musicman Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 This past weekend we were riding bikes in the Magnolia Park area and came across the old Magnolia Park City Hall (avenue F near canal). The area around is it run down but at least the building still looks maintained. This area is older, but there are still a few nice untouched homes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 This past weekend we were riding bikes in the Magnolia Park area and came across the old Magnolia Park City Hall (avenue F near canal). The area around is it run down but at least the building still looks maintained. This area is older, but there are still a few nice untouched homes.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I always wondered which city hall that was. I thought maybe Harrisburg but it's really too far west I suppose. Surprised it's still standing and hasn't been turned into a cantina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 The origin of Fire Company 20 is questionable. A historical document puts the origin of the fire station in the City of Harrisburg. However, old timers in the fire department claim the station was in the City of Magnolia Park....Yet, one history of Harrisburg mentions a building that was constructed for a city hall and fire station. The building was located at the site of Station 20 when the area was annexed by Houston in 1926. The boundaries of Harrisburg in another historic document did not include the area around Station 20. Harrisburg was bordered by the ship channel (Buffalo Bayou), Brays Bayou, the railroad tracks of the old Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio Railroad, and LaPorte Road. The fire station was located northwest of Brays Bayou, beyond the borders of Harrisburg.Despite this one historic record stating the City of Harrisburg built the city hall and fire station, it may be that Station 20 really originated in Magnolia Park.AnnexedHouston went on an annexation spree in 1926 and absorbed the cities of Magnolia Park and Harrisburg into its city limits. The city hall and fire station became Fire Station 20 on Avenue F and 73rd. http://www.maxmcrae.com/early_companies/fsno20.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tw2ntyse7en Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonsemipro Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 I haven't been to Magnolia in years since my dad's company insulated the high school out there when it was getting built. So, how is Magnolia doing for itself? Anybody have a website? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Magnolia Park or Magnolia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tw2ntyse7en Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Surprised it's still standing and hasn't been turned into a cantina.2/5/04: Mayor Bill White and other officials broke ground for the Antonio "Tony" Marron Park, which will be built at 808 North York near Buffalo Bayou.... Marron was an activist who worked tirelessly to improve the East End for nearly 30 years. He helped renovate Hidalgo Park, fought to close cantinas that were adjacent to schools, spearheaded construction of a new building and parking lot for Stanaker Library and founded "El Centro," the former Fire Station No. 20 that provided services to the elderly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Interesting info, thanks. Marron must've obviously been bothered seeing how the once nice area was turning into a dump but apparently there weren't enough people like him to stop it from happening. It's fitting then that his name is lent to a park that is on the forefront of, hopefully, mass improvements of the very areas that he envisioned being improved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 17, 2005 Author Share Posted March 17, 2005 ... Marron was an activist who worked tirelessly to improve the East End for nearly 30 years. He helped renovate Hidalgo Park, fought to close cantinas that were adjacent to schools, spearheaded construction of a new building and parking lot for Stanaker Library and founded "El Centro," the former Fire Station No. 20 that provided services to the elderly. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>my grandmother lived on Ave F since the 40's. I know she use to go to el centro and to another place across 75th. Back in the 70's her house was beautiful. Only had one bathroom but two kitchens. The front door was glass with glass side panels. a similar setup went from the living room to the parlor area. She had a great flower garden cause that's all she ever did in her spare time. Trellises and multiple raised beds. She passed away in the mid-90's and sold it to my cousin who subquently divided the living room in half. i don't know what other "damage" he has done but the house is at least still standing..but i don't know how well it has been maintained. But i will say all the flower beds are history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 I was driving around and I came across this building at the corner of Ave O and 73rd streeet in Houston Zip 77012. The words City Hall are in concrete across the top left hand side. Anyone know anything about this building? It is in the Magnolia neighborhood subdivision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnu Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 I was driving around and I came across this building at the corner of Ave O and 73rd streeet in Houston Zip 77012. The words City Hall are in concrete across the top left hand side. Anyone know anything about this building? It is in the Magnolia neighborhood subdivision. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think you are right. Seems like it was their city hall and fire station. I found this on the internet from the following page: http://www.maxmcrae.com/Histories/fsno20.htm "Houston went on an annexation spree in 1926 and absorbed the cities of Magnolia Park and Harrisburg into its city limits. The city hall and fire station became Fire Station 20 on Avenue F and 73rd. "(That's not the corner you said, though) Then I checked out the pic and yep I think its the same building you saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted August 3, 2005 Share Posted August 3, 2005 It the same one mentioned, on Ave F. It must've been Magnolia Parks because Harrisburg's likely would've been further east, maybe on Broadway. It's good to see an old building on the East End in decent shape for a change, although it looks to have been through a gut-remodel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirzania Posted August 3, 2005 Share Posted August 3, 2005 You know, that building looks to be the same era as this one I found on HAR yesterday. (Don't ask - it's been slow here at work.) It's over on Congress St. The listing says it was an old firehouse from the 1900's, though I question which part of that time period. If only I had more money and was closer to buying... I'm so tempted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted August 3, 2005 Author Share Posted August 3, 2005 It the same one mentioned, on Ave F. It must've been Magnolia Parks because Harrisburg's likely would've been further east, maybe on Broadway. It's good to see an old building on the East End in decent shape for a change, although it looks to have been through a gut-remodel.