Michelle C Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 (edited) I was raised in the fifties in Houston and remember a lot of the old Ford dealerships. My dad worked for Ford Motor Company and called on all of them and others around the state of Texas. I was always fascinated with Jack Roach because they was probably the oldest one in the city of Houston. I am not sure where the original dealership was located. The earliest one I can remember was on Broadway street. I know that they later moved down the street to another location still located on Broadway. Later they moved to a new location on the corner of Bissonnet and Buffalo Speedway about 1953 give or take a year. I also know at one time they had a location on Westheimer and Yoakum on the east end of the Tower Theatre complex. If any one has pictures of any of the dealerships, please post them. Earl McMillian was another old Ford dealership that was located down town on the corner of Louisiana and Rusk, they later moved out to Katy Road and eventually changed the name to Don McMillian. Others I remember are Raymond Pearson, Tommy Vaughn, and Ivy Russell. Earl McMillian's downtown store, the cars shown are on Louisiana street. The other is Jack Roach Ford on the corner of Westheimer and Yoakum next to the Tower theatre. Edited January 26, 2014 by Michelle C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Raymond Pearson Ford dowtown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purpledevil Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Jack Roach Ford was in the Tower Theater building? I never knew! Very cool, and thanks for posting these, Michelle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) You're harking back to the time when Ford had a parts plant here in Houston. It was on Harrisburg in the building that's now a coffee plant. Check out some of the old local Ford dealership photos on this link: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/840188-vintage-dealership-photos.html Edited January 27, 2014 by FilioScotia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acamarillo Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 did jack roach ever take over Pearson? in '62, my aunt bought a fairlane from the dealership in that building, but i've always remembered it as jack roach ford. also, as a side note, does anyone know if Jack Roach was related to the Roach boys, one who pitched at SHSU, and one worked at Astroworld, ald later they opened Spanky's Pizza on 610 near Gulfgate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 The Ford plant at 3906 Harrisburg was not only a parts plant but they also built cars there as well. It was one of two Ford assembly plants in the state of Texas at the time. I am not sure when it closed down, either in the thirties or forties. I have the same picture in my archives as in the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) Acamarillo, Jack Roach never took over Raymond Pearson, I think you are confusing the Jack Roach store at Buffalo Speedway and Bissonnet. The two buildings looked a lot alike. When I first saw the picture I thought it was the Jack Roach store too.The Pearson dealership was located at Leeland and Austin streets near downtown. I am adding a picture of the back side of the Pearson dealership. Pease street is directly behind the building and Austin street to the side of it. Another picture of the front taken from Austin and Leeland. A third picture as it looks today from Austin and Leeland. One more of the dealership as it looked in 1957. Edited January 27, 2014 by Michelle C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acamarillo Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Thanks. I guess the car was bought from Pearson then because I went with her to pick it up, and it was from that downtown dealership. Must have gotten the names confused. Oh well. It was a long time ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 That dealership was there well into the 80s, if not the 90s, albeit under a different name I think (Osborne Apple?). And what IS it with the front bumpers on those '57 Fairlanes that makes it look like they come pre-knocked into something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I was raised in the fifties in Houston and remember a lot of the old Ford dealerships. My dad worked for Ford Motor Company and called on all of them and others around the state of Texas. I was always fascinated with Jack Roach because they was probably the oldest one in the city of Houston. I am not sure where the original dealership was located. The earliest one I can remember was on Broadway street. I know that they later moved down the street to another location still located on Broadway. Later they moved to a new location on the corner of Bissonnet and Buffalo Speedway about 1953 give or take a year. I also know at one time they had a location on Westheimer and Yoakum on the east end of the Tower Theatre complex. If any one has pictures of any of the dealerships, please post them. Earl McMillian was another old Ford dealership that was located down town on the corner of Louisiana and Rusk, they later moved out to Katy Road and eventually changed the name to Don McMillian. Others I remember are Raymond Pearson, Tommy Vaughn, and Ivy Russell. Earl McMillian's downtown store, the cars shown are on Louisiana street. The other is Jack Roach Ford on the corner of Westheimer and Yoakum next to the Tower theatre. Great pictures. Do you know what block on Louisiana that was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 If anyone has a picture of the Jack Roach dealership on the corner of Buffalo Speedway and Bissonnet please post it. I have looked hard and fast on the internet for one and can't seen to find any. This is the location as it looks today with a Walgreens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 27, 2014 Author Share Posted January 27, 2014 Great pictures. Do you know