marketingwiz

My husband and I drove by 215 Westmoreland just yesterday and it is coming along magnificently. Kudos to the owners of the 'Nash House' for restoring it. The painting seems complete and they are now restoring the railings to the front porch and balcony. Right now they are still natural wood but we're hoping they'll be painted white to match the rest of the house. I promise to take a photo this week and post it for all to see. I do think these homeowners deserve a 'Good Brick' award from the GHPA and will look into finding out criteria for nomination. I cannot believe how far this home has come since we first discovered it driving around one Sunday afternoon almost 3 years ago. What a job!

Hi Carol! Somewhere within the Historic section is a BIG thread on Meyer Speedway complete with photos of old racing programs, some of the races themselves and discussions about some of the drivers. I'm not sure exactly how to find it other than checking older pages for it, or maybe trying a search. The search - I think - is a bit 'iffy' as I've searched for topics that I KNOW are on here and that I've read previously but for some reason they don't come up on my search. So I end up scanning page by page until I find what I'm looking for. But again, there is an existing thread on Meyer Speedway that I think you'd really enjoy. It has a lot of information.

Vert: Your sister was/is quite the dish! Hubba hubba. The photos are fantastic and thanks for sharing them. I had two older cousins who were 'stews' for Texas International Airlines (now Continental) and I lived in an apartment complex on Westheimer in the 70's where many of my friends flew for Southwest Airlines. They had a much better time than I did.

Foleys Downtown had a great (and cheap!) cafeteria in its basement. Used to meet a friend there for lunch who worked in One Allen Center back in the late 70's. Anyone else eat there?

I don't know who's paying for it but there is progress at 215 Westmoreland! My hubby and I drove by today and saw that a light mint green coat of paint had been applied over the white primer. We had to stop and really look to detect the color but it is there. Assuming that more paint applications are to come, it looks like it will be a lovely mint green with white trim. We think it looks great, and there's also progress on the carriage house area. I will snap a pic next time and post it. I do hope they reinstall the upper railings on the second story.

I know it's not officially a 'restaurant,' but does anyone remember Udder Delight homemade ice cream on the Westheimer curve near Montrose, close to Marini's Empanada House? If I recall, they were the original mix-in kind of ice cream shop with a limited number of flavors made fresh daily. Needless to say, their logo involved a spotted cow. It was very popular in the late 70's, early 80's. How about Hungry International sandwich shop, also on Westheimer near Montrose? They made a great steak hoagie. YUM! You are absolutely correct, Tiger, it was The Great Mining Company. Thanks for jarring my memory! I've eaten at Baby Doe's in Dallas, as well.

Gosh, that was FAST! Thank you so much, Story III. The sleeping porch is very much how I imagined it. Your photo collection is amazing. I actually feel 'lost in time' when I look at these, don't care how corny that sounds. These images are transporting.

I thoroughly enjoyed looking at those historic photos and thanks for sharing them! Are there any photos of the upstairs 'sleeping porch' that I've read so much about or the master suite area? I'd love to see those. And yes I've contributed to and signed the petition to save the JW Mansion.

Hi Sub! I think I've PM'd you about this very subject, not being able to see your wonderful photos. I was especially disappointed because I was never able to view the great postcard collection you posted a while back of old motels along OST, including the Alama Court Motel. I can see other people's images but not yours for some unknown reason. I am on Firefox (latest and greatest) and Safari. If you think of any solution, let me know. Thanks!

Unfortunately, it is no longer there. It was the first 'upscale date' my husband and I went on and I remember all the wooden interior and mine shaft entrance that supported the whole theme of the restaurant. Initially, you and other guests had to board a small mining car that would whisk you up to the hostess to be seated. They eventually stopped that but kept the mining car on display and removed the tracks. The menu was heavy steakhouse fare and a bit on the San Francisco side; they served a great sourdough bread basket before dinner with fresh butter. Originally, I believe the restaurant was called Baby Doe's Matchless Mine Restaurant and then it changed names and management.

Well this is even MORE than I could have hoped for. They should be commended for their efforts and I'll just learn to be patient and wait for the final results. They have my deepest admiration.

We made our bi-weekly drive-by of 215 Westmoreland and although the scaffolding is still up, the paint job is really lagging. Even in twilight, you can see the old rotting wood bleeding through. Perhaps there's another coat of that flat white paint to be applied. And the upper railings on the second story are missing. I'm sure it's better than nothing but what a half-azzed job! My husband and I fantasize about restoring it and what we'd do. That home is screaming to be saved. I'll make it my first project after I win the Lottery! We'll have a HAIF party there.

