Ron4tx

A rooftop view of Rice University from the east looking west.

These photos were taken Oct 30, 2006.

Great photos. I was trying to figure out exactly where you where when you took them. Here's an image from Google Earth. But it shows the area as Fannin and MD Anderson Blvd. rather than John Freeman. Is Google right?

I'll have to verify it, but I think the street labeled M.D. Anderson Blvd has signs saying John Freeman Blvd.

I have photos in the other direction also, facing Rice U.

I'll post them in a different topic although they are related in that I was on the same roof.

Was there a building were the construction is going on?

Yes, the West Pavilion Center.

Here's a link:

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/houston/sto...19/daily45.html

Overlooking John Freeman and Fannin.

Photos taken Oct 30, 2006

I stumbled onto this on the Cinema Treasures website.

BTW.. Thanks for presenting those photos as small files with reference to the larger resolution files. The high resolution showed a lot of detail and the smaller photos in the post saves time for dial-up users.

Thanks for the link and compliment, 57Tbird.

Creating smaller pics and adding links takes a few extra steps.

This is one building (The Lamar Hotel) that I wished was saved.

Houston lost a treasure when it was demolished.

Looks like the same photo in this post by editor that says it's a 1944 photo. Where did this picture come from? Looks like the 1941 date here might be correct, since it's written on the photo.

I purchased both of these photos along with others back in the early 1980s.

I still possess the photographs which are 12x10 photo-glossies.

The store from which I purchased them was an antique store that had many old photos.

The information came with the photos.

It's interesting how many pics throughout the years

were taken of the Metropolitan Theatre on Main St. at this angle.

This one is from 1941.

The photos you're looking at have been greatly reduced.

Click on the link below for the high resolution photo (not the photo itself):

http://i10.tinypic.com/2d0xd1h.jpg

Houston Skyline facing the Chronicle Building.

I wonder where the 1913 red light district mentioned in an older thread is?

Again, click on the link below for the high resolution photo:

http://i10.tinypic.com/48xsnes.jpg

Here's a pic I dug up of Robert E. Lee High School in the early 1980s.

It's all I have:

That first pic is cool as hell!

If you're referring to the pool at the Marriott, yea - most people don't know it exists.

Note: Photo was shot through a window. Some reflection can be seen on the left.

The Aunt I speak of so often was a wonder,

We need more people like your Aunt. I'm sure she was a role model to many.

I met Don and Betty when I was 18 years old. Hadn't seen them in ages, I was out of town for about 13 years. In 1996 & possibly 1997, my husband and I bought some great CD remasters of a lot of the old vinyl albums I'd loved. So, he was still catering to the Oldies. At that time, he said they were about ready to retire, but there were plenty of clients when we were there.

I hope they are doing well, very nice people and a boon to the community.

I always enjoy reading your personal insights and experiences, WestUNative, you're an asset to the HAIF forums.

I was wrong. Red Scare and Urbanerd are correct.

The Houston Pavillions is further east.

The Skyscraper forum gives the following location:

Bounded by Dallas st., Polk st., Main st. and Caroline st.

Reference:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=106887

Cool, I see my bus stop under Humble Lofts.

This is the future site of Houston Pavillions, right?

Yes. And as you can see, nothing has been started yet.

Some photos I took Oct 5, 2006 during my lunch hour of the surrounding area from atop the Travis Garage.

Part 2 of 2:

Some photos I took Oct 5, 2006 during my lunch hour of the surrounding area from atop the Travis Garage.

Part 1 of 2:

Don's Record Shop in Bellaire

Peppermint Park

The Sizzler

Bonanza

Hamburgers by Gourmet

Good Tyme Charlie's on the 2nd floor of Sharpstown.

Gabby's BBQ

Luke's Hamburgers (They may still be in Pasadena but they were throughout Houston)

Winn's Variety Stores (They were competitors of TG&Y)

Sommer's Drugs

Have these already been mentioned?

Many neighborhoods have a local community newspaper that informs its residence of store openings, police reports, local school events, and other local happenings.

Does Downtown have such a paper?

good to hear - is this information out there somewhere, or do you have inside connections?

yeah, i'd like to know what is really going on there

last i went by, things were kind of at a stand-still - again

All I can say publicly is that the Texaco Building will definitely be renovated.

Major equipment was purchased two weeks ago.

As for my sources, see the Milam Hotel topic for a general idea.

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...p?showtopic=120

I wish I could say more at this time.

That's great!!!!! In Aug I went to a game and saw people working in it, like everyone else I wasn't sure if they were getting ready to tear it down. Now we know

If you don't mind me asking,what's your source? Is there a website maybe any artist renderings? Tenant names?

Thanks for the update

I'm a Mechanical Engineer specializing in air conditioning design.

My information is mainly through equipment vendors.

For the Milam Hotel in particular, I spoke at length with the Construction Forman.

I learned some interesting stories about obstacles in getting the hotel renovated.

I forgot to mention that the hotel will include a historical area featuring some of the items saved.

The hotel once held offices for illegal gambling. The area could only be accessed through a secret door.

Though raided by police and shut down, the area has been untouched. Boards were still on the wall listing sporting events and scores.

When the mirrors were removed from the hotel rooms it was discovered that newspaper was used as padding behind every mirror. All of the newspapers are in good condition and were saved. They are all from the year 1928 which was when the hotel was being constructed.

UPDATE:

Just learned that the Texaco building is scheduled for renovation.

The building was never scheduled for demolition but the construction was put on hold by the owner.

New equipment is being purchased now.

UPDATE:

The Ben Milam Hotel is now being renovated.

All of the asbestos has been removed.

A new chiller and cooling tower have been purchased.

Tenants have already been signed to move in.

On the first floor will be restaurants and a bank.

An attorney's office will occupy some of the floors.

Upper floors will be lofts.

A parking garage is to be added adjacent to the building.

I also learned that the Texaco building is also scheduled for renovations.

Equipment is being purchased now.

Current photos of the Ben Milam Hotel:

Here is a site that might interest you:

http://www.sixflagshouston.com/maps/

There is a forum there as well, but I like this one better!

Below is the Astroworld Park map from 1980, when my best friend and I used to get the season passes! $10 for the pass if I'm not mistaken. ;-)

1980 in my opinion was the best year for Astroworld. The Dolphin show, the Sleigh snow ride, the sports car ride, the River of No Return were all still there plus the addition of Thunder River made 1980 a great family year.

I agree. I wait until they pass. They can be a distraction from the subject plus they may not want to be photographed.

that is the texas heart institute, st. lukes.

Ricco67 is correct.

The Texas Heart Institute At St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.

The Denton A. Cooley Building.

It's on Bertner St. next to the Methodist Hospital.

I was working in the area today and walked over to the building.

This is what it looks like from the ground. (not as impressive plus the clouds took away the color)

Great pics. What is that white and chrome building in the bottom picture.

I'm going over there today and will post the building's name.