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Texas Medical Center Member Institutions in 1946-47 a study was conducted that concluded the following 10 institutions as members that make up TMC: 1. Baylor University College of Medicine 2. University of Texas Dental Branch 3. University of Texas School of Public Health 4. University of Texas Post-Graduate Medical School 5. M.D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research 6. Herman Hospital 7. Methodist Hospital 8. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital 9. Tuberculosis Hospital 10. Medical Library of Houston Academy of Medicine Given the passage of almost 6 decades how many more institutions would you thank have become members & would the old TB hospital still be active or changed names and mission today?

I tried doing a search on the forums without any luck so I'll ask here. In the southern part of memorial park right next to the bayou are a couple of old foundations (looks like there were bldgs there once with basements). I assume these are vintage WWI bldgs when camp logan was there, but wanted to know if anybody knew for sure.

Does anybody have any old Alief area photos that they can share? I'm talking about photos from the 30's through 70's? An arial would be awesome if anybody has one... Kevin

I have been curious about the early history of Stella Link. I understand that its name comes from the fact that it links West University with the Stella community. Some of the things I don't know are: 1.

My grandparents bought their house here in timbergrove new in the 60s from the builder. They had a stipulation that upon their death it will never be sold. So here I am. My kids keep asking what this area / land was before the houses. It’s sad how our original houses are being demolished for oversized houses. Does anyone have any photos of the pre developed area ? I told them i assumed it was all farms back in the old days .

In my younger days (1960's), my mom's boss lived on Laurel Drive. His best friends lived across the street - two houses, two different families, and they were both gorgeous homes. I would like to go there to see what everything looks like. I wonder how much it has changed. Anyone else remember the "This House Is Not For Sale" signs? In the 60's, the neighborhood was full of them.

http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/5995/a9ik.jpg So what was the purpose of that? Not getting enough business or could not afford the rent? I don't know, I am just assuming. But I did look them up and eventhough they are still pretty much in the Heights, it looks like they moved to Beauchamp Street which is actually south of 10th. Would it be appropriate to change the name? Anyway, this is just some of my frustration with this city changing up on me so much. Anybody have pics of their new location?

What is happening to that great little Mid-Century Dovtor's office on Fannin, in MidTown? I seem to recall that it is a late Joseph Finger (or am I confusing it with a MacKie Kamrath?)? It sits on a corner and has an inverted point entrance and is stone and brick. Someone is modernizing the hell out of it. And then there is the old Shirar's Bicycle Shop...a Great Moderne relic...now beyond recognition.