WOW Marmer! Thanks for the memories. I loved reading the Hebert's Ritz and San Jacinto Inn menus, what a flashback since I used to frequent both of those places. Subdude: Armando's was on South Shepherd right by San Felipe (east side of Shepherd, next to a Taco Bell that's still there). It was started by Armando Palacios from Harlingen and has reopened as a more upscale restaurant now on Westheimer in River Oaks (at Kirby). Armando's original menu was unbeatable, homestyle Mexican food. Does anyone remember Leo's Mexican Restaurant on S. Shepherd? It was a small white building with a long green awning almost out to the street. It was fave of ZZ Topp as their photos were all over the walls. I think it was torn down in the mid-80's. Anyone know anything or remember this place?

Signed, sealed and delivered. No thanks necessary.

Well that makes more sense now because the owners have said (indirectly quoted) they don't have the money to paint it. According to them it would cost over $1 million to get it repainted and refurbished to original condition, and that, of course, does not include the interior. If it's the homeowner to their west, then it must be the resident in that huge, red brick home with the old awnings. I sensed it was a 'band-aid' kind of job from what I observed. And I'll chain myself to one of those pillars before they tear it down! They'll have to remove me kicking and screaming.

Since I am partner in a small ad and PR agency, that's right up my alley! It might give me an excuse to contact the owners and ask permission to get media coverage as well as a tour..... And for some reason, my kitty avatar is not showing today nor is anyone else's.

Honestly, I've thought the same thing. I have not seen contractor signs in the yard and we drove by it last weekend so they must be recent. But the paint job seems somewhat unfinished and lackluster, as though they could only apply one coat. And much of the upper railings are still missing. The porte cochere is still a mess. Hey Vertigo, I'll be happy to buy the champagne at its final unveiling if I could just get a tour of the place!

Allow me to echo that compliment, really NICE work, exceptional. I've watched it a couple of times already. You're a regular Scorsese, no kidding. And has anyone mentioned the San Jacinto Inn, with their picnic tables, all-you-could-eat seafood (family-style) and their homemade biscuits?!?! Not to mention a great view of the San Jacinto Monument.

Does anyone remember Margo's LaMode? I had a credit card from that store! It was semi-upscale and in larger malls.

As far as I know, it's still there. I believe I've had oysters there in the past year. Wow Albert, I was just thinking about Los Troncos! But I thought it was called The Treehouse and it was located on Westheimer? My dad took me there for my birthday while I was still at A & M. We literally had to crawl up into a wooden booth that was elevated above the floor as were the other booths. Do you think this is the same restaurant?

I couldn't agree more about the entry, it IS stunning. I've often imagined what it would have been like to sit on that porch on a hot summer day or in the evening and watch the street activity. That wrapped porch is so deep and sheltered, you could practically live on it. The glass in the front door looks original to me and I'd love to see where the stairs are. I wonder if it's a simple staircase or a sweeping, more dramatic staircase that leads upstairs. And I've had the same mental images of early 1900's Houston society arriving there for a party or event. I understand the house was rented out for a number of years before the current owners bought it in the 80s.

Yes, Chuy and Rico, I hope you've gotten your tacos al carbon together since you stiffed the ad agency I was working for (1982) for all your billboards, matchbook covers and menus when you tried to open your first restaurant together in Katy. Great location for authentic Mexican cuisine! No wonder it failed. But at least you kept your gold nugget chains and avocado green Mercedes convertible.

Hi Vertigo! I think you nailed it when you said "worship." I fall into that category. There is a sense of history I cannot describe, a feeling that comes over me when I drive by that home. It's the architecture, the horse ties, the front door, the columns with the pineapple tops (a symbol of affluence back then), the yards, everything about it is so compelling to me. Sometimes my husband and I just park across the street along the curb and stare at it imagining what life was like back then. At night, the attic room is always lit, sometimes with a jack-o-lantern in the window....I'd LOVE to see what (or who?) is up there! I think it would be amazing to see the interior, the room layouts, fireplaces, kitchen and baths, EVERYTHING! I have been told that the pool was used in some indie movie back in the 80s (My Best Friend is a Vampire), but when I watched the movie (which was awful) the pool and mansion scenes looked nothing like Westmoreland and more like a movie set, so I doubt it was used.

THANK YOU '57! Unfortunately nothing is showing up on your post so I'll search for your 1941 menu of Hebert's. Nice to know someone else remembers it.

My husband grew up in Bellaire at the corner of Maple and Rice and he LOVED Zappo's. When we first started dating in 1980, that's the first place we went out to eat together. It was his favorite place. AND, he used to bus tables at Herfy's Steakhouse in Bellaire.