Ice Cold Watermelon Stand

[isuredid 26]

a

Edited October 10, 2006 by isuredid

[Heights2Bastrop 8]

There used to be a watermelon stand on Shepherd around 26th or 27th. I'm not sure, but the old tin building may still be there. If not, it hasn't been gone long. There was a fruit stand just across the street from it, also a tin building, but it has been gone for quite some time.

Back in the 50s, they used to plug the watermelon before you bought it so you could see what you were buying. The guy would jab his knife down three times and out would come this long, this wedge about 2

[Pumapayam 133]

The best one is the one out of town on the way to College Station off Highway 6.

I don't remember the one you are talking about, I used to work off of Polk 3 years ago.

[Parrothead 23]

I read the title of this thread and just imagined cold slices of watermelon laying on shaved blocks of ice ready to be picked up (with a salt shaker nearby). Heavenly! Thanks for the much-needed mental break.

[GovernorAggie 20]

The best one is the one out of town on the way to College Station off Highway 6.

I don't remember the one you are talking about, I used to work off of Polk 3 years ago.

Are you talking about DiLorio's? If so, I went there last year and they had a watermelon the size of a 4-year old kid for 7 dollars!

[NenaE 141]

I remember the watermelon stand at Evergreen and Lawndale, where the washateria/video store is. It was close to the "Key" gas station,(north) and that ceramic shop (2-story 1960's bldg., balcony -walkway,white rails & turquoise color), (west). That corner has some very old bldgs. beside/behind it. Across, diagonally from where the stand was, there once sat a 2-story Victorian house. Believe there is an auto parts store there now. That is a complicated intersection, 5 roads & a set of train tracks cross.

[airmech1112 0]

Are you talking about DiLorio's? If so, I went there last year and they had a watermelon the size of a 4-year old kid for 7 dollars!

I remember the watermelon stand, when I played baseball at dixie little league on Lawndale if we won a game our manager would take the entire team there to celebrate.

[Vertigo58 28]

I remember the watermelon stand at Evergreen and Lawndale, where the washateria/video store is. It was close to the "Key" gas station,(north) and that ceramic shop (2-story 1960's bldg., balcony -walkway,white rails & turquoise color), (west). That corner has some very old bldgs. beside/behind it. Across, diagonally from where the stand was, there once sat a 2-story Victorian house. Believe there is an auto parts store there now. That is a complicated intersection, 5 roads & a set of train tracks cross.

Nena, you must remember the Tampke Lumber Company???

It was on the same side of the gas station you described. I vaguely remember but it was there for a very loooong time. Finally either got demolished or was condemned, whatever. Whomever recalls this business please tap in. We knew a relative by that name, it was the owners sister that lived way over in Utopia, Tx. I bet the people at nearby Martini's Hardware may have known them?

Real East End trivia folks!

[NenaE 141]

Nena, you must remember the Tampke Lumber Company???

It was on the same side of the gas station you described. I vaguely remember but it was there for a very loooong time. Finally either got demolished or was condemned, whatever. Whomever recalls this business please tap in. We knew a relative by that name, it was the owners sister that lived way over in Utopia, Tx. I bet the people at nearby Martini's Hardware may have known them?

Real East End trivia folks!

I remember the lumber company that was on the west side of Evergreen (and Lawndale), the train tracks would have been directly north of it, the ceramic shop very close to it. But can't recall the lumber co. name. My g-mother lived very close to that intersection. I know Martini's Hardware.

[foxmulder 1]

I remember the lumber company that was on the west side of Evergreen (and Lawndale), the train tracks would have been directly north of it, the ceramic shop very close to it. But can't recall the lumber co. name. My g-mother lived very close to that intersection. I know Martini's Hardware.

Are y'all talking about where magnolia pawn used to be? The Bills Ice place lost the "cover" and you can see windows from ages ago. Nena(you aren't my mom are you? She lived in the area and her nick name is Nena!) Check this pic out!

Edited November 3, 2008 by foxmulder

[musicman 193]

Nena, you must remember the Tampke Lumber Company???

some of the structures from this are still there, although dilapidated.

[NenaE 141]

Are y'all talking about where magnolia pawn used to be? The Bills Ice place lost the "cover" and you can see windows from ages ago. Nena(you aren't my mom are you? She lived in the area and her nick name is Nena!) Check this pic out!

Looked on Google Earth, and it triggered my recollection of the little ice house that has been there forever...the lumber co. was right by it, (Myrtle St. is close by) ,do recall it turning into a pawn shop (front bldgs. only used), you can still see the other lumber yard coverings out back (from the maps). Bldgs. on Bowie street have always caught my eye, look very old.

Haha...NenaE is my great-grandmothers name...On one of my first posts on HAIF I talked about several locations in this area where old Victorian houses stood, one was where that auto parts store is, across Evergreen & Lawndale, NW corner of intersection.

Where is that picture of the bank sign from? Haven't been by there lately. That's not the Harrisburg Bank sign, (or whatever it's name is now), is it? I love that bank's design, full glass panels, full length curtains.

