SunKing

Indeed - GREAT photos - THANKS! Back in the late 80's I was lucky to take a tour of the Esperson building that included a visit to the top tower. The view was awesome, and I could kick myself for not getting any pics.

When I used to live in Garden Oaks - I was told a few times that Mr. Shipley once lived there, and that the store on Ella was indeed the first. ...true? EDIT: I found this: HISTORY Shipley Do-Nuts was founded by Mr. & Mrs. L.W. Shipley Sr. in 1936, with the opening of the first Shipley Do-Nut shop on White Oak Drive and 6th St. in Houston, Texas. Mr. Lawrence Shipley, Jr. has since grown the business to its present state. The company is now entering into its third generation of ownership with Mr. Lawrence Shipley, III.

I grew up in the 1960 area (Huntwick). When we moved there in 1969, they had just changed the name from Jackrabbit Road to 1960. It was still a one lane road, and in many parts the trees from each side would still touch - providing a nice canopy effect. When I was in Jr. High I remember sneaking out with a friend one night. We thought it was cool to lay in the middle of 1960 and look at the stars. ....yikes - it's changed a lot since then. Amazingly, my parents still live in that same house. Going home is like steppoing back in time ...until I see how 1960 has grown. I guess you could say it has OVER grown to he point of being very ugly - I would agree with that. But 1960 will always hold a special place in my heart. Too bad they can't figure out a way to clean up that road - it's dangerous as hell now.

Again, thanks for the pictures. Keep 'em coming!

Let me reply with a couple points. (1) You obviously did not look at ALL the photos. Please see below. (2) My next door neighbors are asian, and two families living across the street are black. That's just in my col-de-sac. Come visit one of the pools during the summer, and I'm sure you will see people of all races enjoying themselves. Honestly, with the comments you made - YOU sound like the snobby one.

I also live in Sienna, and highly recommend it. The Fort Bend Tollway is a direct shot from Sienna to the Medical Center. As for retail - there's LOTS under construction right now. Mature trees? Sienna has TONS - and has done a great job at preserving as many as possible. We have two kids (5 and 2), so the extra amenities really tipped the scale for us. Have you seen the Sienna water park? My kids LOVE it! Sienna also has two other neighborhhood pools that are very nice - one of which is geared towards younger kids. In the most recent developers update - plans were introduced for the 4th pool - a very nice resort style pool with waterfalls, slides, etc. In addition to the pools, Sienna also has the Brushy Lake Fitness center. It's a complete fitness center that's free to homeowners. Also, the new Camp Sienna sports complex (softball and socker fields, playgrouds, trails) just opened recently. Check out the Sienna Photo Album for more pictures: http://www.siennaplantation.com/gallery/al...albumListPage=1

Nice pics - thanks. I went with my wife and 6yr old daughter to see Hanna Montana yesterday. OMG - it was PACKED!! Your pics of the carnival look almost empty compared to how it was yesterday. ....crazy!

Interesting info - thanks. I guess a few of the old signs survived - I know there were still a few in Garden Oaks when I was living there (until '04).

Indeed - great pics! Thanks!

Yeah, after I posted, I thought that might be a possibility. I don't know, I guess it's possible the street alignment hasn't changed, and it's just my foggy memory playing tricks on me. Thanks for the replies anyway.

Oopps - I meant northWEST intersection. It was Willow Chase for sure. Take a look at the link above. West of the intersection of 1960 and 249 you will see Willow Chase Drive. We entered Willow Chase Drive from 249, but I it looks different now than it did then. In fact, this is strange - look just west of Willow Chase, and you will see 'Green Mills Drive' and 'Echo Landing' - but on satelite view (or hybrid) those streets don't actually exist! I just noticed that - STRANGE INDEED! I think those may be 'remnants' of what I remember - they more closely resemble how I remember the area - as more of an empty residential subdivision (long streets with cul-de-sacs). Is there any way to know if an area was re-platted?

I had a chance this weekend to drive through some of the areas I frequented while in High School in the early 80's. I remember a bunch of us used to party back in the Willow Chase area. The part I'm talking about is in the NW corner of 1960 and 249. My question is - was this area redeveloped after 1983? I ask because - back when we used to party back there - I seem to remember it as a vacant residentail subdivision, with long streets and lots of cul-de-sacs. However, looking at the area now, it seems mostly commercial with apartments, and I don't remember the streets being layed out as they are now. What happened here? ...does anyone know any of the history?

The following was taken from Buffalo Bayou - An Echo of Houston's Wilderness Beginnings In the 1870's, Houston businessman D. P. Shepherd began to build a sawmill and grist mill complex at the present location of the Shepherd Drive bridge. He had a dam built across the bayou, but financial difficulties caused the venture to fail and the mills were never completed. The dam, however, created a small lake on the bayou that was a popular swimming hole even until the 1920's. The road to Shepherd's dam came up from the south at San Felipe Road (now West Dallas Avenue) and was called Shepherd's Dam Road. It connected with Brunner Avenue on the north side. When the development of the area both north and south of the bayou called for a major thoroghfare, the combined roadway was named Shepherd Drive.

Wow - that brings back memories. Classic!!!

Two new schools just opened in Sienna. Scanlin Oaks Elementary opened for the 2005 school year, and Baines Middle School opened for the 2006 year. There is a bond vote scheduled soon for a new High School as well. The fort Bend toll road is complete from Highway 6 all the way to US90 (south Main) north of the beltway. When traffic is light, I can make it from my driveway to downtown in 30 minutes (and 10 minutes of that drive is just getting out of Sienna). If you work in the med center - It's a very direct route and only takes about 20 minutes. Regarding the grocery store, currently the closest one is the Kroger - which is a 15 minute drive. However, there are already plans to build a large retail center at the corner of the Fort Bend tollroad and Highway 6 that is supposed to have an HEB. Eventually, the Fort Ben tollroad will extend South of Hwy 6, into Sienna and cross over Sienna parkway. This should shave another 5 minutes or so off my drive, and there is also another large retail center planned for the South/West corner of the intersection. ...can you tell that I like Sienna?

I live in Sienna, and highly recommend it. IMHO - you get what you pay for. We have two kids (5 and 2), so the extra amenities really tipped the scale for us. Have you seen the Sienna water park? My kids LOVE it! Sienna also has TWO other neighborhhood pools that are very nice - one of which is geared towards younger kids. In addition to THREE pools, Sienna also has the Brushy Lake Fitness center. It's a complete fitness center that's free to homeowners. Also, the new Camp Sienna sports complex (softball and socker fields, playgrouds, trails) just opened recently. Check out the Sienna Photo Album for more pictures: http://www.siennaplantation.com/gallery/al...albumListPage=1

Groovy man!

That would be awesome - thanks. It's a perfect view of the site.

Indeed - great pics!

I lived in Garden Oaks from '93 until '04. The original sign with the Garden Oaks lettering was donated to Garden Oaks (residential association?) when it was taken down. ...and to get back on topic - I would love to see the Sears on South Main restored to it's original luster. ...bu I'm not holding my breath.

Indeed - thanks guys!!

Awesome - THANKS! ....and I've been meaning to stop by the "Texas Room". Where is it exactly? Is it located in the Public Library? The last time I went by there the library was closed for renovations.

Yeah, that map really is a treasure. Any chance of getting more of it scanned/posted here?

Great info and pics. Thanks for adding to the tread Isuredid.

Very nice pics Boris - I enjoyed looking at all of them.