedman had insurance to the amount of $35,000. Only the bare walls of the building are left standing, Kenedy Advance.

Proposed plat. The owner is 713 Media Group. https://713mediagroup.com

I was looking around for George Hermann's main place of residence. His mansion after he made his wealth. It was hard to pinpoint a residential address. George Henry Hermann became involved in real estate and had several rental buildings, wood shops, retail buildings, residences, etc. Also, people move around in their lives. I'm sure Mr. Hermann lived in several homes during his life. The newspaper The Houston Post dated September 16, 1898 had a classified ad by G.H. Hermann that specified him living at 512 Rusk. The 1900 census shows Thomas J. Ewing as head of household at 512 Rusk, with George Hermann as a lodger. For Rent- My brick building, two-story, 50x70 feet, No. 505 and 507 Travis street, same block as Capitol Hotel, occupied by Alkemeyer's Dry Good store; also eight-room dwelling house, corner Brazos and Capitol. G.H. Hermann, 512 Rusk. Sanborn Map from 1896:

I was reading The History of America's Speedways and noticed a race track listing for Houston Motordrome that was active in the 1910s. 1/3 mile wood oval track that ran motorcycles. I found a news article in The Houston Post dated December 25, 1913. Motor Races Grand Opening Christmas Day Stadium Motordrome At Sampson Street and Pierce Avenue Six Races – Starts 3:30 P.M. Admission 205. Grand Stand 25c Extra. Automobile Route. Starting at Main Street and Preston Avenue, east on Preston, turn to your right on Dowling to the left on Leeland. To the right on Sampson to the entrance. Street Car. Take Pierce Avenue car to entrance get off board walk- no mud. Persons coming toward town on the Franklin or Harrisburg cars, transfer to Pierce Avenue car at the 1 and G.N. Depot. Persons coming toward town on Aranas Pass car, transfer to Pierce Avenue car at Pease Avenue. Persons coming toward town on La Branch car transfer to Pierce Avenue car at Jackson and Pierce Avenue.

I was reading the newspaper The Houston Post dated October 11, 1906 and came across an article about Giggling Park. Closed with Fun-Makers. Patterson-Brainerd Company has been Secured. Elaborate Plan for “Giggling Park.” The fun makers for this year’s Carnival have been secured- the Patterson-Brainerd Carnival Company, one of the best aggregations on the road. Representatives of the company will be here today, and the papers will be signed up this afternoon. This company carries a large drove of trained animals and has other features essential to a carnival, with a full corps of well organized “spielers.” Giggling, Charley will be there and all the silver-tongued songster, while the stadium will have many new features that has never been exhibited in Houston before. The association is congratulating itself upon securing this company. “Giggling Park” Plan. The plans for “Giggling Park,” which were yesterday submitted by Scholl Bros., have been accepted. In appearance it will be the most magnificent that has ever inclosed a carnival in Houston. The color scheme will be that of the Carnival colors. In the center will be a grand entrance, composed of a large semi-circle arch twenty feet wide and neatly decorated with vari-colored electric bulbs, flaked on either side with small minarets, allows room for two ticket offices which will facilitate the handling of the crowds. Over the arch will be placed the name plate and other suitable decorations. The terminal of this center is composed of a tier of electric lights in different colors, and above this will be the flagpole and streamers. Ove the minarets will be a lattice, balls and flagpoles with electric lights. Each side of these minarets will be wings extending out to the curb on each side. Throughout the whole will be an innumerable electric lights and elaborate decorations. Those who have witnessed the design pronounce it the most elaborate that the Carnival has ever presented, and the Messrs. School Bros. deserve much credit rot heir artistic work. The Houston Post dated October 23, 1906: Giggling Park Site. Will be federal square- the work will begin Thursday. Council Yesterday Granted Permission to Close Potions of Surrounding Streets and Sidewalks. Work on the Giggling Park for the No-Tsu-Oh Carnival will be started Thursday. It will be the Federal square site, the same as the Carnival grounds last year. The association yesterday secured permission from the city council to close a portion of the streets surrounding the square, and this will give ample room for the amusements and will hold a large crowd of fun seekers. The entrance to this inclosure will be artistic. The plan of Architect Scholl was accepted some days ago. It will be a high arch with ticket offices on either side, with pillars and pedestals, and the whole will be decorated with hundreds of electric globes. This entrance will be at the intersection of Capital avenue and San Jacinto. This site is the most convenient for the Carnival that could be se secured and the association closed the deal with the government officials for it some time ago. The Houston Post dated November 13, 1906: Giggling Park and Revellers. Fun and Merrymaking Runs Riot on Carpet of Vari-Colored Confetti. The park is the Objective Point for a Stream of Humanity- Here the Spieler Holds Full Sway- The Shows are Many and Interesting- All of them are clean, and Were Well Patronized last Night. Upon a carpet of confetti, the Carnival revellers giggle, while the vari-colored particulars fill the air, the eyes, the nose, ears, and the mouth- mirth is running riot in the city of No-Tsu-Oh. When Mayor Rice turned over the keys of the city to King Nettoc yesterday morning and resigned the city to his keeping for a week, the first act of the monarch was to unlock the giggles and chase away care; he put a hobble on rowdyism and issues a decree that each and every one of his subjects who shall enter the gates of his favoured city shall have a good time until the close of the festivities Saturday night. Maun street from Franklin avenue to Capitol and down Capitol to Giggling Park and the whole park was one swarming mases of joyous humanity yesterday afternoon and until a late hour last night. It was the largest crowed that ever thronged the streets on the first day of a No-Tsu-Oh Carnival, and it is the best natured and most ordered crowded. A lady’s or gentleman’s costume is complete in his or her hair, hat, even eyebrows and shoulders, be not bespangled with confetti. Everyone who entered the city last night was out in full garb.

