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I've searched quite a bit and have come up with little to nothing on the former estate of Glenn McCarthy - it sat where the Brentwood and 7575 Kirby condominiums currently are (northeast corner of Kirby and North Braeswood, right across from Jenkins' 2530 Underwood house). It was designed by Milton McGinty and completed by 1938. McCarthy bought the land from Rice Institute in 1935 and later sold it to Harold Farb in 1972. It was demolished some time between 1972 and 1977. Other than some newspaper articles about its construction and a mention of it in the Anchorage Foundation's Braeswood: An Architectural History, there doesn't seem to be much else out there. Anyone have any information or memories?

I'll admit I've only been aware of the park passing by it over the years on 59 and never have been to it. It is a Fort Bend County property. For those not familiar with the area, it's just southwest of Kendleton near the Lum Road exit, extending toward the San Bernard River. Thought it was interesting as over the past year, people have become more informed of the historical nature of the park as a number of individuals have become involved in raising awareness about the resting places of a number African-Americans of the mid and late 1800s and the deterioration of the grounds that are the burial sites. One of the most notable is Benjamin Franklin Williams - the first man of color to be recognized as a Methodist minister in the state, and a three-term state representative for Fort Bend County who was said to have been the first non-white person to have earned votes for the Speaker's position in that chamber. Former Congressman Pete Olson has been spearheading much of the efforts during this time and has gotten the Exchange Club of Sugar Land involved in making regular visits to the site and conducting several cleanups to remove overgrowth and debris and to keep it down. The Fort Bend Herald had an article on the most recent visit which occurred yesterday. One of the persons quoted mentioned a desire to turn the site into an educational and historical site not unlike the what happened with the Sugar Land 95. The grounds are also currently home to a small museum - the Fort Bend County Heritage Unlimited Museum, which focuses on the history and achievements of African-Americans in the County.

Examiner discusses Westbury Rebels mascot

Does anyone have a good idea of what Rice Village used to be like before its current incarnation as a more upscale place with chains and quirky boutiques? The closest I've found is a long-standing bead shop that closed a few years back (along with the late Variety Fair, and a head shop called "The Rat Hole"). Was it more of a counter-cultural store collection, or more of just a ramshackle bunch of businesses that congregate around universities and aim for the college student demographic? Or both?

These were in the Houston calendars that were published a few years back. Alabama Theater (now Bookstop). Iris Theater, Travis between Capital and Texas. Now the site of Chase Tower. The first downtown tunnel connected this to the Texas Theater on Capital. Bluebonnet Theater., 1015 Broadway near Lawndale Yale Theater, Washington at Yale Shepherd Drive-In River Oaks Theater, the only one here still showing movies. Heights Theater, 319 W. 19th. Tower Theater, now Hollywood Video

I am looking for suggestions on the best books, coffe table and/or history, of Houston and Houston architecture. I’ve searched but I would like some educated suggestions. Thanks.

During my first trip to Galveston TX (circa July 1975), my then girlfriend and I stayed for 6 days at a motel located within walking distance of Stewart Beach Park, but I didn't recall its name. Thanks to recent information from another member, I am reasonably certain it was the Islander Beach Motel. Most of the motel's rooms (including the one we stayed in) were in a building elevated on concrete piers above the parking area. There were also three or four "cabana" rooms located in an adjacent building (or buildings) at ground level. The restaurant building was vacant. As this motel was not part of a chain with a toll-free reservation number, I had to contact the motel directly to reserve a room. Other than give my name, address, and home phone number, I don't remember anything else that was needed to reserve the room. Presumably the motel would have billed me had we been a "no-show". The following year (mid-August 1976), I telephoned the Holiday Inn toll-free reservation number, but was told "Galveston is not available." With the likelihood of most, possibly all of the Galveston motels not having vacancies during peak season, it seemed interesting to try a day trip. As documented in another posting, my day trip to Galveston worked out very well. The following month (mid-September 1976), my call to the Holiday Inn toll-free reservation number was successful. Because this was off-season, there was no problem getting a motel reservation in Galveston. After checking in and getting unpacked, my main activity that evening was taking a road trip to the western end of Galveston Island. Once out of the tourist area, it was mostly beachfront residential areas until the vicinity of San Luis Pass. Because the bridge across San Luis Pass required a toll payment, I opted to turn around and head back to the motel instead of crossing the bridge. According to my car's odometer, the trip was about 27 miles each way (54 miles round trip). The Holiday Inn I stayed at was probably the one located (at that time) near the Port Holiday Mall. After checking out of the motel the next morning, I spent most of the day at or near Stewart Beach Park, followed by an hour or so at the Galvez Mall. After topping off my car's tank at either the Hudson Oil gas station or another station in the same area, I headed home to my apartment in Shreveport, LA. Addendum: According to online maps, the road distance from Fort San Jacinto Lookout Point to San Luis Pass is 28.8 miles.

