Specwriter

The TSHA site is talking about West Sr. who lived from 1871 until 1941. Silver Dollar Jim West was his son who lived from 1903 until 1957. The Wests moved to Houston in 1905. The mansion was built stating in 1929. It was designed by architect Joseph Finger who also was the architect for Houston's 1939 City Hall and the 1940 municipal airport terminal. I apologize for the confusion. West Sr. eccentric? Maybe, maybe not. West Jr.? Definitely.

I forgot to comment on this in my earlier post: Amen. What has happened? I wish I had the answer. Just understand the $2,000,000 mansion of today does not equate to the $200,000, or even $100,000 mansion of 80 years ago. Money went a lot further then especially during the depression when many top-notch architects and craftsmen were really hurting for work. Perhaps the nouveau-riche of today are much more nouveau than their predecessors.

Bumpkin or not he did study law at the University of Texas. The fortune was made by his father but he certainly knew how to use it for his own enjoyment. Wealthy, eccentric Texans are practially commonplace. Wikipedia (that unimpeachable source :-) states that "he (West, Jr.) was nicknamed "Silver Dollar Jim", because he would throw these coins toward passersby on the street. He was also called 'Diamond Jim' because of the diamond-studded Texas Ranger badge he wore. He was known to chase criminals right behind the police. West kept a fleet of thirty cars, mostly Cadillacs in or around downtown Houston, which were equipped with an arsenal of 30-35 guns. He became an iconic fixture at Galveston casinos such as the Balinese Room. He is considered to be an archetype for the eccentric Texas oilman." Perhaps we should start a new thread: Rich, eccentric Texans. I'll begin with Glenn McCarthy, H. L. Hunt, and James Marion "Silver Dollar Jim" West, Jr.

Update: Since last April the exterior stucco has been "painted." It also appears as if something has been applied to the tile roof. Additionally, it looks like the parking area has had a coating applied (not resurfaced though). Just yesterday I drove by at about 2:00 pm and saw several large piles of sand around the yard. There were also a couple of men up near NASA Road 1 who looked like they were repairing the low stone fence near the corner of the property. A later drive-by at 6:00 indicated they hadn't done much. If anyone has an idea what is going on at the West mansion it would be nice to know.

I too believe the trend toward medical service centers began before passage of the ACA but its implementation will certainly accelerate the building of these centers. On a side note, does anyone know what is going in to the space once occupied by B&N and Pesce at the southeast corner of Kirby and Alabama?

Yes, I agree it is a minimalist approach. As I said, "least expensive," so hopefully more likely than other alternatives. I can think of a few things I think would be cool to do with the 'Dome and have it left essentially intact and others have given interesting proposals too. I keep coming back to the reality though that those programs would require lots of money and I don't think the county or private investors are likely to make expenditures of that magnitude anytime soon. A thing doesn't have to be grandiose to be evocative.I think that is what is so powerful about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C or the eternal frame at Arlington. Having said that, I do like the idea of keeping the steel framework of the Astrodome because it would be something people could see from the freeway, from other buildings (those that are tall enough anyway), and from the air and it would remind them of the spirit and attitude of the city. My only concern with doing that is what to do with all the ground beneath the structure. Since the floor of the 'Dome is lower than grade already perhaps parking underneath a greenspace is a possibility. Tailgate parties could be complemented by family picnics.

Slash the ticket prices. More fans = more concessions sold even if the prices for those don't change.

Here's my idea. To my mind it seems to be the least expensive (except for just letting the 'Dome crumble into the ground), practical, and mindful of the siginicance of the structure. 1) Demolish the structure and let the larger part of the ground be used for whatever the powers that be think best but . . . 2) Mark where home plate and the 50-yard-line were (sort of like the home plate of the old 'Buff's stadium in th basement of Finger's furniture store. 3) Reserve the ground around those two landmarks for a monument to the memories (notice plural) of the dome. I would move the statue of R. E. "Bob" Smith into this area, add a statue of Judge Hofheinz and build a granite wall somewhat like the one at the Vietnam Memorial in D. C. but not as somber of course. The wall might define the location of the baseball diamond. On one side (probably the 'outside') could be images in relief of notable events held at the 'Dome and on the other side a list of names - a hall of fame, if you will, of notable people who played/performed there. This would include greats from the Astros and Oilers, and other athletes (think Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs) as well as other local entertainers for example, Kenny Rogers and Selena. Well, it's just a thought. Perhaps I should go looking for my old sketch book and Prismacolors. There's just been too many wonderful things that happened in the 'Dome (even apart from great Astros and Oilers games) not to make some gesture acknowledging those events.