I'll have to do a drive by soon.

Musicman, is this the location of the Tampke Lumber Co.?

Edited November 4, 2008 by NenaE

[musicman 193]

your description is accurate with respect to the pawn shop, lumber yard and ice house. you unknowingly saw danax's house there as well.

i'm not sure where the bank sign is to be honest. unless it is north of the rr tracks? there's a furniture resale place in a strip center. i'm off of evergreen myself but closer to the freeway and i just can't picture that bank sign.

[foxmulder 1]

Yes, it's the harrisburg bank! Back when it said "BANK" before frost took over. The storm uncovered it!

[musicman 193]

Yes, it's the harrisburg bank! Back when it said "BANK" before frost took over. The storm uncovered it!

ah ok. i kept thinking evergreen and lawndale is where the pic was taken. just took a drive there cause i KNOW i didn't remember a bank sign.

[Vertigo58 28]

Maybe we are headed in to a East End lost and found relative here? If anyone happens to one day hear of or speak to anyone of the living relatives of the Tampke clan? people that owned or ran the Tampke Lumber Company they should know that we (or I & family) knew their sister that lived on her farm in Utopia, Tx. To set the time and date last we saw her in person was around 1981 when our family used to visit the ranch. My dad somehow knew her from close to 40 yrs ago. Not sure where to start but he knew Mrs Tampke cause she would lease out the land for hunting so dad would go w/pals. She was already very old but extremely kind. A very simple old fashioned little lady that would let us visit and stay in one of several of her farm homes, bascially camp out, swim etc. She mentioned on ocassion she had a brother that owned that lumber place. I do have 1981 pics of her and of her ranch. I recall her house even had one of those phones that you crank to speak into! She has obviously passed away long ago from what we heard but I often wonder what became of the ranch. Then as yrs passed I noticed the lumber place seemed abandoned & forgotten. Can you imagine the fantastic stories those folks could tell especially since he served the East End for all those decades! More than likely the business materials were used to build most homes nearby! Another mystery about to be solved?

One day I sure would love to create a topic just on Utopia, Tx complete w/pics I took in 81, it has barns, her windmills, cows, very typical Texas but in a neat way. She was a real sweetheart, we almost saw her as a distant grandma.

Oh yes, her name was Nettie Tamke! Just don't hear names like that any more.

Edited November 4, 2008 by Vertigo58

[HedwigTramp 0]

I remember the area well... The Watermelon stand with the sawdust floor.

The Lumber yard, but I don't recognize the name "Tampke". I asked my 95 year old dad who has lived in Pecan Park since the 30's if he could remember the name...but no luck.

I actually worked at the E&H Ceramic shop from about 1968 to 1973 (started as a 7th grade student at Deady). Two single ladies owned/ran the shop (mother and daughter). The daughter had a son that was wild as a lion. I think he turned it into a Classic Mustang restoration shop a few years later.

I actually lived in one of the apartments above the warehouse at the corner of Bowie and Evergreen for a couple of years. There was the ice house across Evergreen that would sell a 16 year old booze. And there was "Doc".. the doctor who had an office (in a house) on the east side of Evergreen next to my apartment. "Doc" stayed plastered during office hours and would stumble across Evergreen to the Ice house a couple of times a day. He actually performed my Physical when I started the U of H. I vividly remember that his office had cat food in the fridge with the medicines.

The shady bars on Bowie were a Real trip on the weekends. I never visited them, but gunshots outside my apartment were routine.

Yep.. I have a lot of memories (some pretty blurry) of that area.

[musicman 193]

i think the ceramic shop is there in some fashion...at least the molds in the building you mentioned and a newer one across evergreen. the car restoration place is back of the warehouse you lived in. the brick on the east side appears to have collapsed and other damage was sustained during ike.

the ice house on evergreen is still there but i'm not sure the bars on bowie are. i know there's a mexican restaurant and one of those gambling places. if i'll remember i'll do a drive by later.

[Vertigo58 28]

The shady bars on Bowie were a Real trip on the weekends. I never visited them, but gunshots outside my apartment were routine.

Yep.. I have a lot of memories (some pretty blurry) of that area.

Isn't there a field near those sleazy bars and of all things a church? That church has always seemed very mysterious. I am certain it is still open but not sure what denomination or even more interesting year built and pics.

More trivia: One of those bars was called the Popcorn Lounge around 1979.

[Fez1964 1]

Isn't there a field near those sleazy bars and of all things a church? That church has always seemed very mysterious. I am certain it is still open but not sure what denomination or even more interesting year built and pics.

More trivia: One of those bars was called the Popcorn Lounge around 1979.

I believe the church you are referring to is called Broadway Baptist. The church has had an impact in the community for decades. They had a school there and I am not too sure if it is still open.

[Vertigo58 28]

I believe the church you are referring to is called Broadway Baptist. The church has had an impact in the community for decades. They had a school there and I am not too sure if it is still open.

