Fez1964

Magnolia Park City Hall and Central Fire Station addressed at 7301 Avenue F, zip code is 77012.

Texas Historical Commission marker dedication for the Magnolia Park City Hall & Fire Station building at 7301 Avenue F.

A Recorded Texas Historical Landmark marker has been approved for the Magnolia Park City Hall & Central Fire Station building addressed at 7301 Avenue F, zip code 77011. Look for the historical marker to be dedicated sometime in mid-2010. Thanks goes out to the Special Recreation Services and the Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association for making this possibles. Here is how the marker inscription will read:

THE CITY OF MAGNOLIA PARK WAS INCORPORATED ON JULY 1, 1913, ON PROPERTY FIRST DEVELOPED BY JOHN THOMAS BRADY IN 1890 AS A LARGE EXCURSION PARK. FOR THE MUNICIPALITY’S FIRST TEN YEARS, CITY OFFICES WERE LOCATED IN VARIOUS TEMPORARY FACILITIES, ALL SITUATED ALONG HARRISBURG BOULEVARD.

BY THE EARLY 1920s, OFFICIALS DECIDED TO CONSOLIDATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY ALDERMEN WITH THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION IN A SINGLE BUILDING AT THE SITE OF THE CITY’S ORIGINAL FIRE STATION, WHICH WAS RAZED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW STRUCTURE. DESIGNED BY THE HOUSTON ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF McLELLAND & FINK AND CONSTRUCTED BY MAGNOLIA PARK CONTRACTOR CHARLEY DAHL, THE COMBINED CITY HALL AND FIRE STATION WAS DEDICATED ON JULY 1, 1923, THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF MAGNOLIA PARK’S INCORPORATION.

ON OCTOBER 16, 1926, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ANNEXED THE CITY OF MAGNOLIA PARK. THIS FACILITY THEN SERVED THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AS FIRE STATION NO. 20 AND AS A REGIONAL BATTALION HEADQUARTERS. A HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SUBSTATION WAS ALSO LOCATED HERE. EVENTUALLY, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT VACATED THE BUILDING AND FIRE STATION NO. 20 WAS RELOCATED IN 1973. THE BUILDING HAS ALSO SERVED AS A HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT VOTING LOCATION.

THE TWO-STORY DARK RED BRICK AND CAST STONE BUILDING IS DIVIDED BY VERTICAL PIERS INTO SECTIONS, WITH AN ENTRANCE DOOR LEADING TO A STAIRWAY TO SECOND FLOOR OFFICES ON THE WEST, AND THE FIRE STATION AND SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONS TO THE EAST. LATER RENOVATIONS INCLUDED A BRICK CALABOOSE APPENDED TO THE BUILDING’S EAST SIDE. THE PARAPET OVER THE ENTRY CONTAINS A SCALLOPED PEDIMENT FRAMING A CAST STONE PANEL INSCRIBED “CITY HALL.”

Redscare

I wonder if I'm the only person that (sic) wonder what "saling" is.

REDSCARE

I am also wondering what does this discussion on street peddlers laughing all the way down the money trail to Mexico have to do with celebrating the history of Magnolia Park?

May these Texas Historical Commission markers educate, inspire and bring pride to Magnolia Park for many decades to come.

Please bear with me here as I post on a subject not related to Magnolia Park but to East End as a whole and one of great importance to me.

Project Respect is a group that is scheduled to visit the historic Harrisburg Jackson Cemetery near Lawndale and Broadway on Saturday, July 11 for a clean-up event on the cemetery. I believe that the clean-up will begin very early that day.

Here is a link of Project Respect: http://projectrespect.com/

Follow the links on the site for more information. It would be nice to see East End rally together to preserve what is perhaps Houston's oldest surviving African American cemetery.

I noticed in the last few days that city crews have been scrapping off the top surface of my neighborhood streets (Eastwood/Lawndale). They did my street on Tuesday. I'm assuming they're going to lay down new asphalt.

I think you are mistakened here. The streets of Eastwood and Lawndale are not in Magnolia Park.