Long Point was one of those streets that features a lot in my life in the 70s. I don't remember much about the strip between the railroad tracks and Antoine. I noticed the other day that Empress Chinese restaurant is still there. Looks about the same as it always has. Ate there once in the 90s. Next door was Speedy's where they had a game room and a go-kart track. From Antoine to Wirt was always a string a cruddy apartments. Mom always advised us to lock the doors through there. I think she figured Sissy Spacek's babysitter and her two youngest were prime targets. Weiner's at Wirt and Long Point is pretty much where daily life started. I had to use historicaerials.com to figure out that the shopping center on the northwest corner was completely torn down. Once upon a time there was a Palais Royale there. I went to school at Long Point Baptist from K through 3rd. There was a huge field on the north side of the property were we all went crazy at recess. I think most school administrators, teachers, and parents would have a heart attack at the mere thought of how scattered we could get out there. The only time anyone showed concern was when a classmate was rooting around in the trees and leaves at the far fence and uncovered 5 copperheads. That scared most of us out of there for a little while. But we had to go back. The trees were way too enticing. Many a recess I had to sit on the side because I wouldn't drink my milk. Hated plain milk then and still won't drink it. Usually the lure of monkey bars and chase would convince me to down that warm stuff so I could head out. I remember one of the teachers there saying war was God's way of controlling the population. Based on that I guess we'd be in a real fix these days. The only teacher's name I can recall is Mrs. Courtney for kindergarten. That was in the 2 story building in front of the church proper. Every day we had to unstack our cots and take a nap. Afterward was punch and cookies neither of which I found thrilling. Warm punch and bland cookies. Still, they beat the ice cream scooper of boiled spinach from the lunch room. The uniform was gray pants and white shirt for the boys (with a clip-on green plaid tie for chapel) and the same pattern green plaid skirts and white blouses for the girls. I still have a scar on the back of my neck from 2nd grade. The library was a room on the 1st floor. We never got to spend enough time there so I remember soaking in the titles of books. Looking back I think most of what we were reading or using for classroom material was from the 50s and early 60s. Down a ways at Long Point and Pech was the Kmart center. That's where my tennis shoes came from. They were in a bin about the middle of the store and part of the process was digging around for my size. Mom was no fool in that regard. As quick as I outgrew pairs there was no reason to be extravagant. The lighting was always dim in there. The place may have only been 10 or so years old at that time but it felt like a cast off relic to me. There were a few stores in the slightly younger strip built on the same lot. Furr's Cafeteria was one of our eating out mainstays. Most times you could find my school's music teacher playing piano for the diners. Talk about a real touch of class for a mid range cafeteria. There was a record store in the corner near Kmart. I was always freaked out by the life size Molly Hatchet display of the creepy looking dark knight on horseback, I think, they kept there. I was convinced MH had to be really sinister to look like that. It wasn't until a summer in college that I actually heard a song from them - Fall of the Peacemakers on a 70s rock station in DC. I had to laugh at myself for discovering they weren't so evil after all those years. The now defunct post office on Hillendahl was where we got all our stamps. At the corner of Pech and LP is the old cemetery which still belongs to the family that once held a lot of the land that became Spring Branch. I've always liked the rock paving they used there. There must be a name for the stuff. Across the street was the Ridgecrest strip center. There was a home furnishings/electronics store there. The Ridgecrest Barber shop was the backup place if I wasn't going to get my hair cut at Northwest Mall. There was a jewelry store at Norcrest and LP. My youngest sister knew their daughter in high school. I think one or both of the parents was killed in a robbery. Maybe that was the teenager that owned her own house on Mooreberry by Northbrook HS. At Moritz and LP was Alfies Fish n Chips. Their logo was a happy guy's head in a stocking cap and flowing scarf. I think part of the original building is still there but has been changed radically. Then right before you got to Bingle was the big bull. Judging by the aerials it has been there since '68. It's a tire store now but was a Mexican restaurant then. The building it fronts is unremarkable which only makes the bull stand out all the more. When it's gone I don't think I'll be able to drive through there anymore. Had my first Blizzard at the DQ just south of LP on Bingle. Cool old school DQ with the covered parking in front. Next door was a skate board park. The DQ is something else now and the Young World day care has been razed. West from there was the Scoggins and Kay women's boutique. Funny how my older sister said she missed it when it finally closed though she never shopped there. There was also a gas station where LP veers left andSpring Branch Drive goes to the right which was an entertaining back route until I got a car with run flats. I think the guy who ran in serve in Korea based on the flags. The station goes back to the 50s in the aerials. Now it's dust. So are the homes I never really knew much about on the lots behind it. There is a strip center at the corner of Campbell and LP 9101 Long Point. Back in the 70s it was occupied by a small, even compared to places like the Kroger (Kroger means better meat) on Kempwood, Lewis & Coker on Memorial, or even Continental Minimax in Town and Country. As an aside all three of those stores seemed cramped and dirty back then. Anyway, I haven't been able to find an old enough listing online to show me the name of this store. I do remember it was the place where I could usually convince mom to spring for Fruit Sripe gum. They also had toy warships that were die cast metal because the things were meant to last. They had small inset wheels on the bottom so that carpet became the perfect off-color ocean for your fleet. Closer to Blalock the old mainstays like May's Fried Chicken and the Hoover repair shop have disappeared while Southern Garden apartments remains. The place was not particularly nice then though not as awful as say the Red Apple or Mount Vernon. Randall's had a decent store at Blalock. The manager was always courteous and the store clean. My first memory of mom asking my youngest sister or myself to get toilet paper are there. She would not say it out loud. Always a very low whisper to go get TP. Oh man, the dirty looks we'd get if we made the mistake of saying toilet paper in a normal voice anywhere away from home. I still remember the teenager lying face down and bleeding in the ditch at Oak Tree apartments. Came out on the short end of a fight between the gels (jells?) and either the jocks or the kickers. I think every kid except me hunted crawdads in the ditches of Spring Branch. The old center at Bunker Hill remains. The pad building has been some sort of fried whatever dispensary since the beginning of time I think. To me the place is classic LP. Relics of the building boom of the 50s that created neighborhood life out of farmland. A lot of it is crap but some of it is charming. As the area re-gentrifies I'm sure much will be razed. If you never saw a movie at the dollar theater or ate at Stockman's you missed out. Also there right before Gessner was a great DQ. Definitely better than watching mid century razing was watching the cars change out over time at the used car place in the same center. If I had the money I'd buy the Royalgate Apartments at 1711 Gessner just to be able to look at them any time I wanted. LP and the surrounding area has a lot in the way of unremarkable buildings that no one would care about should the bulldozer and wrecking ball take them away. But scattered across the landscape of my first years are some real gems. Here is a partial list. 1) 9101 Long Point 2) 1610 Campbell 4) Elizabeth Ring Library 5) 8810 Long Point - formerly Golden Age Retirement Home 6) 1663 Blalock - Ragsdill School where I learned to swim. It looked better when it was red. I really miss Charlie's Burgers (dozens and dozens sold) just a couple doors down 7) Get inside one of the apartments at 9733 Neuens. Was in one a few years ago. A trip back in time to when it was new - that well kept up. Very funky fixtures. 8) the old Der Wienerschnitzel building at Knoboak and Gessner is worth it just for a laugh 9) the Nothing Over $1.15 at Westray and Gessner 10) Dig the roof line at 1636 Gessner - reminds me of my brother's neighborhood (Westbury - and yes, the Westbury UMC is gorgeous enough to convert a soul or two) 11) Mister Car Wash - oh yes. Everything else is just a car wash. 12) Memorial High School - a beautiful place to go to school before the later add ons. I loved going to school there just because you could breathe, you could see more than just school buildings. I told my wife that the library in the Breakfast Club reminded me of MHS's. 13) Memorial Church of Christ on Echo Lane. If Westbury can save your soul. Then this church and Memorial Drive Presbyterian are heaven. Does anyone remember the little house where they had chickens and such on Echo Lane? 14) 730 Marchmont. I lust after this house. Lust!! 14) Mr. Fortenbach's house at the corner of Piney Point and Taylorcrest. Dad once left tire marks all over his motor court. Get a couple scotches in the old man in those days and there was no telling what he'd do. He could intimidate state troopers out of tickets and tell how he once turned brown suede combat boots to black spit polish over night in ROTC. Never did buy that one. Sorry for rambling. Got to thinking about driving the family down LP on New Years Day and finding Spring Branch Memorial Hospital about a third demolished. I was born there one dark and stormy night in 1970. The window to the room is burned into my memory. Mom drove her '68 Delta 88 until '77 and I saw the small dent in the trunk from where someone rear-ended my parents that night on the way to my delivery. For symmetry my sister dropped me on the sidewalk at our house on Cindywood the day I came home. It was a strange feeling to see the place where I was born in that condition. The hospital, like me, had seen better days. Next they'll be tearing down the Ring Branch Library, or me.Though at least there'll be no more visits to scary Dr. Sedotal, who looks like Esther Wolf's son Dr. Wolf in my fevered brain (frizzy hair, shirt open to mid chest and gold chains but minus the shotgun). I better get out here before I start talking about life in Memorial and moaning over the loss of the "haunted mansion" at Strey Lane.