Does anyone have any pictures of the Houston Gardens Elementary that is on Homestead Road from the 1960's or 70's?

I assumed there was already an existing topic for old Galvez family/city photos? If there is please merge. I have reprints of quite a few color pics on Stewart Beach back when they allowed cars to park there. There were several concrete ramps that allowed cars to creep slowly down below then park. These ramps have been removed or blocked since. I noticed only one thats hardly noticeable. These ramps were scary for kids. While in the car it felt like you were about to drop onto the ocean. However once you parked it was major exciting. The very clear pics I mentioned are from 1952-53 and are neat as they show all the now classic cars of the time all lined up in a row. Brand new! In the background you can see the seawall hotels & people (bathing beauties) as it looked in 1952. Guess I better get to scanning to show.

Does anyone know if there used to be a payphone in Meyerland Park back in the 1980's-1990's, and if yes, where in the park it was located at? I also am curious how long that whale slide has been in the playground area? Any old photos/videos pre-2005 of the park would be very helpful.

I attended this school around 1949-1951. It was in a separate building on the periphery of the main University of Houston campus. Our productions were presented in the Cullen Auditorium, very big deal for little kids. My first big play was "Pinocchio" and starred Robert Foxworth, the one among us who acquired actual success in show biz. Yes, I had a mad crush on him at the time, he didn't know I existed. Our leader, director, teacher was an exotic woman named Kiki Gray, whom we adored. Her husband, Charles Gray was guest Director at the original Alley Theatre (in the round) and went on to become one of the earliest Station Managers at Channel 2. He gave my mother and I tickets to all the Alley dress rehearsals, which was thrilling and later gave us a private tour of the new KPRC-TV building on Post Oak. A long shot, but has anyone here heard of this or possibly attended? Shouldn't mix things up, but old Frontier Fiesta just came to mind. Anyone frolicking there around 1953-54? My cousin, 6 years older, was a Frosh in '53 and the whole family went. I think his parents were a little shocked at how bawdy it all was, but we kids loved it. Kenny Rogers headlined one of the shows, though he was still locally known only at the time. Quality stuff and ultimate fun. Okay, so I'll lump all the show business in one post. How about the Larry Hovis Trio? Although he went on to fame in Hogan's Heroes, I'll always remember the super performances of his musical group at civic events and cocktail lounges through early 1960's.

hello HAIF folks! i am looking for a pre-rice-lofts photo of the rice hotel's capitol room... i mostly find them of the flag room. can you assist? thanks!

I've just taken an interest in Rice University. Has there ever been any year(s) that it won any championship? The only pro football player who comes to my mind who attended Rice was Tommy Kramer. When I attended the University of Arkansas from 1984-86, I remember that Rice University was in the same conference.

FB Friday I'm In Love: Numbers Nightclub Documentary is asking if anyone can recall the person on the far left (circa 1981-1982). Please response to the FB page

Does anyone remember this plane crash? http://es.houstonisd.org/herodes/About_Herod/Our_Hero.htm We were living in Marilyn Estates and I had just gone to bed when I heard the plane go over the house and then heard it crash. The explosion lit up my window. I actually thought the Russians had dropped the bomb - this was the time of the cold war. My dad (who was a professional photographer at the time) grabbed his camera and ran out of the house. He was joined by our neighbor who was a mortician. They got wet running across Braes Bayou and were the first ones at the site. My dad told me that he saw the helmet on the ground and then realized that it wasn't empty. That's all he would say and I never saw any of the pictures. A short time later a tree was planted near Meyerland Plaza with a plaque dedicated to Captain Herod.

I heard a rumor from a person calming to be a historian/ghost chaser that the Sears on N. Shepard near Crosstimbers was at one time a hospital and there for haunted. I myself have never heard this before and also find it hard to believe. Can someone debunk or confirm this? Thanks.

For reference, it is that large Italianate red-tile-roofed building that looks almost like it's on a hill, on your right as you're heading north on I-45 or west on I-10 coming from downtown. I've attached both a nice picture of the front of the building, and a picture of what the building looks like as seen from I-45. It is currently owed by Harris Health System, which says: Anyone know the full history of this building?