Notice under the canvas canopy there is a 1958 Chevrolet (looks like a Bel Air two door hard top). Detroit was all about annual changes in the appearance of its cars then but I can't think of another that was a radical as that between the 1958 and 1959 GM products. My grandmother had a 1957 Pontiac Super Chief two-door hardtop and my father had a 1959 Catalina two-door hardtop. It's amazing those two came from the same manufacturer and only two years apart. Somewhere in a box of photographs in my parents house is a picture of the two cars, side-by-side, in the driveway of our house. Almost as radical was the difference in appearance of Dad's '59 and '64 Catalinas. The latter was also a two-door hardtop but it had no fins and seemingly less than half the bright trim of the '59. The roof had two transverse ribs that made it look like a convertible (sort of). Because the windshiled on the 1959 GM cars wrapped so far up and the back glass on the two-door hardtops did the same, the metal roofs of those cars were small indeed.

About 18 years ago, before it became the UTMB Open Gates Conference Center, an architect friend of mine oversaw a project on the Sealy Mansion in Galveston that was basically a stabilization of the existing structure - fixing leaks, repointing mortar, etc. - to stop deteriorization of the building. Fortunately the Medical Branch was able to realize its completed project shortly thereafter. I can only hope some sort of stabilization is going on at the West Mansion until a viable adaptive use for the building can come about. Some of the things mentioned in the Swamplot article are simply ridiculous, especially the suggestion that the exisiting structure would be used for a high-end clothing or furniture store. I like the idea of a reception and meeting place. In my estimation the main rooms seem large enough and the grounds extensive enough that all sorts of events could be held there. Even events held under canopies on the grounds are possible for a good part of the year (and have been held before) because the lake allows breezes that more "inland" places do not. I live in the 77586 zip code (Seabrook) and my family has often had picnic dinners at the county park on NASA Road 1 and at Sylvan Beach Park even as late as June where we were perfectly comfortable. I have a daughter who may (I say MAY) be getting married in a few years and having the reception for that event at the West Mansion would be ideal. Perhaps the present owner should sell the property (sorry I can't afford it) and use the money to open his couture boutique some place where it might stand better than a snowball's chance on a July day in Houston like Highland Village. Or was that whole Swamplot article jumping the April 1st date just a bit?

I saw some activity going on at the West Mansion last weekend (a big dumpster on the east side of the main house and several workers with a few pickup trucks). There was also a Lull (a brand name of a large fork lift that is used to lift things like construction materials to an upper floor). I've been out of town this week but will be heading down to the area this afternoon. Does anyone know what is happening there now?

There is an interesting article in the book Houston Freeways about why the La Porte Freeway does not extend much past the 610 loop toward downtown. LaPorte_Freeway.pdf

I'll add my thumbs up also. Thanks for keeping HAIF going.

I was told that Ford automobiles (probably Model Ts) where shipped "knocked-down" and assembled on the first floor of the Hogg Building.

Firebird, everything you've said is just as I remember it. Thanks for your efforts on all the history of the Aldine area. At some point a free-standing Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was built between the little strip center containing the U-Tote-M and the first house on Sunnywood in Hidden Valley. At first I thougth that was kind of neat because my mother would never fry chicken at home after a little grease fire incident one Friday night when she was preparing some filleted fish for dinner. It didn't take long for me, however, to become a little nauseated when, on the rare times the wind came from the east, the whole neighborhood smelled like fried chicken. I love the smell and taste of good food before and when I am eating but, after I finish my meal, I don't want to smell it anymore.