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>It is Magnolia Park's City Hall. My dad grew up a short walk away from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 3, 2005 Share Posted August 3, 2005 You know, that building looks to be the same era as this one I found on HAR yesterday. (Don't ask - it's been slow here at work.) It's over on Congress St. The listing says it was an old firehouse from the 1900's, though I question which part of that time period. If only I had more money and was closer to buying... I'm so tempted. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oooh oooh! I'll go in on it with ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirzania Posted August 3, 2005 Share Posted August 3, 2005 Oooh oooh! i'll go in on it with ya! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> :bounces: I'm glad I'm not the only one. It says pending - I hope it's not some punk builder who'll just rip it down. Can you imagine how awesome of a place to live that would be? And sliding down the fire pole (granted, if it's still there) to get to the garage? Come on! Some drywall, paint, and nifty firehouse antiques and put it on Extreme Houses... Besides, who in their right mind would pass up a four car garage? Not me. Perhaps we can go in on it together, sevfiv? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted August 3, 2005 Share Posted August 3, 2005 I think you are right. Seems like it was their city hall and fire station.I found this on the internet from the following page: http://www.maxmcrae.com/Histories/fsno20.htm "Houston went on an annexation spree in 1926 and absorbed the cities of Magnolia Park and Harrisburg into its city limits. The city hall and fire station became Fire Station 20 on Avenue F and 73rd. "(That's not the corner you said, though) Then I checked out the pic and yep I think its the same building you saw. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Opp's! I am sorry it was on Ave F. I was on so many streets that day that I lost track of what Ave I was on! Neat find. thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 You know, that building looks to be the same era as this one I found on HAR yesterday. (Don't ask - it's been slow here at work.) The listing says it was an old firehouse from the 1900's, though I question which part of that time period. If only I had more money and was closer to buying... I'm so tempted.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think the Congress St. building is considerably older than the one in Magnolia Park. Notice the arches above the windows and door, the corbelled brick cornice, the stone sills - these are features found on 19th century buildings. Also, notice that there are rows of eight protrusions above and below the windows. I suspect that these are connected to cable 'ties', which were used to stablize all-brick structures (a cable connects the front and back walls, and has a turnbuckle in the middle to adjust the tension). If I had to take a guess, I'd say maybe 1880-85; possibly older.The Magnolia Park building has no corbels or arches, much simpler brickwork, and decorative concrete (not stone). I'd estimate that it was built in the early-to-mid 1920s. The Mission Revival details on the roofline point in that direction, as do the original windows shown in the picture with the early 50's Ford.Hope both of them fall into the right hands - well worth preserving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirzania Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 I think the Congress St. building is considerably older than the one in Magnolia Park. Notice the arches above the windows and door, the corbelled brick cornice, the stone sills - these are features found on 19th century buildings. Also, notice that there are rows of eight protrusions above and below the windows. I suspect that these are connected to cable 'ties', which were used to stablize all-brick structures (a cable connects the front and back walls, and has a turnbuckle in the middle to adjust the tension). If I had to take a guess, I'd say maybe 1880-85; possibly older. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Are you trying to make things worse? I want it bad enough as it is. :cries: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 Just went by there to check it out...definitely an interesting building Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Dbigtex is right, that has got to be one of our oldest buildings still standing. The only reason it's survived is because that area has been a ghost town for 60 years. And an entire set of storefronts to boot. Looks like it's held up well too. I'm sure the preservationists are keeping an eye on it and I'd be flabbergasted if someone were to demolish it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirzania Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Just went by there to check it out...definitely an interesting building <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Any more pics, sev? I love the fact that the mile marker is still there... And that whole row I could see rennovated into a block of townhomes. Is the backyard as big as I think it is? http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2209+CONGRES...10131&t=k&hl=en By the way, the warehouse next door is now for sale too. I think we should go into the developer business, sev. 2201 Congress St for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Great photo, by the way, sevfiv. I can just see Clint Eastwood riding into town wearing a serape, tilted hat and cigar dangling from his mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robhan Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Where exactly was it located? I saw it on one of these boards but have not been able to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnu Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Where exactly was it located? I saw it on one of these boards but have not been able to find it.all you gotta do is use the haif search function - top rightAvenue F and 73rd from this threadhttp://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...?showtopic=3009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 It is Magnolia Park's City Hall. My dad grew up a short walk away from there.Wow Musicman, your dad might have known my family. I am presently gathering info. to write about Nena E. (my great-grandmother's) story. My mom just told me tonight that Nena used to take food to the firemen at the fire station. I got the impression she took care of political business there, as well. Among her many hats, she wore the one of precinct judge, whatever that means. Must have been in charge of instructing voters in what to do, at that bldg. She lived at Ave. E. & 71st ( I think). What a coincidence, to run across this bldg. topic. Couldn't understand why my mom was talking about voters & firemen, together. Nena was there from the 1920's or even a little earlier. Thanks for the link, gnu. Strange coincidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Otto Mation) Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Patrick Feller has added a photo to the pool: Since Magnolia Park's annexation by the City of Houston in 1924, the former city hall has served other purposes, including a fire station. Click here to view this photo at the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Otto Mation) Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Patrick Feller has added a photo to the pool: Magnoilia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station 7301 Avenue F East End Built 1923 Classical Revival View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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