Modernceo Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 1890's -1910's two story building near Main, used for haunted houses ?Theres a 2-3 story boarded up building in downtown, near Main on the south side of downtown, that has been vacant for a few years now. It was used every once in a while for a haunted house ,and it still has a very unique style, and feel to it, even though it is boarded up, decorated as a haunted house. It stands out like an eyesore because its the only building built before the 1950's other than a few churches in this part of town. Anyone familiar with the history of it, or even better, have some pictures of it when it was in better shape years ago, before becoming a haunted house ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torvald Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 i wondered that myself, do you have the address? then we could look it up in HCAD for some lead info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houston1973 Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 i wondered that myself, do you have the address? then we could look it up in HCAD for some lead info.is this the one by the HCC building? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 is this the one by the HCC building?Yes. It's on the northeast corner of Travis and Rosalie. There previously was a thread about this building, but it may have been on the old board. I'm trying to remember the name of the building...Windward? Something like that. I'll check again next time I'm in the neighborhood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucesw Posted December 1, 2006 Share Posted December 1, 2006 901 Rosalie, Windward Apts.(?), aka the Fear Factory.HCAD says 1935. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceAge Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 The 1966 and 1969 city directory show 901 Rosalie to be at the intersection of the 3100 block of Louisiana. In 1969, 901 had two residents/units (Anastasia Keloudes and Mary G. Richey) and 903 had four residents/units (George A. Barbosa, J F Means, Isavro Salazar, and Petros Kavouris). That is the only thing listed in the 900 block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isuredid Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 I agree that 901 Rosalie was an Apartment building from the mid 1930s. Here is a bit of Houston History. From 1871-1878 the Texas State Fair was held in Houston. The State Fair organization purchased a large parcel of land south of town on which to hold the fair. I believe it was around 1400 acres, but someone else can (and probably will) correct me. The land that Apartment building is on was part of the Fairgrounds which were platted into a new addition in 1891 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxmulder Posted December 6, 2006 Share Posted December 6, 2006 I had a seminar at HCC Saturday. That trash dumpster has been there for years. You can see from one side to another. Looks like the walls are gone. The are behind is a cheap ugly parking lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 901 Rosalie, Windward Apts.(?), aka the Fear Factory.HCAD says 1935.Windward Courts.HCAD is sometimes considerably off on their dates of construction. IMO it looks more like something built in the early to mid-20's.Edit: Changed thread title Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Today I noticed that several windows are now "un-boarded up", for lack of a better term.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 This is a William Ward Watkin building - http://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/12618/document.pdf (page 24) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Great document sevfiv, many nice pics in it...gotta check that apt. bldg. out. Would like to see it used for something other than a seasonal "haunted house".My theater notes say he also designed the Ritz Theater on Preston Ave. (downtown) in 1926. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earlydays Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Great document sevfiv, many nice pics in it...gotta check that apt. bldg. out. Would like to see it used for something other than a seasonal "haunted house".My theater notes say he also designed the Ritz Theater on Preston Ave. (downtown) in 1926.Ditto...great document. Did you notice the Howard Hughes house? The ads in the back are also interesting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h8s Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 Apparently the owner filed for "protected landmark status" of the Windward Court Apartment at 901 Rosalie in January of 2010. See info here:http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/historic_pres/HAHC_20100108/PLM_901_Rosalie_St_Winward_Apts.pdfAccording to the link it was built circa 1923.I've worked across the street from this building for years now and have always been fascinated with it. I just walked by a few minutes ago and saw a blue City of Houston sign on the front saying it is unsafe and scheduled to be demolished. The back (brick) wall on the second floor is starting to bow inward. I hope when the building does fall that the bums are not still sleeping underneath. If you look down from the sidewalk you can see their sleeping bags and Old English 40ozs. I remember going to the Fear Factory during high school about 15 or 20 years ago and at the time I had no idea of the architectural or historical significance of the building. Then again when you're being chased down a dark stairwell by a guy with a chainsaw I guess your mind is in another place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1976 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 In the last couple of days it's been demolished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 In the last couple of days it's been demolished.R.I.P. Hate to see it go, but it had deteriorated to the point of being unsalvageable.(Wish I'd known about the demolition, as some of the decorative details [imay have been salvageable.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 In the last couple of days it's been demolished.R.I.P. Hate to see it go, but it had deteriorated to the point of being unsalvageable.(Wish I'd known about the demolition, as some of the decorative details may have been salvageable.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 I just noticed that the old dilapidated building just north of the HCC admin building, at Travis and Anita/Rosalie is gone. Welcome news, indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 There's a thread around here somewhere, Windward Court Apartments or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Well... the taller the better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Yep, Watkin's Windward Court - note combined topics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 I just noticed that the old dilapidated building just north of the HCC admin building, at Travis and Anita/Rosalie is gone. Welcome news, indeed.... and this is why I find this Forum so enlightening. I'm saddened by Windward Court's demolition. Although it had decayed beyond any economical hope of restoration, it was still a beautifully designed building, constructed of substantial materials. Even in its shabby condition, I found it more appealing than having another Midtown vacant lot. Of this I'm fairly certain; whatever (eventually) replaces it is unlikely to have as much architectural merit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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