Here's a tad more of trivia for those that may remember that intersection. There was or still the Auto Parts on that corner, my little bro worked there around 1987 and I think it eventually closed. To the left of it between Martini's Hardware was a Wholesale Beer sales place. We knew the owners whose name was Boggs, the son we knew was Robert Boggs. Sold the cheapest kegs of brew around and were doing quite well for yrs. One day it seemed to just be vacant as if they sold and split the area. A keg of Lone Star was about $25.00! This was around 1981-82.

Directly across from Martini's H was a bar, a most unusual bar. We snuck in as teens late 70's and it was still 1961 inside, decor, people, heavy smoke, jukebox. Like a scene out of an early 60's spy film, quite cool. Scorcese could have filmed Good Fellas in there and it would have been perfect. As yrs passed the old timers passed away and it is now of all things a bakery. The outside still retains that mod 60's neatto style though. Can't recall what the name of the bar was, must have been pretty hep for its time. Maybe Houston's local mob (Goombah) used to hang out there? Ja!

[NenaE 141]

The newer ceramic shop had very mod details, turquoise accent colors, mod railings, don't know why I never stopped in for a visit. HedwigTramp, you are right, the older building was a ceramic storage facility. I remember the classic Mustangs in a smaller workshop, close to the ceramic shop. My father taught me to appreciate classics, he had a '65 GTO convertible once. That shop was there for many years. There is a 2-story house sitting on a large lot across from that church, (SE from the front doors), has a basement in it, was told that it had water in it, few years back. Lawndale has some old bldgs, very similar to the ones on Bowie. They are (were?) South of where the Leonard's Dept. store was, down from Martini's. Speaking of bars, anyone remember the Wahoo Bar, in front of TG&Y's? Was "cedar red", like those picnic tables that were so popular at one time. Where Kellogg crosses Lawndale, (North side), there used to be a train depot (1800's-early 1900's)...there is a the legend of the Twin Sisters cannon being buried there, next to the bayou. There is also a very old cemetary at the other end of Bowie st. I know this is trailing a bit, but Vertigo that old white Spanish style house we talk about at Park Place & Old Galveston has been torn down...another house close to it's location is for sale, dates to 1900 (if you can believe HAR info.).

[Vertigo58 28]

The newer ceramic shop had very mod details, turquoise accent colors, mod railings, don't know why I never stopped in for a visit. HedwigTramp, you are right, the older building was a ceramic storage facility. I remember the classic Mustangs in a smaller workshop, close to the ceramic shop. My father taught me to appreciate classics, he had a '65 GTO convertible once. That shop was there for many years. There is a 2-story house sitting on a large lot across from that church, (SE from the front doors), has a basement in it, was told that it had water in it, few years back. Lawndale has some old bldgs, very similar to the ones on Bowie. They are (were?) South of where the Leonard's Dept. store was, down from Martini's. Speaking of bars, anyone remember the Wahoo Bar, in front of TG&Y's? Was "cedar red", like those picnic tables that were so popular at one time. Where Kellogg crosses Lawndale, (North side), there used to be a train depot (1800's-early 1900's)...there is a the legend of the Twin Sisters cannon being buried there, next to the bayou. There is also a very old cemetary at the other end of Bowie st. I know this is trailing a bit, but Vertigo that old white Spanish style house we talk about at Park Place & Old Galveston has been torn down...another house close to it's location is for sale, dates to 1900 (if you can believe HAR info.).

Nena, I think you just created a new mystery. You mean that one level 40's style building was another Leonard's Dept Store??? So you mean East End had two of them? We all know there one at Telephone/Dumble but you mean was another one?

PS, I do remember always seeing the name Wahoo Bar too. We used to go to that TG & Y around 1968-74. That beauty parlor that is still on that adjacent strip center after all these yrs but I am certain its exchanged hands over he yrs. Back in 1969 when my big sis was visiting from Canada (Eastern Airlines stewardess) she had her hair done there (seemed like a wholeday) still remember coming back to pick her up w/mom. I recall her hair seemed a mile high, a bouffant was much in vogue.

This is funny, we have strayed from the watermelon stand again, ja!

By the way, I am almost sure that was a Kentucky Fried Chicken across where that Wahoo was at. had a big bucket spinning around with the Colonel's face.

[NenaE 141]

Nena, I think you just created a new mystery. You mean that one level 40's style building was another Leonard's Dept Store??? So you mean East End had two of them? We all know there one at Telephone/Dumble but you mean was another one?

PS, I do remember always seeing the name Wahoo Bar too. We used to go to that TG & Y around 1968-74. That beauty parlor that is still on that adjacent strip center after all these yrs but I am certain its exchanged hands over he yrs. Back in 1969 when my big sis was visiting from Canada (Eastern Airlines stewardess) she had her hair done there (seemed like a wholeday) still remember coming back to pick her up w/mom. I recall her hair seemed a mile high, a bouffant was much in vogue.

This is funny, we have strayed from the watermelon stand again, ja!

By the way, I am almost sure that was a Kentucky Fried Chicken across where that Wahoo was at. had a big bucket spinning around with the Colonel's face.