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post dated April 10, 1896 and came across an advertisement of Baldwin's Natatorium. Baldwin's Natatorium Now In Full Blast. Water A Fine Temperature. Come down and enjoy a good swim. Natatorium- Corner Louisiana and Congress streets. J.C. Baldwin, Prop'r. In an article from The Houston Post dated January 1, 1909 it states Sidney Westheimer purchased the property. A deal was closed recently whereby Sid Westheimer became the purchaser of the old Baldwin natatorium property located at the corner of Congress avenue and Louisiana street. The property was bought from Mrs. Baldwin for a consideration equal to $60,000.

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post date November 29, 1906 and came across a business listing for The White Sanitarium, Inc. We Cure Whiskey, Drugs, and Tobacco Habits. In eight to fifteen days without pain or sickness. Cure effected before requiring one cent of pay. No experiment but a thoroughly test cure. We allow the patients to be sole judge of the cure, and should they fail to be satisfied the treatment costs absolutely nothing. See us before taking treatment elsewhere. Address or call on The White Sanatorium, Inc. 1517 Texas Ave. Houston, Texas. Mervin Rives, M.D. Physician in charge. Eph Roddy, Manager. Old Phone 5051.

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post dated November 29, 1906 and came across a theater listing. I couldn't find this on Cinematreasures. Pretty cool, effectively a rare theater! Big Tent Theater. Corner Prairie Ave. and San Jacinto St. H.D. Rucker's Famous Korak Wonder Co. Matinee today. "Beyond the Rockies" Admission 10c, Tonight "A Southern Romance". Friday night- Ten Nights in a Barroom. Saturday Matinee and Night- Uncle Josh Whitcomb or The Old Homestead.