what block on Louisiana that was? Yes, it was on the south west corner of Louisiana and Rusk. This picture taken from atop of a near by building and you can see the dealership. That will be Louisiana running in front of the Orleans hotel and Rusk running beside the dealership. You can see the downtown Houston public library in the back ground. The picture was made Aug. 29 1950 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Another Ford dealer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEM Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Osborne-Apple:Pasadena..........????? Edited January 28, 2014 by GEM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Another Ford dealer I have that very same picture. Do you know the location? That is the old Weingartens store at Yale and Eleventh St. in the Heights. The location later became a Top Value stamps redemption center. I have no clue what it became after the redemption center moved out. According to Google maps it is now a Lola eatery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Osborne-Apple:Pasadena..........????? Yes, another old Ford dealership, I had forgotten about it. Osborne Apple later became A. C. Collins Ford. They have since moved from the old location to Beltway 8. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 The Earl McMillian store at 7115 old Katy Road. Earl McMillian at 8920 Jensen Dr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Yeah, that one had a pretty nice redo: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=1102+yale+st&hl=en&ll=29.790712,-95.399008&spn=0.00797,0.013937&sll=29.791110,-95.398613&layer=c&cbp=13,45.2,,0,-3.76&cbll=29.79067,-95.398856&hnear=1102+Yale+St,+Houston,+Texas+77008&t=h&z=17&panoid=QzppOGd3SFLXNtMBaIiavQ I have some pre-renovation pictures of when the newer (Eckerd's era) facade was removed and the stamps signs are showing. I have that very same picture. Do you know the location? That is the old Weingartens store at Yale and Eleventh St. in the Heights. The location later became a Top Value stamps redemption center. I have no clue what it became after the redemption center moved out. According to Google maps it is now a Lola eatery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Yeah, that one had a pretty nice redo: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=1102+yale+st&hl=en&ll=29.790712,-95.399008&spn=0.00797,0.013937&sll=29.791110,-95.398613&layer=c&cbp=13,45.2,,0,-3.76&cbll=29.79067,-95.398856&hnear=1102+Yale+St,+Houston,+Texas+77008&t=h&z=17&panoid=QzppOGd3SFLXNtMBaIiavQ I have some pre-renovation pictures of when the newer (Eckerd's era) facade was removed and the stamps signs are showing. Please do post the picture of the pre renovation period you have. Having been raised in Houston I love Houston history of the fifties, sixties and seventies. Here is another photo of Ivy Russell Ford at 2120 Main. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I have that very same picture. Do you know the location? That is the old Weingartens store at Yale and Eleventh St. in the Heights. The location later became a Top Value stamps redemption center. I have no clue what it became after the redemption center moved out. According to Google maps it is now a Lola eatery. Lola and more; there are 3 or 4 businesses in that building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucesw Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Please do post the picture of the pre renovation period you have. Having been raised in Houston I love Houston history of the fifties, sixties and seventies. Here is another photo of Ivy Russell Ford at 2120 Main. The picture helps; I was trying to remember that one. Reminds me of Curry Ford on 2nd Street in Freeport. Other Ford dealerships in Brazosport included Angleton Motors on what is now 288B, close to the County Courthouse complex. I think that building is still there, converted to county offices; I'm going down that way this weekend and will check. The Ford dealer in West Columbia was Clyde V. Lee Motors, which I can't place but was probably on TX 35. Here's the photos in the Bob Bailey Collection at UT labeled Ford. Many of cars, a few of dealers including several of Raymond Pearson and one I'd never heard of, Alsbury-Burke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, I found the pictures (from February 2008) and they actually have remnants of the Ivy Russell name, not the stamps. There was a "big bonus stamps" sign sitting in a window though. I'll have them up soon - Subdude, can I use your Ivy Russell image? I'll credit how you wish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Yes, it was on the south west corner of Louisiana and Rusk. whoa.. this picture. when we see downtown now, we see the huge (to us) buildings, and the empty parking lots. even the distance shots of downtown in the late 50's start to look like the modern downtown we know today, but this picture, with all the older buldings, the water tower, and the TREES in downtown....... wow! epic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, I found the pictures (from February 2008) and they actually have remnants of the Ivy Russell name, not the stamps. There was a "big bonus stamps" sign sitting in a window though. I'll have them up soon - Subdude, can I use your Ivy Russell image? I'll credit how you wish Sure thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, I found the pictures (from February 2008) and they actually have remnants of the Ivy Russell name, not the stamps. There was a "big bonus stamps" sign sitting in a window though. I'll have them up soon - Subdude, can I use your Ivy Russell image? I'll credit how you wish I scrolled through hundreds of pictures but was unable to find it. I did however find many other things of interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 @ Tumbleweed -Those trees are largely still there - at least those in the foreground, which are in front of the library and City Hall. The Ford dealership block is now taken up by the Public Works building (HL & P once upon a time). The Orleans Hotel is where Pennzoil is now (if I'm oriented correctly). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) Lola and more; there are 3 or 4 businesses in that building. I drove by the Ivy Russell building at Yale/11th today; besides Lola, there's a vitamin place and a fitness place, and room for more. Edited January 29, 2014 by brhaltx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Somebody asked about the Tommy Vaughn sign; it may have been in another thread. It's still there, but I don't think I've ever seen it rotate. I'm not sure if they even light it. I'm not in that area after dark very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Somebody asked about the Tommy Vaughn sign; it may have been in another thread. It's still there, but I don't think I've ever seen it rotate. I'm not sure if they even light it. I'm not in that area after dark very often.The sign no longer rotates, that change was made when it was renovated a few years back. I haven't noticed if it is lighted or not, I'll try to remember to look the next day or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purpledevil Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 It was me, sorry to hear the old sign doesn't rotate anymore at Tommie Vaughn. As I remember it, and its been years, the FORD on the back of the sign glows red, the Tommie Vaughn name on the front side glows blue. I suspect it's not lit either, since it is no longer rotating. What about Lone Star on the North Freeway @ West Gulf Bank? I'd love to see what it looked like originally. That, and Mort Hall Ford/Mike Hall Dodge on the Eastex @ Jensen/Saunders. The Hall dealerships were, I believe, where Home Depot sits now. They've been gone probably 20 years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9075 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I know I have seen the Tommie Vaughn sign lit fairly recently, though I never paid enough attention to it to know if it is lit regularly. The "Tommie Vaughn" side is blue neon, but I think the "Ford" side is white neon. Never seen the sign rotate, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 What about Lone Star on the North Freeway @ West Gulf Bank? I'd love to see what it looked like originally. That, and Mort Hall Ford/Mike Hall Dodge on the Eastex @ Jensen/Saunders. The Hall dealerships were, I believe, where Home Depot sits now. They've been gone probably 20 years now. Lone Star Ford is long gone (as are all of the Lone Star dealerships, I think). I'll have to pay attention the next time I'm driving by doing 70; is the building gone now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEM Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) Ford Dealership in La Porte Tx.???? Edited January 31, 2014 by GEM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 I found this shot of downtown in my archives from 1950 it is not Ford related buy was taken that same time as the one of Earl McMillian Ford's old downtown location. It sat directly behind the Earl McMillian dealership. It is the Ineeda laundry, it sat on Smith Street and bordered by Rusk and Walker streets on either side. You can see old Jeff Davis hospital in the background as well as the Houston Coliseum. I can't remember for sure where all the smoke was coming from. In the back of my mind I am thinking it was possibly Ed Sacs paper company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brhaltx Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Lone Star Ford is long gone (as are all of the Lone Star dealerships, I think). I'll have to pay attention the next time I'm driving by doing 70; is the building gone now? Hmmm, I thought the Lone Star dealerships had all closed (due to bankruptcy), and I'm pretty sure the Lone Star Ford location is/was empty for a couple of years. But, I heard a commercial for Lone Start Ford, just south of Beltway 8 (on I-45) this afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 Thanks Subdude for the info. Here is another old one from Houston. Turbiville Lincoln Mercury. They were located at 3535 Main and the building is still being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I know I have seen the Tommie Vaughn sign lit fairly recently, though I never paid enough attention to it to know if it is lit regularly. The "Tommie Vaughn" side is blue neon, but I think the "Ford" side is white neon. Never seen the sign rotate, though... When I drove past it tonight, the Tommie on the South side of the sign was lit, in yellow, and the Ford on the North was lit in blue/white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purpledevil Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Hmmm, I thought the Lone Star dealerships had all closed (due to bankruptcy), and I'm pretty sure the Lone Star Ford location is/was empty for a couple of years. But, I heard a commercial for Lone Start Ford, just south of Beltway 8 (on I-45) this afternoon.Yeah, Lone Star is alive and well on the North Freeway. Landmark Chevrolet might be what you're thinking of. That one is the ransacked lot right up 45 @ Mt. Houston. Lone Star's been up there awhile, since the 70's that I know of, and probably several years prior to that. It and Mac Haik's Greenspoint Dodge are the only two big dealers left inside the Belt on 45. Mac Haik is the old Lester Goodson Pontiac, hence Goodson St. running directly next to it. I know there's got to be some old Lone Star pictures tucked away in this city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 I found a couple of pictures of Davis Motor Company. Their used lot at Fannin and Bell. one of their service trucks parked on the north side of Westheimer between Mandell and Kueter with a mess of fish tied to the side of the truck. Someone had found a pretty good fishing hole. The building behind the truck is still standing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rpearson Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 My husband is a great grandson of Raymond Pearson. We would love to see any pictures that you may have of his car dealership. Thank you, Rachelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Jack Roach Ford moved to a new building on the SW Freeway sometime during the late 60's, possibly early 1970. I remember being fascinated by rooftop parking lot, with a drive ramp on the back side. The building is still there, now being occupied by Noel furniture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Tbird Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 On 6/24/2018 at 10:58 PM, Rpearson said: My husband is a great grandson of Raymond Pearson. We would love to see any pictures that you may have of his car dealership. Thank you, Rachelle Found a couple dealer buildings and a sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted December 26, 2018 Author Share Posted December 26, 2018 On 6/24/2018 at 10:58 PM, Rpearson said: My husband is a great grandson of Raymond Pearson. We would love to see any pictures that you may have of his car dealership. Thank you, Rachelle I graduated from High school in 1963, I went to school with a Ray Pearson, that was the son of Raymond Pearson, I think he went to work for one of the dealerships because my husband bought a Mercury Cougar from him about 68 or 69. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_S Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 This is a photo of the Ivy Russell dealership Yale @ 11th street, this photo was taken in 1957 or early 1958 showcasing 1958 year model Fords. Ok with this said I want to ask if anyone has any photos that shows this dealership a bit better? I am working on planning a 1/25 scale model of this dealership and I will be taking some liberties with it for not knowing exactly what vehicles were on the lot at the time of mine was in '56. But I would like to know more about the layout of the parking lot. Such as where were the cars parked at? Were there only cars or were trucks sold as well? Things like that. Aside from that I am also attaching photos taken in during the renovation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle C Posted December 27, 2018 Author Share Posted December 27, 2018 Rusty, I have that same photo. Its the only one I have ever seen of that particular store. There was no automotive repair work done there, it was only sales. The main store was downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_S Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 (edited) 17 hours ago, Michelle C said: Rusty, I have that same photo. Its the only one I have ever seen of that particular store. There was no automotive repair work done there, it was only sales. The main store was downtown. Really? There was no service department for the location? I wonder what was in the back then where there were no glass walls at then. I figure the wall you can see to the right side that is aligned with the glass blocks above the awning I figured that might be sales offices but there is quite a bit of space on the left side past the blocks that couldn't be sales offices too could it? I wouldn't know I contacted the Harris County archives to see if there were plans for the building as there had to have been plans drawn up for the remodeling after Henke and Pillot left cause the building was just a square block while they resided here and then when Ivy Russell took over it was this art deco style. Sadly all Harris County archives could find was a land value ticket for 1969. The woman that looked into it for me said the complete file unfortunally has become lost. Really sucks for me because I don't know how the building was laid out internally let alone externally. For me for my project if there was no service center at this location it was just sales well then that really hinders my project because plans I had made for the second half of the project would be pointless as it revolved around a service center. Edited December 28, 2018 by Rusty_S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hall Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 I'd love to see any of the old Mort Hall Ford (my Dad) pics, we don't have any good ones. Here's an old ad from his first dealership in Waxahachie before we moved to Houston to take over the Jensen Drive store in 1967. John Hall jhall@jetav.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeuce Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 Didn't ED Smith take over the Pearson location downtown? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeuce Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 On 1/28/2014 at 8:35 AM, GEM said: Osborne-Apple:Pasadena..........????? I went there many of times. Test drove a lime green 68 Mustang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruff Draught Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Regarding Osborne Apple on Richey Street in Pasadena, thinking the Hickman-Garrett Ford dealership on Clinton Drive in Galena Park became Garrett-Arthur Ford in late 1950's, and moved to a different building farther west down Clinton Drive and across the street, and eventually moved to South Richey Street, Pasadena, the name changed again, probably Osborne-Apple, maybe Mosehart-Keller in between? I think Harry Arthur Jr graduated from Galena Park High School in 1962. There was a little old lady on Houston Street in Pasadena who told me she worked for this dealership in Galena Park for many, many years. She may be gone now, but I may go by her old house and see if she might still be around and have some memories to share. I bought a '73 Ford Courier from this place, in 1973, then A.C. Collins Ford, on South Richey Street. Years later moved to the East Beltway, and are now Mac Haik Ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.