This is for all the North Side Boys to challenge the gray matter they have left!!!

http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/05/08/12/b-histor.jpg Aug. 12, 2005, 12:28AM More historic markers ahead? City is weighing a plan to allow property owners to seek permanent protection for sites By MATT STILES Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle In what would be a victory for preservation advocates, the City Council is considering a new ordinance that would safeguard Houston's historic sites by allowing voluntary designations of "protected landmarks." The effort, designed to strengthen the city's 10-year-old preservation ordinance, would allow property owners to seek permanent protection for historic buildings they own if the sites meet specific criteria. That protection would remain, even if the property ownership changed. Read More...

One of the things I've been kind of curious about is the history of The Woodlands, Texas, which doesn't seem to be very well-documented since it was only built in the 1970s. Some tidbits I've gleaned include the Wharf, which was actually built (something I doubted initially) and contained an ice rink and boutique shops. It was eventually renovated into a conference/resort center, but I have seen no pictures of the inside as it was. An article I read on George Mitchell mentioned how The Woodlands didn't have a lot of grocery stores (if any) at first, but the Chron refers to (through article searches) that an upscale local grocery chain called Jamail's sold out two stores to Randalls in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Apparently the shopping center at Sawdust and Interstate 45 had both a Wal-Mart and a Kmart in there at some point (the Kmart being one of the extra-small late 1970s prototypes). Is there a place where I could find out more of the history of these types of things?

I lived in Bellaire from 1950 to 1960 (ages 2 to 12) and went to Horn Elementary on Pine Street. One of my fondest memories was going to the Bellaire Theater on Saturday mornings. They had a kiddie matinee every Saturday. It cost a quarter to get in and popcorn was a nickel. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, they would have an all-cartoon show. My friends and I would go almost every weekend. Our mothers would take turns driving and would leave us there and pick us up later. I'm sure it was like a zoo. I remember kids running up and down the aisles. Is anyone else from Bellaire? I'd love to hear your stories.