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston post dated January 10, 1906 and came across an article about a new roller rink about to open. A New Rink Building Being Erected on Main and Lamar. To Be Ideal Structure Messrs. Beach and Bruce Are the Proprietors and Will Be Ready by February 1. Roller skating in Houston is to have the additional stimulus of a new rink, built especially for the purpose. Work has already been begun preliminary to the erection of the building, which will be locate don the southwest corner of Lamar Avenue and Main Street, and, according to the contract, it will be ready for use within eighteen days from yesterday. On the 1st of February the new rink will be formally opened to the public. Messrs. Monta Beach and R.L. Bruce have associated themselves together in this enterprise, and they plan to make it one of the nest arranged structures of the kind in the South. The total coast of the building and equipment will ne $5000 and it will be built in pavilion style. In outside dimensions it will measure 75x150 feet. The superstructure will be wood and the building will be roofed with metal. The walls will rise twelve feet from the floor, and there will be an open space of several feet for ventilation between that and the roof. All around there will be placed two tiers of seats and the center floor will be space for skating. The skating surface will be a floor of hard maple and will be made ideal for the purpose. When skating is not in the season it may be used as a dancing pavilion, it is to skating. In fact, the erection of the proposed structure means the addition of another amusement hall to the city and it be hailed with delight by the young people.-- September 20, 1906: Houston Roller Rink Cor. Main and Lamar Will open for the season Monday morning, Sept. 24 Three Sessions Daily (Except Sunday) Thayer's Band Afternoon and evening Everything new but the title.

What's the story with the Electric Park in downtown Houston? Wasn't this simply a name change from the other 1900s Houston park? Either the Highland Park that was located under the present-day Interstate-45 highway? Or the Colonial Park near Fannin? If I recall correctly, Highland Park was developed by an electric street car company. The names ad up, but not the locations? This ad from The Houston Post dated August 15, 1907 lists the location: San Jacinto, between Caroline and Prairie. The Houston Post dated February 18, 1906 has the article: The New Electric Park and Theater The Plans of the Building and a Forecast of Attractions for Houston's New Amusement Place. Matters in connection with the new summer theater and park, "Electric Park," are being rapidly pushed and soon the contractors will be at work constructing the buildings and laying out the grounds. Herewith is given the architect's drawing of the front elevation of the park, showing the theater entrance and the grand stand. In regard to the light, Electric park is to be "electric" indeed. More than enough power will be turned on to supply the lights and the place will be as bright as day after dark. The contract for the state appliances has been let to Clancy & Co. of Buffalo N.Y. but wherever possible the management intends to use home materials and employ home labor. A total investment of at least $20,000 seems likely from present indications and the figure may run as high as $25,000.

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post dated November 29, 1909 and came across a business ad for Sid Westheimer Co. Undertakers and Embalmers located at 104 San Jacinto Street - Phones Preston 227. I wonder if there's a photo of the building?

I was browsing the City of Houston Public Library's Digital Archives and I found the Hugh Waddell mansion in the neighborhood Quality Hill with an address of 2404 Caroline Street. I really love these old homes! The tall circular turrets are cool. I can definitely see how Quality Hill was the original River Oaks. All these grand mansions sitting on high value land.

I was browsing the City of Houston Public Library's Digital Archives and I found the Edward Peden mansion in the neighborhood Quality Hill with an address of 1017 Bell Avenue.

I was researching the William Hutchins Mansion located in the Quality Hill neighborhood of Houston. I first started reading the Houstonhistorymagazine's article about Quality Hill. That gave me: In 1850 Hutchins built one of the earliest and what was considered one of the finest houses in Quality Hill. It stood on the corner of Franklin Avenue and La Branch Street, near Hutchins’s place of business on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Main Street. I then came to a City of Houston Landmark Designation Report for the Palace Hotel located at 216 LaBranch Street. In that report, I saw: Sanborn insurance maps from 1885 show Block 25 with the Globe Hotel down the street on the corner of Congress and Austin. The present location of the Palace Hotel building is vacant land. The large house on Block 25 that faces Franklin was the Hutchins house, one of the large houses that were once common in this area known as Quality Hill. Ownership by the Hutchins family of the lots of Block 25 can be traced back to 1853. I then went to the Library of Congress to look at the 1885 Sanborn insurance map. I then located the mansion on Block 25: Old photograph of the house: