Search the Community

Rice announced the $30 million gift for College #11, Duncan College. Along with new residential college #10, McMurtry College, there will be two new LEED certified buildings for Rice (and its first Gold certification). http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.as...;SnID=417075778 http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories...63&ana=e_du

I found this amazing piece of history that's wildly interesting on what ever happened with the land. I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post dated July 3, 1923 and came across an article about John Henry Kirby's planned Country Estate at the End of Main. This estate would have came after his historic mansion in downtown at 2006 Smith Street. I wonder if there is any photos of the mansion? Mr. Kirby was extremely famous, so I bet there would be pictures of his new home. That is, if the country estate actually got built. For this estate, I believe they are talking about Old Main Street Road. Often times confused with South Main Street. I found a clue about the Kirby estate while reading Automotive News dated September 24, 1929: Houston, Tex., Sept. 23. - Actual development of the Curtiss Airport on the Kirby plot, adjacent to the Old Main Street Road, will start within ninety days, according to Paul C. Jackson, manager of the airport. The total size of the airport, almost, matches the John Henry Kirby's planned state. The Kirby estate was 400-acres while Curtiss Airport was on 450-acres. I'm thinking the proposed Kirby estate failed and he eventually sold the land to which Curtiss Airport acquired? Country Estate at End of Main planned by Kirby. 400 Acres on Brays Bayou will be transformed into beautiful spot. Two Mansions To Be Built. Two palatial country homes, rivaling the mansions a long the bank of the Hudson river in New York, will be constructed by John Henry Kirby and his son-in-law, J. Frederick B. Rawcliffe, at the southern end of Main street, between Bellaire Boulevard and Brays Bayou. John F. Staub, Houston representative of New York architectural firm headed by H.F. Lindeberg, said Monday that preliminary plans had been completed and approved. Mrs. John Henry Kirby last week departed for New York city, from which point she will leave for the Adirondack mountains. While in New York she was shown the plans and approved them, it was said Monday. Both Mr. Kirby and Mr. Rawcliffe are out of the city. Estate of 400 acres. "Mr. Kirby owns at last 400 acres of land which will be converted into a joint country estate," Mr. Staub said. "A month ago he had acquired that much and, I believe, that since that time he has purchased considerable more acreage. Purchases have extended over a period of nearly two years." A private park containing a golf course, an artificial lake, tennis courts, a marble swimming pool and paved driveways will surrounded the two dwellings, the exact plans of which would not be reveled by the architect. "It would be hard to say whether the house would be two stories in height or not, "Mr. Staub said." "One could not very well term that a two-story house," and he pointed to a picture on the wall showing architects' drawing of a country mansion. Plan Artificial Lake. Present plans, however, are said to call for buildings of marble, brick and stucco construction. The outstanding feature of the two estates, which will be connected so as to form a single beautify sport rivaling any in the South, is the plan of landscape. One end of the property is bounded by Brays bayou, a clear shallow stream, which bisects a stretch of rolling prairie and a wooded section. In the center of this prairie is a natural bed, which, it is understood, will be converted into an artificial lake. One of the houses will be occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Kirby, who now reside at 2006 Smith street. The other will be occupied by Mr. Rawcliffe and his wife, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. A present they reside at 911 Lovett boulevard, Montrose. H.F. Lindeberg, architect, has prepared plans for many palatial homes in the city, including several residences in Shadyside, facing the sunken garden on Main street, opposite the northern entrance to Hermann park.

I was looking around for the famous Texas Medical Center trustee Lamar Fleming, Jr. and came across his River Oaks home at 2945 Lazy Lane. Completed in 1930, 2945 Lazy Lane was designed by Houston’s most eminent architect, John Staub, commissioned by a previous generation oilman, Harry C. Hanszen and his wife, Katherine. Its style was proposed after Staub returned from a European trip moved by a 12th-century Norman chateau. His clients were enthusiastic about the project to add a touch of the medieval to the third mansion in the Homewood section of River Oaks. Then the sound of a bulldozer pierced the air. Peering behind a wrought–iron fence encased in a green protective cover that effectively functioned as a shroud, and arriving in time for a close look as a dump truck departed, there were the visible remains of a once great house — a mansion notable twice, foremost for its architect, John Staub, as well as for its most illustrious resident, John Mecom Jr., the charismatic only son of a man who was at one-time among the top three independent oil producers in the world, wildcatter John Mecom Sr. https://www.papercitymag.com/home-design/storied-texas-mansion-demolished-john-mecom-john-staub-house-teardown-preservationists-outrage/ Persons attending brunch given by W.A. Smith and R.H. Abercrombie for Vice President Nixon Houston, Texas Sunday, June 12, 1955.

Does anybody know who designed Mirabeau B. Lamar Sr. High School on Westheimer? Who carved the map of the State of Texas abpve the auditorium? Anyone have construction photos or old photos of Lamar?

Is it still there? Someone told me they thought it burned down and there now is some Condos there. Sorry misspelled museum in the title.

I saw this permit, but didn't know it was a Staub estate (via Swamplot and HAR): http://swamplot.com/stabbing-the-staub-she.../#comment-19976 http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cf...s=1&sTYPE=0 http://i42.tinypic.com/2iw4j1f.jpg

This is an F. J. Schlueter photograph, likely taken during the 1920s. Originally built in 1921, Humble Oil Co. was the first commercial building in Houston to have air conditioning (added in 1932). I can only imagine that neighboring office buildings' tenants were highly jealous. This photo was taken from Main St & Polk St.., facing North, on what is now the back side of the building. The Humble Tower was build in 1936, and the wing that connected the tower to the Humble Oil Co.'s 1921 building, was built in 1940, according to the excellent Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. As I understand it, this means there was a period of time that the Humble Oil Co. was not connected to the Humble Tower. I'd love it if someone else could shed some light on this time period. I've recently taken a particular interest in this building, and the kind folks at the Houston Public Library ~ Julia Ideson building, Texas Room dug this up for me. Those folks are incredible, and if you haven't researched any old Houston photography at this place, I suggest you pay them a visit. They'll even print any of their archive for you, at very reasonable rates. Posted with permission from the Julia Ideson photography archive. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3286528886_170d651f80_o.jpg

M.D. Anderson Library (lobby/ study area), originally uploaded by b2tse. For those of us who aren't students or staff, it's nice to see what things look like inside the University of Houston. This is the M.D. Anderson Library as captured by b2tse. Nice job with the dark chairs in the filtered light. Amateur or professional, all are welcome to join the HAIF Flickr photo group.

The simple answer is to look for a copy of Howard Barnstone's book _The Architecture of John F. Staub_. That will get you a lot of the ones from the '20s, '30s and '40s. Newer mansions are often not documented anywhere because their owners strongly desire privacy. Check the har.com listings from time to time. 1620 River Oaks Blvd (at Inwood) is the Staub-designed home of Hugh Roy Cullen, later owned by Oscar and Lynn Wyatt and now home to the Flores family, who did a massive and sympathetic remodeling of the home and grounds, adding spectacular gardens and a sunken swimming pool. 3800 Willowick at Knollwood is the Tillman Fertitta family compound. According to HCAD it was built between 1999 and 2001. That may be off a little, but it's clearly a newer home. Yes, the loss of Dogwoods and of the Mitchell house both were heartbreaking. If you dig Google Earth try local.live.com in Mozilla or Internet Explorer. marmer

Noticed today that a Bailey Swenson house featured in the AIA Houston guidebook was in the process of being razed after a bad fire. It was on N. MacGregor just west of the Mease hospital; if I remember correctly the Guide said "Swenson's version of the French manorial style had a definite 40's swing." It had a round turret in the front, with a shallow tile point at the top. Pretty house in its day. Hope it isn't replaced by something gross. Marty

John F. Staub Home In Texas

main near the church is a good place during designated hours... speaking of palmer church and main - has anyone notice that the homeless population there has skyrocketed? the esplanade between main and fannin is a major campground...