After many months of preparation, research, fundraising, and meetings with the community, our efforts to secure a Texas Historical Commission marker for Magnolia Park have just about come to a successful conclusion. Below is how the inscription will read on the 27' X 42' marker that will be installed in De Zavala Park. Numbers in parenthesis represent the years that that particular institution or landmark was organized. While the marker is being fabricated in the foundry, we are looking at a date, perhaps in September, to dedicate it. The other marker approved for the Magnolia Park City Hall building addressed on Avenue F will probably not be ready until after September of this year.

MAGNOLIA PARK

ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED AS A SPRAWLING EXCURSION PARK AREA BY JOHN THOMAS BRADY IN 1890, MAGNOLIA PARK EARNED ITS NAME FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF MAGNOLIA TREES PLANTED IN THE AREA. STARTING IN 1909, THE MAGNOLIA PARK LAND COMPANY REDEVELOPED THE PARK INTO TWO RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS, MAGNOLIA PARK (1909) AND CENTRAL PARK (1912), WHICH WERE INCORPORATED TOGETHER IN 1913 AS THE CITY OF MAGNOLIA PARK. COVERING TWO SQUARE MILES, THE CITY WAS BORDERED ON THE NORTH AND EAST BY BUFFALO BAYOU AND THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL, ON THE SOUTH BY BRAYS BAYOU AND ON THE WEST BY RAIL LINES. EVENTUALLY, THE CITY OF MAGNOLIA PARK WAS ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN 1926.

WHILE THE FOUNDERS OF MAGNOLIA PARK WERE OF EUROPEAN DESCENT, PERSONS OF MEXICAN DESCENT HAVE DOMINATED MOST OF ITS HISTORY, MAKING IT ONE OF HOUSTON

Robert Downey madness in less that zero...man I hope it wasnt the scene I`m thinking of.

Now this is even weirder...Fiesta on Telephone...typical tejano playing then.. Gene Vincent, WTF...that was kinda crazy.

Do not underestimate the musical tastes of hispanics. It can be diverse. In Mexico, for example, the 80s music discussed on this thread is popular among the younger generations.

Thanks goes out to Ernesto Nieto of the National Hispanic Institute for co-sponsoring with the Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association the Texas Historical Commission marker that will be installed in De Zavala Park.

But we have encountered a "snag" in our efforts to install two duplicate community markers. According to their current policy, the Texas Historical Commission disapproved our application to have a duplicate marker for the community installed in Hidalgo Park. Needless to say, we are petitioning with the Texas Historical Commission to reconsider their decision. In our defense, we have cited that the Heights community has duplicate markers for the neighborhood. One is at the Heights public library and the second one is on Heights Boulevard near I-10.

We also received final approval from the state commission for the marker to be installed at the Magnolia Park City Hall & Central Fire Station building addressed at 7301 Avenue F and plan to move forward with that project.

Wow! A real long time mystery solved!

Now here is another question what came first the Church or the school? Any dates on the adjacent school?

I recall us kids loving to run and play on the swings/slide in the far back corner under the big trees with tons of leaves everywhere. It has since been updated and moved up some if memory serves well. One thing that hasn't changed in ages is that really bland odor that permiates the air from the nearby bayou or factories? Mom said one of our uncles once lived in one of the small homes directly on the side street circa early 1940's. A miracle these houses are still there....for now anyway.

I copied the article below directly from the Lady of Guadalupe Church website and it gives a more detailed history of the church, school and cemetery. For clarification, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church off of Harrisburg Boulevard in the community of Magnolia Park founded Our Lady of Guadalupe as a mission.

On May 4, 1847 as the Lone Star Republic was about to become the State of Texas, the Diocese of Galveston was established and John Odin became our first Bishop. At that time the diocese covered the whole State. On December 29, 2004, Pope John Paul II created a second archdiocese in Texas, raising the Diocese of Galveston-Houston to the status of a Metropolitan Archdiocese. Bishop Fiorenza was named the first Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, and Bishop DiNardo the Coadjutor Archbishop.

