fortbendtomontrose

Does anybody around here remember Las Casuelas? The greatest Mexican food restaurant in Houston history? In a big old house at the corner of Fulton and Quitman out in the barrio on the near north side? I think it was even better than the original Ninfa's on Navigation.

 

I remember it well, or pretty well.    It was a great all night greasy spoon for menudo, caldo de res, etc. and as much atmosphere as I've ever experienced. 

BTW...there is still a Las Cazuelas on Little York in the Northside, but I have serious doubts it's affiliated in any way.

This is from "The last of the past : Houston architecture, 1847 to 1915": an inventory and architectural stylistic history of remaining early commercial buildings, Houston, Texas, 1980 / by William Scott Field for the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, the Harris County Heritage Society.

Liberty Hall was definitely an American Legion Hall and not a theater.

It would appear the building that housed the Old Quarter still stands at 300 Austin St. as a law office.

Here is a Link to a Historic Aerial view of the Park.

If you follow the link you can clearly see Peppermint Park written upside down on the big building.

The wife and I are going to one day, but it won't be with the kids.

Are yall gonna neck?

You know make out and all that stuff?

This is a particularly painful exercise for me as Hakeem Olajuwon is involved and apparently

on the wrong end of the issue.

I always had a lot of respect for Hakeem both as an athlete and a person with high

ideals and sound ethics.

Meanwhile, I've signed the petition.

You may be talking about the 'Domain Privee' which was a swanky club and casino for high-rollers

back in the day. If you do a search on this site you'll find out lots of info.

Could it have looked like this?

Does anyone have info on the old mansion (looked like a plantation house to me) that was at the curve on S. Main on the right past Stella Link but before Hiram Clarke? It was on the right on what seemed to me to be a rise. I looked on Google and can see what I think is the outline for the old house and a driveway up to it. I used to look at it through binoculars from my upstairs window facing Willowbend. I imagined it was some sort of 30's gambling casino. There was always something going on late at night in the 60's because I could see comings & goings after the drive-in went dark.

Is there any history/articles/books about this area prior to the late 40's early 50's when they started building neighborhoods for returning vets? Woodhaven and Woodcraft (off Stella Link before Willowbend) were some of the first neighborhoods. Lots of tear downs and MacMansions going up on Woodhaven. There couldn't have been much out there and I wondered how much of the land the homeowners might of had at the time.

Thanks for any input. I love this website.

That's good news as I had given up on the restoration.

I'm sure they were delayed by Hurricane Ike.

This is great news and something that i was hoping for.

I hope they win a good brick award from the Preservation Society!!

I know the owners of this Nash house. All the repairs are being done to look like the original house. The porch flooring has been replaced with material to match the original. The original cypress columns have been repaired and are back in place. The porch roof has been replaced. The siding has now been repaired on three sides. The carriage entrance is currently being repaired and will have a new roof. The railings on the front and the carriage entrance will be put back as they were in 1907. The first coat of paint is a prime coat and some additional preparation is being done. All wood that needs replacing is being replaced with cypress to match the original. It will have at least two more coats of paint. The contractors have very good reputations and the job is being done very well. The siding, flooring, and much of the trim had to be milled to match the original, but like any good historic restoration as much of the original will be preserved. Some of original plaster brackets are also being molded to match the original.

The owners are paying for this job themselves, and they will keep the house as original as possible. The work is being done with the approval of the city since it is a national historical house.

Well, there is scaffolding up in the front center of the home and the

contractor signs are still in the yard as of yesterday.

As I said upthread, one of the contractors is for interior restoration

specializing in kitchens, so it appears that more than painting is going on.

Is the neighbor that generous to tackle a paint job that's probably $100K, as well as a kitchen

restoration?

That home is 6600 sq ft on a 15,000+ sq ft lot. It has both historic and

architectural significance. I'm guessing it would be worth around $2 million

if it was restored properly, but I'm neither a realtor or an investor.