Yeah, I'm sure of it, my grandmother shopped there, at Leonards...the older bldgs. were across the st. (south), right next to the Winchells donuts. The watermelon stand also sold Christmas trees in the winter.

[Vertigo58 28]

Yeah, I'm sure of it, my grandmother shopped there, at Leonards...the older bldgs. were across the st. (south), right next to the Winchells donuts. The watermelon stand also sold Christmas trees in the winter.

Guess we have to solve the mysteries ourselves. This could very well be the same Leonard's Stores that originated in Ft Worth. There was a old advertisment in Google that mentioned all location in Houston so it must be the same people. Seems they later revolved into Dillard's! What!

Leonard's The Best For Less!

http://members.fortunecity.com/tokenguy/to...ales/page30.htm

[gnu 68]

1957 Houston locations of Leonard's Department Stores (courtesy Ma Bell):

1) 9119 Humble Rd

2) 3016 Little York

3) 2820 Fulton

4) 809 Congress

5) 8111 La Porte Rd

6) 13415 North Shore Rd

7) 7103 Lawndale

8) 8525 E. Houston Rd

9) 802 Telephone Rd

1975 Houston locations (courtesy City Directory)

2) 3016 Little York

3) 2918 Fulton

5) 4530 Holmes Rd

6) 13415 East Freeway

7) 7103 Lawndale

8) 8525 E. Houston

9) 802 Telephone

not numbered

3143 Southmore

129 Little York

1238 Uvalde

(edit: added 1975 locations)

Edited November 5, 2008 by gnu

[musicman 193]

Guess we have to solve the mysteries ourselves. This could very well be the same Leonard's Stores that originated in Ft Worth. There was a old advertisment in Google that mentioned all location in Houston so it must be the same people. Seems they later revolved into Dillard's! What!

i believe leonard's was owned by one of the weiner's sons who went out on his own. my mom worked there in the 50's and ended up working for leon weiner at weiner's in the 60's at their main office which eventually moved to westview. the leonard's store was at 75th and lawndale on the corner where the old theater is. when leon's son andy took over in the late 90's, he expanded too much and the stores ended up closing

Edited November 5, 2008 by musicman

[Vertigo58 28]

9) 802 Telephone Rd

Never realized nor knew that they were so many spread out in Houston! We lived near this local and from what I remember it was just a common dept store that seemed very quiet most of the time at least around 1969-73? Then finally closed down.

We used to go wondering inside for thrills when walking back from Jack N the Crack across the street at Dumble. There only were a handful of customers and mostly older women and a select few sales clerks. The selcetion of clothes seemed very square to us, I mean it was the 70's long hair, bell bottoms, etc & these items were just ...

This whole section of lower Telephone seemed like a little village then, real nice. Its a miracle the building is still extant. It has now become very dated and been remuddled in every horrible way possible. Tear her down and build anew. I know dream on...now bakc to watermelons!

Edited November 5, 2008 by Vertigo58

[IronTiger 913]

Dillard's didn't absorb them like Macy's absorbed Foley's...Leonard's went OOB then Dillard's bought the empty locations.

[NenaE 141]

Here's what I learned yesterday...from the Sanborn maps (1939, later unlisted date) & HCAD data.

Tampke Lumber Co. - 7514 Lawndale (between Kellogg & Parsons), NE of Broadway Baptist Church

Blalock-McCall Lumber Co. - 1009? Evergreen (near intersection of Evergreen, Griggs, Lawndale) across (west of) the watermelon stand.

Key Oil Co. - 7201 Lawndale. Service Station (built 1953).

Martini Hardware Store - 7145 Lawndale (built 1935).

Music School (unknown name) - 7160 Lawndale (around where that bakery/previous lounge was, x from Martinis)

Restaurant (unknown name) - 7148 Lawndale (x from Leonards)

Aryway Apartments - to the right of Leonards.

Arrowhead Apartments - off Redwood & Lawndale. (note: the Wahoo bar was in the 'hood, coincidence?) (not listed, but maps showed a bldg. with a barbeque pit behind it, think it was the Wahoo). side trivia note: in the 1960's kids played a marble board game with American Indians painted on it, called Wahoo).

Lawndale Plaza St. found at apartments near the shopping center containing Weingartens at 75th & Lawndale.

Ceramic Shop storage bldg. on Bowie (off Lawndale) - Built 1949, referred to as "Retail Multi-Occupancy". Also lists residential bldg. on same property, blt. 1940. There was also a cleaners business x the street, on Evergreen, I vaguely remember it, had those slanted, painted vertical poles.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. on Harrisburg Blvd. was built in 1946-47. on same property, at 6842 Harrisburg, had a Filling Station at 69th & Harrisburg, as well as a Tire & Service Station. I'm assuming it was part of Sears, same property, blt. 1946-47.

Gulf Brewing Co. located on Polk Ave. (west of Gus Wortham golf course-NW corner)

Hughes Tool Co. - Located between Polk Ave. & N. Capitol Ave. (northwest of golf course, direct north & east of the brewery), NW of where that Fiesta now is located.

