PasadenaTexan

On ‎8‎/‎22‎/‎2017 at 6:46 PM, Nathan Burkhalter said:

I am Dr. Burkhalter's grandson. To not get to long, but yes my grandfather did operate on a horse in the OR, most everything about him is true. After moving to Fredericksburg he was charged with the attempted murder of my grandmothers new lover, and convicted. In 1993 he took in 5 of us grandchildren to rase. He was an incredibly intelligent man. He was also a controling psychopath. In Fredericksburg he leased out a house on the property and in 1999 the tenant was discovered dead. On his deathbed my grandfather admitted to killing him after the two got into an argument reguarding herman killing his horse. He was poisoned. Dr. Burkhalter passed in 2012. 

Nathan, I grew up a block away from some of your aunts and uncles that lived on Harrop St. Dr. B as we called him delivered me into this world  July 1956. and was Our families doctor. I have lived thru all the stories of your Grand father, but knew the gentler side of him. I remember I December of 1976 that I almost killed myself trying to Locate Dr. B. my sister was in a bad way delivering her 1st child. I drove like a madman to his home behind the Old Woolco store. I later found out that he was driving all the way in from San Antonio to help save my sister's life. I know all the Bad , but He was a Man we all Loved and Respected. He even refused to accept his doctor fee from Momma for any of Our doctor visits. Thought I would share with you something kinder than what you had to live thru. Dr. B. had his Demons but he once was a Kind Hearted Man / Family Doctor as well.

A post from a Pasadena Facebook Citizen. "

The windows are now partially boarded. (looks like they are trying to leave openings to vent moisture)

The top of the tower had the brick facing peeled away from the concrete block underneath.

This building is once again in danger.

Yes in deed Our Tall Lady of Pasadena is in Danger. Hurricane Ike has put this beautiful structure one giant step closer to a wrecking ball. A Friend on Pasadena City Council informed me that the Bank Tower has changed hands once more. With our current economic worries clouding our minds, saving great architecture opens the door & makes way for another fast food joint. I have voiced at City Council meetings countless times that something needs to be done at the cities level to protect our architectural Past for Our Future, as have many others.

I have been meaning to talk to City Councilmember JJ Isbell, he has spoken to me several time about how the Firm that owns the 1st Pasadena State Bank Building wanted to Restore and reopen. I fear this damage will push him toward tearing her down or he might be able to get hold of some FEMA money, to pay for Demolition.

oh yea, that was so unfortunate , the building was already in danger, and now this...

Oh My, why build something so big so blasted close to the road. Stucco in the houston area, not a good thing. Too much Security fence no one in their right mind is gonna steal that house.

For Post #78/ robsmithtx:

The old chemical plant logo was used during one of the past Mayor Johnny Isbell terms. The current city website webmaster probably has a bmp or gif file of it. The city still has souvenir desk flags, etc. that may also be available. Contact City Hall through the Mayor's Action Line (713-475-555) and ask for Wayne Holt, Publications Manager (wholt@ci.pasadena.tx.us).

By the way, the logo can be changed at the discretion of the Mayor, hence, the change when John Manlove took office 7 years ago.

The Old Pasadena Dog Pound Site on Hwy 225 before you get to Beltway 8, still has an Original Refinery Logo on it and is also sporting the old sage green paint that once was a signature city color.

I just looked back through my photos and I took a bunch around the building site back in July. Here they are...

Great Photos, Thank You for Sharing them with us all I sure am Proud to see so many other folks that Love This Graceful Lady of Pasadena as much as I do. The Resigned former Mayor of Pasadena, John Manlove, could not be moved to answer

my questions about what was in the Future for the Bank Building. I was told by Council Woman Dana Philibert

that the Chamber of Commerce could better answer my concerns but that was a dead end. I will make a point of asking our new Mayor Jack Douglass, at our next Council Meeting. The developer that bought the former Bankone Location has just barely maintained the Landscape. I hope someone has it in the works to revitalizing the Building. Our Skyline won't be be the same without her, my Vote is for City Hall to move in and Save Our Tall Lady of Pasadena.

Note merged Pasadena State Bank topics.

Well Thank You for the merge,I had misplaced the location of this original Thread. I finally found out how to add my photo file to e-mails ( new Camera No Skills ) How do you all add your photos as a picture and not as a few words and numbers to download. I want to add more but I only have 90.65k left to use for photos.

Have a Great Day Folks ,Come on Over to the Dark Side and Visit 2nd largest city in Harris County,Pasadena,Texas Your Neighbors South East Harris County Population 149,000 plus >

The Grand Lady of Pasadena, Texas Built in 1963

Landmark Our 1st Skyscraper Pasadena Blvd @ Southmore Ave.

Many of you all in Houston only see Pasadena from Hwy 225

be a little adventurous, hey we have been to your hometown!

We have our show place neighborhoods and a few slummy areas,

we are still in the infantcy of Our Developement.

Why have so many of you never spoken of the Magnificent Mansions of River Oaks and surrounding Suburbs. One Christmas Lighting drive years ago I was driving through River Oaks and came across a Beautiful Home being built along a Street there I assume was along the Bayou. The Home in question was on a very long lot and was French inspired five or more garage and servants quarters over them. Visited in later years to see a finished Mansion, very well appointed and Elegant. Anyone else in here love the Homes of the Movers and Shakers of Houston? Don't get me wrong Imma Hoggs Mansion is beautifull as are many of the of Oaks neighbors. Old Money in Houston has moved into highrises and new money or baby boomers are building everywhere else. Share photos of your Choice Mansions or Homes of Houston worth a mention.I hope to get by there once more with a camera to show you all a Mansion in River Oaks I fell in Love with.