Archbishop DiNardo became ordinary of the archdiocese upon Archbishop Fiorenza's retirement in 2006. Pope Benedict XVI elevated Abp. DiNardo to the position of Cardinal on Nov. 24, 2007. Two auxiliary bishops, Bishop Emeritus Vincent M. Rizzotto and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez currently assist Cardinal DiNardo. In 2008 there are now 15 dioceses in Texas.

Houston was founded in 1836 when the Allen Brothers landed on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou about a mile northwest of where Our Lady of Guadalupe parish is now. It was not until 1911 that a great influx of Mexicans began coming to Houston because of the unrest in Mexico. At that time it became apparent that the Sacraments needed to be administered in Spanish.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate were sent to begin Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in 1912. Father Robert Chatillon celebrated the first Mass on August 18 in a two-story building erected that same year. The top floor was the church, and the bottom floor was the school. School opened for class on September 8, 1912. It is the oldest Catholic grade school in Houston. The Diocese has owned the property on which Our Lady of Guadalupe stands since about 1856. The first Catholic parish of Houston was St. Vincent, located a half mile away, across Franklin Street from the present county jail. St. Vincent

The Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association (MPHPA) would like to thank the Greater East End District for graciously sponsoring the Texas Historical Commission marker honoring the community of Magnolia Park's history that will be installed in Hidalgo Park later this year.

Came into the store on December 30 and immediately noticed that there were playing a 70s format this evening. It didn't sound well. Let the management know that we want that 80s music back in the store.

I want my MTV back in HEB at Gulfgate! *fists pounding table*

Can any provide background or information on the brick building on the northeast corner of Wayside Dr. and Harriburg Blvd. which used to be an old telephone exchange for Southwestern Bell? As early as 1925, the property had some kind of telephone exchange structure on it according to some old Sanborn maps.

The building is solid and looks structurally sound but I see no traffic entering it. Is it currently being used for something?

Thant's great news Fez...that's where my great-grandmother spent many a day(from the stories I have heard)...never visited this place with her...too bad, I never new of it. Will check it out soon...great old photograph.

Here is a photo of how the building currently looks like. If you visit the building during normal business hours, drop in and thank the management of the Special Recreation Services for funding the Texas Historical Commission marker. The Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association would also like to thank the General Services Dept. of the City of Houston for allowing us to move forward with project on property that they own.

Thanks goes out to the Special Recreation Services, Inc. for raising the money to fund the Registered Texas Historical Landmark marker for the Magnolia Park City Hall & Central Fire Station located at 7301 Avenue F. We hope to unveil this Texas Historical Commission marker in late 2009.

My wife has attended retreats at Villa de Matel and I understand that they have Midnight Mass there every Christmas Eve that is open to the public.

Thanks goes out to the Special Recreation Services, Inc. for raising the money to fund the Registered Texas Historical Landmark marker for the Magnolia Park City Hall & Central Fire Station located at 7301 Avenue F. We hope to unveil this Texas Historical Commission marker in late 2009.

The City of Houston's Planning & Development Department can help designate this building as a Protected Landmark of the City of Houston. This designation needs to be initiated by private concerns and takes little effort. As a protected landmark of Houston, the building will receive that much more protection against demolition.

For the long term, the school can be designated as a Registered Texas Historical Landmark (RTHL) with the Texas Historical Commission. This designation gives more recognition and protection to the landmark with an opportunity to apply for state grants to preserve it.

Our neighborhood group is successfully applying for a RTHL for the Magnolia Park City Hall & Central Fire Station addressed at 7301 Avenue F. We also intend to apply as a protected landmark with the City of Houston.

I'm convinced the new manager looks sort of like this. Here he is taking a smoke break.

I have to thank y'all for adding this thread. It is one of my favorites on this forum. Now, everytime I step into this HEB, I note what songs they are playing and chuckle down the aisles looking at the demographics who shop at this store. It does not add up. I will bust out laughing if I hear the obscure 80s tune, Down in the Park by Gary Numan or How Soon is Now by the Smiths.

Some may have an issue with background music but for me it works. I am drawn to this store because of the music.

The Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association (MPHPA) continues to meet monthly in our efforts to secure Texas Historical Commission markers for the community of Magnolia Park in southeast Houston. If everything goes as planned, the markers should be unveiled to the public in October of 2009 with a community-wide celebration.

Click on this link, http://www.magparkhou.com/ and scroll down the page for meeting dates of the MPHPA. We are in a fundraising stage at this point.

I second that, Way to go, Fez! I hope the marker gets approved. The East End needs this kind of recognition.

The Magnolia Park Historical Preservation Association (MPHPA) continues to meet monthly in our efforts to secure Texas Historical Commission markers for the community. If everything goes as planned, the markers should be unveiled to the public in October of 2009 with a community-wide celebration.

Click on this link, http://www.magparkhou.com/ and scroll down the page for meeting dates of the MPHPA. We are in a fundraising stage at this point.

This is kind of Magnolia related:

New East End Campaign Office Opening!

Hon. Gene Green. Hon. Sylvia Garcia. Hon. Mario Gallegos. Hon. Rick Noriega. Hon. Jessica Farrar. Hon. Ana Hernandez. Hon. Adrian Garcia. Hon. Carol Alvarado. These are local Democrats that we can be proud of, and 2008 is the year that they will make a difference for all Texans. We need your help in making sure our local candidates become the elected leaders we need. Please join us and many of our candidates this Saturday, July 26th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, at 201 Broadway as we open the doors to our new East End Campaign Office for the Harris County Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign.

We will be serving hot dogs and cold drinks as we welcome you to your local Democratic headquarters. An exciting program featuring master of ceremonies Constable Victor Trevino, other elected officials, raffle drawings every 15 minutes, and a special guest from the two-time MLS Champions Houston Dynamo will kick off promptly at 11:00 am. We know many of our neighbors volunteered at this location for Senator Hillary Clinton, and we hope you will come back to support our Democrats up and down the ballot once more. The energy in our March Primary was unprecedented, and we need it again to make sure that Democrats win all over the state and in our community. The Republicans in Harris County have proven they will do whatever it takes to hold on to their offices, and it will take all of our effort to restore integrity and accountability to our public officials.

We now need your help to fill up our office, not only with yourselves on Saturday, but with your time, your talent, and any of the following items:

• Refrigerator
  
• Rolling desk chairs
  
• Office Supplies
  
• Kitchen & Restroom Supplies
  

Again, we hope you will join us, your candidates, and your public officials this weekend for the fun and festivities at our new East End Campaign Office, so we can build momentum to Turn Texas Blue.See you there!

Marina N. Hernandez-Quiroz

East End Field Organizer

713 926-1334

Yes, being that the Magnolia Park area is predominantly Hispanic and traditionally, Mexican-Americans have voted as Democrats, I would be surprised to see the Republicans install a campaign office in the area.

As we prepare to recognize the centennial in 2009 for the community of Magnolia Park, I have come in possession of census records of the community for 1920 and 1930.

If you have roots in Magnolia Park during the 1920s and 1930s, contact me through a private email and perhaps I can share with you some family history. Census records can be a hit or miss and often offer some invaluable and interesting information.

Magnolia Park roughly extended from 65th Street to 80th Street and was bordered by the ship channel and Harrisburg Boulevard.

In 2009, the area in Houston's East End known as Magnolia Park or Magnolia, as we know it today, will complete 100 years of existence when it was declared a municipality in 1909. I have heard that there are celebrations in the works to honor the centennial. It has been suggested that Magnolia Park receive a Texas historical marker to honor the community.

I am a member of the Harris County Historical Commission which oversees the county's historical marker program. I have completed historical marker projects for a few subjects including the historic Harrisburg-Jackson cemetery located off of Bowie St. and Lawndale St. near Milby High School.

Born and raised in Magnolia, it would be my honor to mentor a private effort to get the community a historical marker. Are there any interested groups willing to sponsor this project?

The effort to get a marker should begin soon so that it can be unveiled for the centennial celebration.

As I think of the marker, I wonder where it should be installed in the community? Perhaps it can stand as Magnolia Park's original City Hall at Avenue F and 73rd St. Or maybe it can stand in one the area's City parks or at one of the community's entrances.