Edited November 18, 2008 by NenaE

[Vertigo58 28]

Here's what I learned yesterday...from the Sanborn maps (1939, later unlisted date) & HCAD data.

Tampke Lumber Co. - 7514 Lawndale (between Kellogg & Parsons), NE of Broadway Baptist Church

Blalock-McCall Lumber Co. - 1009? Evergreen (near intersection of Evergreen, Griggs, Lawndale) across (west of) the watermelon stand.

Key Oil Co. - 7201 Lawndale. Service Station (built 1953).

Martini Hardware Store - 7145 Lawndale (built 1935).

Music School (unknown name) - 7160 Lawndale (around where that bakery/previous lounge was, x from Martinis)

Restaurant (unknown name) - 7148 Lawndale (x from Leonards)

Aryway Apartments - to the right of Leonards.

Arrowhead Apartments - off Redwood & Lawndale. (note: the Wahoo bar was in the 'hood, coincidence?) (not listed, but maps showed a bldg. with a barbeque pit behind it, think it was the Wahoo). side trivia note: in the 1960's kids played a marble board game with American Indians painted on it, called Wahoo).

Weingartens was located in the Lawndale Plaza.

Ceramic Shop storage bldg. on Bowie (off Lawndale) - Built 1949, referred to as "Retail Multi-Occupancy". Also lists residential bldg. on same property, blt. 1940. There was also a cleaners business x the street, on Evergreen, I vaguely remember it, had those slanted, painted vertical poles.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. on Harrisburg Blvd. was built in 1946-47. on same property, at 6842 Harrisburg, had a Filling Station at 69th & Harrisburg, as well as a Tire & Service Station. I'm assuming it was part of Sears, same property, blt. 1946-47.

Gulf Brewing Co. located on Polk Ave. (west of Gus Wortham golf course)

Hughes Tool Co. - N. Capitol Ave. (west of golf course, north of the brewery), @ where that Fiesta is.

Wow! There's Tampke's and the Weingarten must have been where that dollar junk store is now and Hughes sounds like an error? Hughes Tool is on Polk not N Capitol? west of gold course was the Simms Estate? then the Fiesta was built later. So all seems correct except for the Hughes part unless there was a tiny branch off the main local on Polk? Just guessing. Great research Nena!

[NenaE 141]

Wow! There's Tampke's and the Weingarten must have been where that dollar junk store is now and Hughes sounds like an error? Hughes Tool is on Polk not N Capitol? west of gold course was the Simms Estate? then the Fiesta was built later. So all seems correct except for the Hughes part unless there was a tiny branch off the main local on Polk? Just guessing. Great research Nena!

Ran across a map of the Golf Course and exact location of the Club House, and Simms Estate directly across the street, to the West. About the Hughes Tool Co. address, will have to look that one up again, came from the maps, showed Capitol St. as being North, Polk St. being South., address/ entrance is probably Polk, didn't find it. Know the golf course runs as far north as the railroad tracks, where that underpass is, and directly west/NW of it is where those businesses would have stood, north of the Simms estate., right? The railroad tracks were utilized for these businesses, tracks fed into them. You are correct, Simms estate was also west of the golf course. I would like to do a drive by, to investigate more.

Before Safeway, before Fiesta?, before dollar store, Weingartens was in that shopping center, by TG&Y & Eckerds.

If something doesn't seem correct, let me know, as I don't like being wrong!

Edited November 18, 2008 by NenaE

[gnu 68]

I think the Weingarten's - Lawndale Plaza wasn't built until the early sixties.

Did it really show the Weingarten there on the Sanborn maps Nena? (latest Sanborn map is early 50's, right?)

Edited November 18, 2008 by gnu

[NenaE 141]

I think the Weingarten's - Lawndale Plaza wasn't built until the early sixties.

Did it really show the Weingarten there on the Sanborn maps Nena? (latest Sanborn map is early 50's, right?)

I remember seeing a store on that corner on one of the maps, can't seem to verify right now, it won't let me access the map I need. I may have assumed (uuu...guess I better not do that) that the shopping center name was the same as a road name I found close by, called Lawndale Plaza. Sorry guys, changed my notes to reflect it. And no, the Sanborn maps did not list Weingartens...I just know it from going there, years ago. Somewhere on HAIF there is a list of all the Weingartens stores, with addresses, as well. I can't find that either. There is a list of shopping centers under the Sanborns - 1955 catagory that includes Gulfgate with original stores. It does not mention Lawndale Plaza.

link: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/research/cat...y/HAT_page.html

Sanborns - 1950, 1951, vol. 6 & 9 for East End

Edited November 18, 2008 by NenaE

[NenaE 141]

Ran across a map of the Golf Course and exact location of the Club House, and Simms Estate directly across the street, to the West. About the Hughes Tool Co. address, will have to look that one up again, came from the maps, showed Capitol St. as being North, Polk St. being South., address/ entrance is probably Polk, didn't find it. Know the golf course runs as far north as the railroad tracks, where that underpass is, and directly west/NW of it is where those businesses would have stood, north of the Simms estate., right? The railroad tracks were utilized for these businesses, tracks fed into them. You are correct, Simms estate was also west of the golf course. I would like to do a drive by, to investigate more.