I went over to mapquest and I found the Mansion I referred to on Wllowick Rd. @ Knollwood, the ariel view is awe inspiring the pool is massive and the home sits on several acres. also I saw a very well manicured lawn surrounding a home right in front of the River Oaks Country Club.Know the Mansion?

You'll notice that the copper dome has already acquired a (chemically induced) <a href="http://web2.ccpl.org/prvEmplo

yees/HTML/scienceproject/OnlineExhibits/ncw/GreenPatinaFinish.html" target="_blank">patina</a>.

Heck, they could have saved themselves the trouble; its proximity to the Pierce Elevated would facilitate the process in no time .

but as you look at the front of the cathedral, you see downtown, not the pierce elevated. the windows looked like stained glass so when you're inside, the outside view shouldn't be a problem.

Seeing it almost finished, I am a little less unapproving as I was at first. A Little more Oldworld Style would have made me like it more , but since I am not Catholic I guess my Vote means nothing. I would have built on a bigger parcel of land with some Original 100 year+ old Oaks and used more natural Texas Granite as was used for Our State Capital Building, that one has massive Style going for it. I would love to visit it around Christmas time for a Mass or Classical Christmas Concert.

this building has gotten a repreive? f%&@ yeah!

Thanks 'jmancuso' for the Northern view of the 1st Pasadena State Bank Building in Pasadena,Texas.

She is a Beauty isn't she, Spared from a wrecking Ball, Yahoo!!!!!

I worked in the bldg about 6 years ago. We had the penthouse suite and it was great. Our big boss had the giant corner office and rigged up his door so that he could push a button under his desk and the door would close so he could light up his cigar. It was of course against company policy to smoke at your desk, but who was going to be brave enough to tell him. We also had the only balcony in the bldg being on the 12th floor. I thought about eating lunch out there once. Walked out and it was way too windy to sit down at the picnic table (that we hauled up the wood and built). There was a little space in the basement for a deli and I always felt sorry for the people who tried to open up an eating establishment there. They'd always close in about 1 month after opening because they had no customers. We had about a dozen 5 gallon buckets up there because every time it rained, the roof would leak in about a dozen places. In addition, the toilets were always breaking every other week. The a/c wouldn't work good in the summer and the heating wouldn't work good in the winter. Basically, the place was miserable and we couldn't get the owner to spend any money on maintenance so we left after our lease was up. I don't think anyone moved into the space after we left.

Hello G Team what was the view like up there on the 12th Floor? I once had a bank account there when it was Mbank or Bank one but I never got past the Lobby level. How was the Inside Styled, Frank Lloyd Style fixtures or anything note worthy. Besides all the bad stuff any great Memories? Were you Freaked out during high Wind days and feel the Building Sway as a earlier post stated.

yep!

oops...that link has expired...here's the archived article:

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive....id=2006_4118294

Yahoo The First Pasadena State Bank Building has been Saved she has a New Bright Future, that is as long as our City Fathers don't mess up it's Revitalization plans. the Company K Realty Development of Houston purchased the Tall Lady for only 1.2 Million. If any of you know this firm, Please keep me up to date with anything you might read or hear and see about the Fate of Our Skyscraper. The President of the Company K Realty Developement, Kyle D. Tauch,is quoted saying our Tall Lady is much to nice a piece of Architicture to tear down, and his Company site Boasts of success in bring ideas to be Realities. God Bless him if he keeps her standing PROUD, and God Help him if he doesn't.

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject:

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Quote from PasadenaTexas.com Forum by member ggstro

"There was an article in the Chronicle a couple of weeks ago I believe that said that someone had bought the building and was planning on redeveloping that area with the help of the city administration. I believe Manlove also mentioned this in his state of the city address.

So it is my understanding, that area is getting a facelift, and the building will not get torn down."

"My Prayers have been answered if this indeed is true."

Considering the price that they got, it makes no sense whatsoever to tear the thing down when the margins on a residential redevelopment are stupendously high. Barring some structural flaw of which I am not aware, you can take this comment to the bank.

Thank You for the Postings of Support and the Great Pictures of Our Grand Lady The First Pasadena State Bank Building, in Pasadena,Texas.

I have Lived here in Pasadena,Texas 49 years and as long as I can recall 1st PasadenaState Bank has been Our Skyline, With the exception of a few 6story hospitals or office/banks. The Grand Lady of Pasadena has been our Only Claim to architicural Fame so to speak. The Lady has fallen victim to Progression, Our City Business District has been on the move South since the Late 50's. We Started at Sterling( Hwy 225) then 1956 Southmore Ave. then 1970's Spencer Hwy. then 1990's Fairmont Parkway.

Our Mayor feels we have no further use for the FPSB it's time has come and gone as did a larger number of other businesses on Southmore. Many folks here in town feel tearing down the Grand Lady is a nothing more than a ploy to put in another short lived Fast Food Joint. As Houstonians have seen Over and Over, for the sake of Progress a beautiful but neglected older building is torn down for what, a bigger parking lot or something that won't last as long as the building that there before. The Shamrock Hilton was a Famous World Class Hotel and it died way too soon, sad thing is nothing great has taken it's place YET.

In a Local Papers story the FPSB was valued at 1.3 million and was aquired by a Houston Commercial Holdings Company. I have not seen any articles about a remodel only about the Demolishion Permit.

I have Voiced often, rather than tearing it down why not move our City Hall into it, from the upper floors you can keep a good eye over the whole city. Cool part is I think as our City hall it would Rival Houston's in Height and Style. We Hope someone with a love for our Buildings style will step in and purchase her and help her with a rebirth of use, that is if the Citie Leaders don't step in and Save Her, as they should. As many of you have stated She is in deed a Grand and Beautiful Lady, maybe not a stately as she once was but still as Grand.