OK, I got a new oldie that hasn't been mentioned:

Huber's Seafood on Travis near Allen's Landing.

I mentioned upthread an oyster bar/seafood restaurant that had live Jazz, but could not remember

the effin' name.

I just talked to my friend Joe a '73 Bellaire grad, living in Portland OR now, and he remembered it

straight away.

Thank God for friends cuz at 53 I'm finding my memory is already not what it used to be.

As far as the restaurant, I remember it mostly for the cold, fresh oysters on the half shell

and the sweet tunes of saxophonist Arnett Cobb.

Maybe some other 'oldtimers' can chime in with their memories of this colorful downtown restaurant.

I am thrilled they are finally painting it.

I got a real laugh out of your "creepy" comment. But it is creepy in a good way.

The house is so wonderful that it deserves to be saved. As I recall, the front porch is going to need some major rotten wood replaced.

And the porte-cochere needs attention as well.

I drove by there today and there are two contractor signs in the yard.

One is a company that does exterior and interior painting, the other is

a remodeler emphasizing updated kitchens.

I'm going to miss the peeling paint.

The unrestored house had a unique "wow!" factor. Nearly everyone who saw it had the same urge to be its rescuer, as if it were a sort of architectural lost puppy. Anyone can repaint a house, but to have the audacity to maintain its threadbare elegance for such an extended period required an exceptional sensibility.

After its restoration is complete, it will be a pretty house - and much less memorable.

HA!

My wife said the same thing. That house was creepy as hell.

I'm not sure there's going to be a complete restoration. As it is, it looks like it needs another coat of paint! $$$

I drove by there a coupla days ago.

It's being painted all white and other work appears to be starting.

Could it have been the Ten Fathoms???

Nope. This place was much more casual. Bustling on weekend nights, open to the street, and

no reservations required.

Does anyone remember a downtown oyster bar in the vicinity of Old Market Square?

I'm not talking about Massa's. This was a full seafood restaurant with an emphasis

on it's fresh oysters and live jazz.

I remember eating there and listening to Arnett Cobb. I think it was the early 80s.

Thought there would be more interest.

Maybe this thread should be merged with this one?

I was driving my daughter around today because she wanted to take some photos of Houston.

We went by what I think is one of the more notable old homes in the montrose/neartown area

and this is what we found:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc115/turgidson/215rwestmoreland.jpg

Don't know to what extent the home is being repaired or restored, but there is a big painting

job going on.

That area has always been a bit strange but it's like a ghost town now.

The BBQ I don't remember. We liked Matt Garner's on W Gray for links and the Lockwood Inn for ribs.

Near the train tracks; anyone remember this place? (I'm not 100% sure about the name; it could have just been "Mel's". My parents referred to the place as "Mel & Bunny's"; I think Bunny was Mel's partner or perhaps his cook.

Bunny Meyer was a gambling pal of my Dad's. To the best of my knowledge, he had

no financial interest in the restaurant. He was the manager.

I had a Mrs. Nesbitt as my 1st grade teacher at Love Elementary. This would have been 1961 to 1962.

I wonder if this is the same lady. I don't recall a missing finger.

Man, I hadn't heard that name in over 40 years. Am I nuts, or did she have a missing finger? That's the image that popped into my mind when I read her name.

Houston Zoo improved?

The rhino had died along with no gorillas when I was there last month.

Also, didn't see hippos or gators.

I did enjoy how the landscaping had matured, but overall I was disappointed.

Finally. someone else who remembers Capri! I've asked other places, but it seems to have had a limited reputation.

I hope someone comes up with the exact location and/or knows of anything in a similar style.

It was at 3810 Farnham St.

The Curve.

Dutch Kettle, anyone?

Ok, no bites.

What about Salvatores?

Dutch Kettle, anyone?

I believe several streets with German-sounding names were changed during World War I.

A look at the 1913 Houston Street Map shows that Waugh Drive through Hyde Park was called Euclid Avenue.

I'm not certain, but I believe "Waugh" was the name of a WWI veteran from Houston.