Before Safeway, before Fiesta?, before dollar store, Weingartens was in that shopping center, by TG&Y & Eckerds.

If something doesn't seem correct, let me know, as I don't like being wrong!

After further investigation, found Hughes Tool Co. had a Office & Shipping Bldg. facing Polk, the largest part of the facility was North of Polk & North of the Country Club Bayou, the many machinery shops backed onto Capitol. There was also property to the East of the office, where Hughes Rd. is found, and where rr tracks ran. The Gulf Brewery sat East of the Hughes Office and the Northern border of it's property was the CC bayou . I now realize the Hughes facility is further down Polk than I originally believed. The Hughes facility actually had parking lots backing up to Harrisburg, as well, from @ Texas Ave. Evergreen Cemetary is to the NW corner of the Hughes property. To the SE of all this, the Simms property in one map shows the location of all property bldgs. including the pond. The waterway that ran to the Northwest of the Simms property is listed as Yates Gully. Parker Memorial Methodist Church sat to the South of the estate site, on land that at one time, I believe was all owned by Simms.

Can't believe that I never heard my dad talk about any of this.

Edited November 18, 2008 by NenaE

[gnu 68]

I remember seeing a store on that corner on one of the maps, can't seem to verify right now, it won't let me access the map I need. I may have assumed (uuu...guess I better not do that) that the shopping center name was the same as a road name I found close by, called Lawndale Plaza. Sorry guys, changed my notes to reflect it. And no, the Sanborn maps did not list Weingartens...I just know it from going there, years ago. Somewhere on HAIF there is a list of all the Weingartens stores, with addresses, as well. I can't find that either. There is a list of shopping centers under the Sanborns - 1955 catagory that includes Gulfgate with original stores. It does not mention Lawndale Plaza.

Here is part of the page from Sanborn you probably saw..note the 1948 copyright.

There is definately a store there but it doesn't specify what and it isnt the same building that is there today (built in the early 60's) I have a 1958 phone book and it doesnt list a Weingarten's at that location but my 1975 phone book shows Weingartens No. 55 at 7061.

Guess someone is just gonna have to look at some City Directories to figure out what is at 7061 (or 7055) Lawndale in '48

[NenaE 141]

Here is part of the page from Sanborn you probably saw..note the 1948 copyright.

There is definately a store there but it doesn't specify what and it isnt the same building that is there today (built in the early 60's) I have a 1958 phone book and it doesnt list a Weingarten's at that location but my 1975 phone book shows Weingartens No. 55 at 7061.

Guess someone is just gonna have to look at some City Directories to figure out what is at 7061 (or 7055) Lawndale in '48

Yeah, that's the one I saw, I'm beginning to think those directories are worth their weight in gold. I don't have any. I was surprised that the map for the little Lawndale center wasn't listed in the shopping center maps (1955), looked like to me, (going by recollection) that the western part strip center that had a barber shop (at least) would have been built in the 1950's. Must have been after 1955, like the grocery store. There's the barbq pit, across the street, and the Lawndale Plaza street name. Thnx for posting this. I'm finding that the Sanborns are good for limited info, such as a street address.

Other references to Lawndale Plaza found: (the first has many interesting EE listings)

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v060/AE1997_Vol_60_0097.jpg

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v071/AE1997_71_0019.jpg

Edited November 19, 2008 by NenaE

[EastEnd Susan 8]

It was a big treat in the 60's to go to that watermelon stand. I can still smell the wood shavings and watermelon. We never got our christmas trees there though, we went off 45 and Woodridge, close to a high school.. St. Johns? There was a giant tree lot. It was always muddy. On the way home I would stare out the back window of the car, sure that our tree would fall out of the trunk as we crossed the railroad tracks heading home. Such wonderful memories.

[normone 0]

Yeah, that's the one I saw, I'm beginning to think those directories are worth their weight in gold. I don't have any. I was surprised that the map for the little Lawndale center wasn't listed in the shopping center maps (1955), looked like to me, (going by recollection) that the western part strip center that had a barber shop (at least) would have been built in the 1950's. Must have been after 1955, like the grocery store. There's the barbq pit, across the street, and the Lawndale Plaza street name. Thnx for posting this. I'm finding that the Sanborns are good for limited info, such as a street address.

Other references to Lawndale Plaza found: (the first has many interesting EE listings)

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v060/AE1997_Vol_60_0097.jpg

http://books.tax.hctx.net/v071/AE1997_71_0019.jpg

New to forum but just had to respond. I grew up in Mason Park, worked at Mr. Gaeke's watermelon stand when I was seventeen years old, shopped at the grocery store you are speaking of and can tell you it was Piggly Wiggly long before the shopping center was created. Across the street was Madding's Drug Store and a hamburger stand that I think was Chuck Wagon, but not sure. Next to that was a movie theater that even when I was a small child of the 50's, was an adult theater. Don't remember the name but El Ray sounds familiar but I think that was when it changed to a Spanish movie theater.

[NenaE 141]

New to forum but just had to respond. I grew up in Mason Park, worked at Mr. Gaeke's watermelon stand when I was seventeen years old, shopped at the grocery store you are speaking of and can tell you it was Piggly Wiggly long before the shopping center was created. Across the street was Madding's Drug Store and a hamburger stand that I think was Chuck Wagon, but not sure. Next to that was a movie theater that even when I was a small child of the 50's, was an adult theater. Don't remember the name but El Ray sounds familiar but I think that was when it changed to a Spanish movie theater.

Welcome Normone, always good to hear personal stories...where exactly was that drug store? I remember the hamburger stand, last I saw, it was a taco place. We've talked about that theater in other posts, check 'em out. Capri was one theater name, early on.

link: http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...showtopic=10341

Edited January 9, 2009 by NenaE

[airmech1112 0]

Welcome Normone, always good to hear personal stories...where exactly was that drug store? I remember the hamburger stand, last I saw, it was a taco place. We've talked about that theater in other posts, check 'em out. Capri was one theater name, early on.

link: http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...showtopic=10341

The name of the hamburger stand wasn't the Chuck Wagon but the Chuck Shack. My brother worked there for a while in the 70s. I remember one time he came home from work and told us this story, he went to get a customer's order and it turned out being Elvin Hayes. Mr Hayes ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich but my brother got so nervous that he forgot the cheese. He made him another sandwich and brought it out and started talking to him, it seems that Mr Hayes had been doing some kind of basketball youth camp at the Mason Park Gym and the Chuck Shack was the closest place to get some lunch. I don't remember the store across the street being anything but Weingartens even before it burned down in the mid to late 60s. When they rebuilt is when Ekerd's, Payless Shoes and TG&Y were put in on either side, with Ekerd's on the side closest to 75th st.

[NenaE 141]

The name of the hamburger stand wasn't the Chuck Wagon but the Chuck Shack. My brother worked there for a while in the 70s. I remember one time he came home from work and told us this story, he went to get a customer's order and it turned out being Elvin Hayes. Mr Hayes ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich but my brother got so nervous that he forgot the cheese. He made him another sandwich and brought it out and started talking to him, it seems that Mr Hayes had been doing some kind of basketball youth camp at the Mason Park Gym and the Chuck Shack was the closest place to get some lunch. I don't remember the store across the street being anything but Weingartens even before it burned down in the mid to late 60s. When they rebuilt is when Ekerd's, Payless Shoes and TG&Y were put in on either side, with Ekerd's on the side closest to 75th st.

Whoa, that's interesting, always good to hear your oral histories. I only knew it from the 1960's on. The Weingartens caught fire? Didn't know that. My dad was a lifeguard at Mason Park in the fifties, probably played little league there, as well. I'm sure he visited the "Chuck Shack" a time or two.

Edited February 6, 2009 by NenaE

[msteele6 33]

Whoa, that's interesting, always good to hear your oral histories. I only knew it from the 1960's on. The Weingartens caught fire? Didn't know that. My dad was a lifeguard at Mason Park in the fifties, probably played little league there, as well. I'm sure he visited the "Chuck Shack" a time or two.

Just a few reminiscences about the area around the old watermelon stand at the intersection of Evergreen, Griggs, and Lawndale.

First off, the Wahoo bar. When I was young it was a convenience store called the U Toot We Tote, the idea being that they would take your order and bring the groceries to your car, that didn't last long and it finally transformed into the Wahoo. The bar was owned by the brother (I think) of Bert Wheeler, who owned a liquor store right next door. Spent many evenings in the bar in the late '60's early '70's.

The bar further down (across from Martini's Hardware was called the Souvenir. It was owned and run by a man and his wife, the Palumbo's, I think they had some connection to the Longshoreman's union because there were always sailors in the bar (usually arriving and leaving by taxi).

The first grocery store I remember at the intersection of 75th and Lawndale was Piggly Wiggly's it morphed into a Weingartens and I believe a Fiesta.

There was a drug store at the same corner, started out as a Madings, then as Mading Dugan's and then maybe a Rexall.

The little shopping center was called the AvaLawn and I think that the theater was also originally called the AvaLawn.

Finally, two places that haven't been mentioned in the area were the Lawndale Cue club in the two story building near where the Barber College is now, and Haenel's Grocery, which was right across the street at the far end of the AvaLawn center from the old Mading's.

The bars on Bowie included the Bowie street Ice House (another locus of my mis-spent youth in the '80's). It's still there and I believe that there are poker machines there, although I haven't been there in 15 years.

Broadway Baptist Church (and school) were one house over from the Bowie Street Ice House. I went to school there in the '60's and walked home down the railroad tracks on Griggs often after getting my hair cut in the two story building at the corner of Evergreen and Bowie by the lady that ran a barber shop on the first floor of the building.