My Dad took these slides:

Ive always been curious about the developments on Bellaire blvd, and as much as I can see what they are now, im curious what kind of business's were there before. Specifically, the gessner and bellaire area, gessner area north of bellaire, etc. What kind of grocery store was in the Fiesta mart lot before Fiesta ? It looks like an old Krogers store from the 80's inside. When did Fiesta take over that space ? North of Bellaire, but south of Harwin, what kind of business's were in the strip shopping centers on the east and west sides ? Does anyone have any pictures of these areas in the 70's, 80's, etc ? Id love to hear others input, or stories, or photos about this area of Sharpstown, Bellaire. Cory

Howdy people! I have been observing for years and wanted to throw my hat in the ring. I am curious if some people out there can give me some info on my neighborhood. I have lived in Walnut Bend for the better part of of 25 years. I also spent several years living off of Dairy Ashford and Memorial. If anyone has any info on the area...not current but historical I would love to hear. Thanks everyone!!

I know there's another section for Historic Houston, but I wanted to share some memories about the old Fuqua, Beamer, Hughes Road area specifically. I'm sure the moderator will move this if needed. We moved into old Kirkwood in 1968. At that time, Beamer road did not connect to Fuqua at all. There was a two lane road one stoplight east of the current Fuqua/Beamer intersection, and it rambled though a field and tied on to Beamer near Dobie. And Beamer actually ENDED after the third street in old Kirkwood. To get to Hughes Road, we had to drive back to 45 and ride the feeder. We had some family friends who moved into a NEW HOUSE on the first street of Sagemont, Sagewood. Seems like forever ago. For years, there was a little league park at the end of Sagewood. In '68, the only building at I-45 / Fuqua was an open air honky-tonk called 'The Breezeway'. I remember that it had a HUGE KIKK boot shaped sign out front and you could hear the kikker music playing loudly as you drove by. There was also a large unmarked metal building next door that I heard was where fireworks were made. No idea if that was true or not.

In the mid-'70s, cattle were abundant behind Addicks Dam, and they kept the terrain well-manicured. It was much more open and pristine than it is now, with grassy meadows, live oak groves, and large remnants of rice fields. During the '70s a magic mushroom pandemic was occurring and Addicks Dam--often shrouded in a thick early morning mist--provided the ideal habitat for Psilocybe cubensis. The mushrooms grew there like wildflowers, so abundant at times that they outnumbered Indian paintbrushes, and you could fill up a pillow case in less than half an hour. The cattle belonged to an old rancher named "JT" who would often cruise along the top of the dam in a light blue Ford pickup, squinting through mirrored sunglasses for hippies picking mushrooms. It was a perverse kind of sport for him and he enjoyed interrogating anyone he saw, as well as giving an obligatory warning sermon about how "them mushrooms are the devil's toadstools, come straight up from hell." He had a bulbous nose and weather-beaten cheeks with white stubble that shot out in helter skelter clumps. His belt buckle was the size of an ashtray--replete with a gold bucking bull--and his boots were black with sadistically pointed silver tips. After an encounter with JT we decided to hunt mushrooms under the safe cover of darkness. Our favorite spot was just off Lamb Road, not far from the legendary Blue Light Cemetery, accessed by a crossing a cattle guard and squeezing through a home-welded iron gate that was adorned with a peculiar inverted star set within a circle. There was a nearby cattle chute and the area was always obliterated with cow pies. One night in June 1976, after three days of torrential rains, we decided to head out to Lamb Road to pick some mushrooms. It was clear and a magnificent full moon hung dead above us. The pasture was swampy, peopled with curious shadows, as we marched along to the distant hooting of a pair of barred owls. After about ten minutes of walking, we noticed what appeared to be small lights flickering through the trees, maybe 80 yards away. Cautiously we made our way closer, using the massive trunks of live oaks as cover. The lights turned out to be a large circular clearing bordered with red candles; within the circle, five people dressed in black robes and hoods sat cross-legged. In the middle stood a tall figure dressed in a blood-red robe and wearing a strange mask that resembled a goat's head. Next to the red-robed figure was a small steer tethered by a rope and stake. Everyone was swaying and chanting. This ain't no Ku Klux Klan rally, I thought. With morbid curiosity we watched as the figure in the red robe raised a long black dagger and shouted, "Zarkelt! Venda-har!" He swiftly brought down the dagger in a wide arc and plunged it into the steer's head. The steer made a horrible high-pitched groan and fell in a spasmodic heap. The moon and candles provided ample light and we could see the steer's eyes rolling crazily in their sockets. Again and again, without mercy, the red-robed figure brought the dagger home. When the steer was finally dead the dagger was passed to the left, and each person held it up as if showing it to the moon. In this manner the dagger made its way around the circle until it was returned to the figure in the red robe. Suddenly, one by one, they all began removing their hoods. What I saw next, blew my mind. A gray-haired woman in her fifties--the assistant librarian of my high school--took off her hood. Another hood came off revealing a man in his thirties with a glistening blood blister above one eye that stared off at a furious and complicated angle. Lastly, the red-robed figure slid off his goat's head mask. It was none other than JT, the rancher. Horrified, we backed away, being careful to avoid stepping on any dead branches. When we were safely out of sight we bolted for a nearby barbed wire fence. My friend reached it first and wasted no time going through it, leaving a swatch of his t-shirt clinging to a rusty barb.

