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Oh yeah, I forgot about her, and Jacqueline Smith was the name of the other model/ actress who had a clothing line at Kmart. Foxmulder, I don't remember the vents. And I moved from the area way before it actually closed. I always thought it was a long drive, though, from Allen-Genoa at Hwy 225 (Oak Meadows). Sage was closer, Winkler at I -45.

Nice list Sevfiv, never realized they were affiliated. We went to the Lewis & Coker grocery store on Southmore, late sixties.

What was the store that was located at the northern tip of Gulfgate layout? The building was painted white, with green, striped cloth covered windows, on black rod fixtures? It sat closest to the church? Joske's just south-east of it, had multi-levels with flood control doors, for basement entrance level. and had granite boulders outside that entrance, by the hill. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfgate_Mall It was Sakowitz. I have a picture of it somewhere.

If it was Gulfgate, in the 1970's, it was either in Sakowitz or Joske's stores. Dillard's replaced Joske's in later years, eighties, maybe.

Magnolia Park, Central Park and Harrisburg were annexed in the late 1920's - 1926, I believe. They were outside the city limits. I'm assuming 2nd Ward was considered the limits of the East End of Houston until that time.

Yes, I agree, Wallingford, very creepy story, especially if you were a kid. With the Spanish moss hanging down, in those trees, very spooky! They left the headstones, yeah, too heavy to move. Yet, the pros are right across the bayou, Forest Park. Hope they got all the bodies.

The Simms Estate was featured in a research article, in the Houston Country Club Place Newsletter. It had many great local history articles of that particular area. And nice photographs. You could read the articles on-line at the HCCP newsletter site. I recently tried, and could not access the information, anymore. Maybe they will publish the material. It's really great research data. I wrote the elected officials about the information, never got a reply. I had no idea that large estate stood on that property. I grew up passing by it, and visiting a relative in HCCP. I also was never aware of the mansion overlooking the bayou, on Pasadena St. Wish my grandmothers were around, to ask, or my great Uncle Curtis. They date back to the area, as far as 1910, at least. One of our old family houses (sold years ago) sits across from TelWink grill. Old letters talk of the building of the Electric Railway to Galveston.

Thank you Dr. Bissonnet, for sharing your rich family history. Sorry for your loss. My grandfather served in the army, in WWII, Japan. I've traveled down Bissonnet many times, nice to know the story behind the name.

Haha...that's a funny name. I can't recall any of my relatives ever mentioning that name. Sorry. 4 generations, too. I've looked at a lot of maps, too. Never Buttermilk. Will keep that in mind, when researching.

I did find one article, mentioned the Spencer Hwy. location-Kmart was constructed in 1962.

Descriptions of Kmart? It was a very generic, rectangular building, nothing spectacular. I recall red poles, to match the large red K and smaller turquoise "mart" letters. Closest competitors in the sixties would have been Globe and Sage. Imagine a dime store... on a much larger scale. Kind of like Newberry's in Gulfgate. I think poor management was the main reason for their failure. They seemed to have big names associated with the store (Kmart) that worked, for a while. That model/ Charlie's angel and Martha Stewart, before her arrest, were good promotional names for the store, in later years.

I talked to CemeteryWolf about this very same cemetery topic. It wasn't that long ago. I'll look for the link. See post 5 >

http://houstorian.wordpress.com/old-houston-maps/ A HAIF members extraordinary Map link, might help.

I grew up going to the Kmart on Spencer Highway. It sat just west of Pasadena Plaza.

Subdude, so I guess it would have resembled the Memorial Parkway (is that the name?) that runs from Downtown Houston through Memorial Park to Loop 610 West? I did read (in one of those freeway documented history articles) that the "Harrisburg" freeway stubs were removed a short time ago. It was probably when construction started on the ballpark and/ or soccer stadiums, on the East End of Downtown. The article did mention lack of funds as being a reason for no completion, as well as neighborhood opposition. the 1970's was the time of the massive building of the ship channel bridge. I can recall when that was completed.

Speaking of that area...I saw photos of Shrimpf Alley ( in that general vicinity) on Pinterest, recently. They were the only ones I have ever seen. That was the area where the Clayton Homes were eventually built, after a donation from "said" party. It was done to clean up the area, supposedly.

Yes, indeed, 4 wards in the beginning. Later 6.

Oh, please Say it isn't So! ...one of my all time favorite buildings painted white with black trim... No, no, no!

That's interesting, about those freeway entrance/ exit stubs. I want to see a picture of them, now. Photos probably exist somewhere. I never noticed them, probably because we never went thay way.

I find that neighborhood extremely fascinating! Such history and great architectural contributions. Someone really needs to research and document it's history, for posterity. Joseph Finger ~one of my favorite Houston architects.

I can't respond to that other Gulfgate topic, it's locked. So I will write my reply here...Very good memory about the Cinema bathrooms. I had forgotten about the sinks in every stall. That was a beautifully designed movie theater. As a child, I always wanted to go to that one, instead of Park Place or Broadway theaters, with grandmother. Of course now, I can appreciate their beautiful design, as well. Welcome to HAIF, and use the search feature. You will find many great discussions on the topics you recall .