[LTAWACS 152]

Just a few reminiscences about the area around the old watermelon stand at the intersection of Evergreen, Griggs, and Lawndale.

First off, the Wahoo bar. When I was young it was a convenience store called the U Toot We Tote, the idea being that they would take your order and bring the groceries to your car, that didn't last long and it finally transformed into the Wahoo. The bar was owned by the brother (I think) of Bert Wheeler, who owned a liquor store right next door. Spent many evenings in the bar in the late '60's early '70's.

The bar further down (across from Martini's Hardware was called the Souvenir. It was owned and run by a man and his wife, the Palumbo's, I think they had some connection to the Longshoreman's union because there were always sailors in the bar (usually arriving and leaving by taxi).

The first grocery store I remember at the intersection of 75th and Lawndale was Piggly Wiggly's it morphed into a Weingartens and I believe a Fiesta.

There was a drug store at the same corner, started out as a Madings, then as Mading Dugan's and then maybe a Rexall.

The little shopping center was called the AvaLawn and I think that the theater was also originally called the AvaLawn.

Finally, two places that haven't been mentioned in the area were the Lawndale Cue club in the two story building near where the Barber College is now, and Haenel's Grocery, which was right across the street at the far end of the AvaLawn center from the old Mading's.

The bars on Bowie included the Bowie street Ice House (another locus of my mis-spent youth in the '80's). It's still there and I believe that there are poker machines there, although I haven't been there in 15 years.

Broadway Baptist Church (and school) were one house over from the Bowie Street Ice House. I went to school there in the '60's and walked home down the railroad tracks on Griggs often after getting my hair cut in the two story building at the corner of Evergreen and Bowie by the lady that ran a barber shop on the first floor of the building.

Wow.

I read your post and think about how much that part of town has changed. Thanks for your informative posts.

[NickWallingford 1]

I remember the watermelon stand at Evergreen and Lawndale, where the washateria/video store is. It was close to the "Key" gas station,(north) and that ceramic shop (2-story 1960's bldg., balcony -walkway,white rails & turquoise color), (west). That corner has some very old bldgs. beside/behind it. Across, diagonally from where the stand was, there once sat a 2-story Victorian house. Believe there is an auto parts store there now. That is a complicated intersection, 5 roads & a set of train tracks cross.

Yes, I remember that! I was (in another posting on this forum) trying to remember the location - we used to stop here with our Little League team after the games in the early 1960s...

[Wallingford 4]

The original Weingartens was built almost to the corner of Lawndale and 75th. Parking was in the rear. The new strip center

with Weingartens, Eckherts, TG&Y etc was built in the late 60's pushed back from Lawndale to allow the big parking area.

As I recall they didn't tear down the old Weingarten's building until the new one was almost complete behind it.

[NenaE 141]

The original Weingartens was built almost to the corner of Lawndale and 75th. Parking was in the rear. The new strip center

with Weingartens, Eckherts, TG&Y etc was built in the late 60's pushed back from Lawndale to allow the big parking area.

As I recall they didn't tear down the old Weingarten's building until the new one was almost complete behind it.

I recall a bldg. in the Sanborn maps sitting right near the corner. Wonder if that was the original Weingarten's you speak of. The maps don't list names of establishments. It was a smaller bldg. than the later Weingartens. Interesting. The post/ recollections of msteele6 are, as well.

The large, old Victorian house sat at the busy intersection, where the auto parts store is, north of the pawn shop.

[msteele6 33]

One other thought about the area around the old watermelon stand. One of my first memories of the area was going with my mother to the washateria that was located catercorner from the stand. This would have been in the mid '50's. Behind that washateria there was a nursery, quite possibly owned by the same folks that owned the washateria. This land, I believe, would have had to have been incorporated into the Pentecostal Bible College and dorms that were located there until the '80's (early '90's?) that spread from behind Martini's Hardware over to Evergreen.

I can still remember that way they stored those watermelons in a tank filled with ice and water and then sliced them and sold them to be eaten on the old wooden tables with a big dollop of salt.

[msteele6 33]

I just noticed a post that said that the Weingarten's burned down. To my knowledge, Weingarten's never burned. I believe the poster is confusing this with the fact that a part of the AvaLawn center did burn down. I remember this well, it would have had to have been in the late '60's, maybe 1968?. I don't think that the whole center burned down, just a portion in the middle, the Haenel's grocery store on the end wasn't affected I don't believe, and I think that this was before the Leonard's store was there, the store I remember burning for sure was a liquor store that was in the center. Some acquaintances of mine appropriated the beer from that burned out store and the first drink I ever took was from that purloined stash. I still remember setting in the Weingarten's parking lot and watching the fire from across 75th street. I believe it was around, if not on, the 4th of July.

At the time, I lived behind the Tropicana Bowling Lanes on Harwell.

[NenaE 141]

There was a city owned horse stables/ stalls located east of the bible college/ auto parts store. It would have been early on, 1940's maybe, or earlier. Seen in on maps. Don't recall it personally, though. Would have been close to The Key gas station, north side of train tracks.