During my several, late 1970s vacation trips from Shreveport LA to Galveston TX (approx 285 miles each way, but the closest full service beach resort), Corella's Corral (Mexican food) and Mario's Pizza (Italian food) were two places where I recall getting takeout meals while in Galveston. Corella's Corral was on 61st Street a few blocks inland from Seawall Boulevard. Mario's Pizza (aka Mario's Flying Pizza) was a short walk across Seawall Boulevard from Stewart Beach. In addition to takeout, both restaurants had indoor dining. Corella's Corral ceased operations when its owner & founder, Manuel Anthony Corella, retired from the restaurant business. Mario's Pizza, now named Mario's Seawall Italian Restaurant, is still in operation at 628 Seawall Blvd. In addition to the movie theaters at the Galvez Mall, I remember passing near a standalone movie theater that may have been located near Broadway (Ave J). What stood out in my mind about this theater is what appeared to be Spanish language marquees and other signage. Not sure if it was a single screen or double screen theater. Do not remember the theater's name, but it may have been the Martini Theater, a single screen theater (seating capacity 1188) located on 522 21st Street/Moody Avenue. It was in operation as a movie theater from 1937 to 1979. Online photographs showing the theater building's exterior size, shape, and color seem consistent with what I remember. If this is the correct theater, its location was 0.4 miles north of the intersection of Broadway/Avenue J and Moody Avenue/21st St. Most of my road traveling in Galveston was in a more or less triangular pattern on or near Broadway (Ave J), Seawall Blvd, and 61st St. Not having a detailed map of Galveston, a lot of my travel navigation on the island was by "dead reckoning." It seemed to me at the time that Stewart Beach was no more than a mile from the eastern shore of the island (the actual distance is over 2 miles). Keep in mind that this was before The Beach Club and The Trade Winds high rise (each 382 ft.) condominium buildings became part of the Galveston Island skyline. During my next visit to Galveston, hopefully sooner than later, I plan to bicycle from Stewart Beach to the eastern end of Seawall Blvd and back (approx 2.2 miles each way). For a more extensive workout, I could continue the ride to the western end of Seawall Blvd. The total trip of about 12.5 miles (2.2 miles west to east + 10.3 miles total length east to west) would be easier to complete during the off season when the weather is cooler and there are fewer people out and about. Another option is to bicycle from Stewart Beach to the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry terminal (about 1.4 miles via Ferry Rd.), ride the ferry as a walk-on passenger, and continue the bicycle ride on the Port Bolivar side to Ft. Travis Park and back to the ferry terminal (approx 1.7 miles each way). Once ashore in Galveston, ride the bike back to Stewart Beach, again via Ferry Rd. The ferry trips each way allow ample time to cool down between trip segments. Walk-on passengers (with or without a bicycle) board the ferry first, ahead of the cars and trucks. Total road distance is approx 6.2 miles.

Everyone remembers the old Galvez Mall, an eyesore for years that occupied the prime corner at 61st Street and Broadway. Most people however, do not remember Galveston's first shopping mall, Port Holiday Mall. This mall was located at the corner of 4th St (renamed Holiday Drive after the mall opened) and Water Street (now Harborside Dr.)The mall had two levels, and was anchored by The Fair, a department store similar in size to Palais Royale. The other tenants were Walgreen's, Kroger (with no direct entrance into the mall itself) El Chico, Hills Liquor, Guaranty Federal Savings and Loan, and your other typical mall tenants, such as TSO, Hallmark, a jewelry store, record store and others that I do not remember. The upper level was mostly private physicians and professional offices, however there were a couple of retail shops near the top of the stairs. A sunken fountain with benches anchored the atrium middle. There was also a hotel (Holiday Inn) and a restaurant on the west end of the parking lot. This mall had marginal success and then quickly faded, especially when Galvez Mall opened. The building is now owned by UTMB but is still intact. I'd like to see the inside today, just to see how much of the mall still remains.

My grandfather worked for the Humble Oil Co from 1927-1972. He worked for them in Longview, TX until 1960 when they transfered him to Houston. His son, my dad, took these photos of the Humble Oil Bld construction on 800 Bell between 1960-1963. Notice the downtown YMCA in the background:

Now I remember something else from 1963, when I was five years old. I remember my mother taking me to a YMCA on Interstate 610 near Gulfgate Shopping Center/Mall for swimming lessons. I remember that the building was at least five stories high. It that place still there? Chet Cuccia

I'm now 47. When I was between 4 and 6 years old I lived in Houston. I remember my parents and I going to the Winkler Drive-In Theatre, which closed down many years ago. I found out that it was located at 205 Winkler Drive at Telephone Road. Does anyone out there have any information about it? Chet Cuccia

I went to Houston last week for the first time in a bunch of years, and driving down OST toward the Medical Center I drove past the ugliest building I've ever seen. It's huge and looks like two pyramids glued together. It looks for all the world like something out of Doctor Who - a space age military fortress. It's at 1500 OST, the corner of OST and North Stadium Drive. Does anybody know who built that monstrosity, and for what purpose?

A friend of mine is convinced that there once was a Sears on Harrisburg. is he right?