The Near Northside was the only Houston location on Preservation Texas' Most Endangered List of 2005 Driving through this morning, I noticed 3 restored houses ( the first 3 pics below)that I hadn't noticed that last time I was there several months ago. This is encouraging. It's a lot like 6th Ward and hopefully will survive to some extent. The other pics give an idea what the rest of the neighborhood looks like. http://tinypic.com/b9egl5.jpg http://tinypic.com/b9egy1.jpg http://tinypic.com/b9eh6w.jpg http://tinypic.com/b9ehl3.jpghttp://tinypic.com/b9ehxw.jpg http://tinypic.com/b9eiaq.jpg http://tinypic.com/b9ejp5.jpg

I've always been curious about this neighborhood on Shepherd near Crosstimbers. The old Sears, the old movie theatre, it looks like at one time this was a nice up-and-coming post-war middle-class area. Anyone have the scoop on who developed it, when, and when it passed its prime?

In 2009, the area in Houston's East End known as Magnolia Park or Magnolia, as we know it today, will complete 100 years of existence when it was declared a municipality in 1909. I have heard that there are celebrations in the works to honor the centennial. It has been suggested that Magnolia Park receive a Texas historical marker to honor the community. I am a member of the Harris County Historical Commission which oversees the county's historical marker program. I have completed historical marker projects for a few subjects including the historic Harrisburg-Jackson cemetery located off of Bowie St. and Lawndale St. near Milby High School. Born and raised in Magnolia, it would be my honor to mentor a private effort to get the community a historical marker. Are there any interested groups willing to sponsor this project? The effort to get a marker should begin soon so that it can be unveiled for the centennial celebration. As I think of the marker, I wonder where it should be installed in the community? Perhaps it can stand as Magnolia Park's original City Hall at Avenue F and 73rd St. Or maybe it can stand in one the area's City parks or at one of the community's entrances.

I just moved to the area between airline and North Freeway and just a hair south of 610. We're not in the heights, and the only mention of a 'neighboorhood' I can find is just on MLS listings as "Sapp Gardens" but no where else! Can anyone maybe shed a little light on where I live, and lend some identity to my area?

1968 Dumble street had a Sinclair gas station where Valero now is. We used to fix our bike flats there. There was a U-Totem caddy corner now support beam to park/ride bridge. Dumble alone ahd several grand houses, my friend lived in a Georgian style 3 story on Munger/Dumble had tall elegant columns. I thought it resembled Scarlett O'hara's mansion now a ugy storage business.Leonard's dept store Telephone/Dumble. Too many renovations. Hamburger's 4 for a dollar at burger joint across from Austin H.S. cool outdoor seating. Another elegant huge Queen Ann/Victorian house next to post office on Lawndale. Torn down all left is those sad big palm trees. Chuck Wagon restaurant now that sleezy Stephanies beer joint. Weingarten's very, very convenient grocery on Telephone walking distance, etc. There was a hippie "head shop" as they called them corner of Fourcade/Telephone next door to my old Dr. Ballard's office. Can't forget The Italian Beef House directly under that beautiful electrified neon Coca-Cola sign Telephone/45, we actually got it on film! That's just a short glimpse and example how Houston forgets it past. Broadmoor truly had a small town feel to it.

I was curious about the area that is south of Richmond Ave and north of 59. It's between Fountainview and Chimney Rock. It's now a bunch of warehouses and a few townhomes. Does anyone know what was here before? The first house I ever lived in was at 5807 Beverly Hill. This was around 1979-1982. Clements baseball field is across the street on Bering. I remember there being a Dirty's restaurant that seemed like it was on stilts. Checking on historicaerials.com it looks like there wasn't too much there but I was curious to know why this area became such an eyesore. Look forward to hearing from some of y'all about this area.