The grocery store originally in that space was a Piggly Wiggly. I'm not certain but I believe a regular Rice Food Market preceded the Price Buster. My mother was so pleased when the TG&Y opened. That meant she did not have to drive all the way to the Hancock Fabric store on North Shepherd at Pinemont to get her "sewing notions" (thread, zippers, buttons, etc.) Where the CVS is located there was previously an Eckerd's. Many Eckerd's became CVS when the latter bought the former. Before the Eckerd's there was a drug store that had a soda fountain. I believe it was called Duggan Drug. I do remember that it was a Rexall store. My parents had their house built in Hidden Valley in 1961 and still live in it! They have been there 50 years as of last month. At that time none of the places Houstonaltima mentioned were there. I believe there might have been a U-Tote-M store on FM 149 (now State Highway 249) at U. S. Highway 75 (now Interstate 45). This would be just west of the Shell station at the southeast corner of the intersection. There was also an "ice house" across Halls Bayou; I guess near where Turney intersects the southbound frontage road now. It sold beer, of course, and "set-ups" since liquor-by-the-drink was not yet legal in Texas. My father and Mr. Thorne know each other and speak when they meet but I wouldn't consider them close friends even though they have been neighbors for a long time. Even so, Dad would tell me if Mr. Thorne had passed away and I haven't heard such news yet.

Ziegler Cooper does some outstanding and high profile religious architecture, the new Cathedral being one example. I wonder which church this structure is being built for.

I have to agree, plumber. These men knew how to play politics (and I don't mean that as a bad thing) the way Jascha Heifetz played the violin and their constituency's concerns were somewhat higher on their list of priorities than a lot of our current representation in Washington.

I happened to be driving on Park Place Blvd. west of I45 just yesterday evening and remembering the Burger Haus. Very near there in the early 1990s, at the corner of Poplar and Park Place (now a Mexican restaurant I believe), was an Italian restaurant called Figaroni. I used to stop in there and get pizzas when I lived on Joplin Street. One night my father-in-law was in town and he was a big Italian food fan. We decided to walk to the restaurant and have a meal in the dining room. I ordered the lasagna amatriciana. It was to die for! I asked the waiter to give my compliments to the chef. Who would have thought I would ever be doing so in a place like that. About 5 minutes later this tall, slender man with red hair came out of the back room and introduced himself as the chef. We've been friends ever since. How could I not be a friend to someone who makes dishes like that? Who was he,? you ask. His other two restaurants have been mentioned in this thead also: It was Andrew Rebori of Tutto Bene and Just Dinner fame. Writing this just made me remember the Ballatori Room on Leeland as well. Who else remembers that one?

Jim Hailey must have been a very special person. Unfortunately, he died at a very young age (33, I think). He had a massive heart attack while playing basketball in his own driveway. He and his wife were friends of my parents and he had a daughter my age. Even though I was in grade school when he died I got the impression he was much admired by his students and other adults. Also, to be a high school principal at that young age speaks well of his abilities. Remember that Aldine ISD was entering its "golden age" at that time. Sonny Donaldson and Vernon Lewis were principals when I attended Aldine High. I liked them both. Mr. Donaldson seemed laid back and very in control. Mr. Lewis was a pretty energetic guy and seemed to really want the students to like him. My favorite "teacher" of all was not, in fact, a teacher at the time but my counselor, F. G. Bryant. He passed away a little over a year ago at the still young age of 65. He was retired from the Navy and had been a math teacher before becoming a couselor. He was the most friendly and approachable faculty member in the school. He was also very wise when it came to advising seniors about their futures after high school. In a most ironic twist I sent a condolence card to his widow. She had also been a math teacher in the Aldine district at one time. Shortly after I received a letter from her thanking me and expressing a little surprise that her niece's neighbor would send a card. She did not realize that I had been one of Mr. Bryant's students. She did see, however, that I lived two doors down from her neice. It was news to me too. I called my neighbor and we had a good laugh. She has the same positive opinion of her uncle that I do.

"Smokin' in the boys room . . . Teacher, don't you fill me up with your rules 'cause everybody knows that smokin' ain't allowed in school." As one who attended Aldine schools (elementary through high school; mid 60's through the 70's) I surmise it had to do with "monitoring" behavior. I wonder if the attorneys and civil libertarians have put an end to that by now. I haven't been inside an Aldine school in at least 20 years.

Three I know for sure were built as Safeways are those that were at Airline Drive and West Road (across from Aldine High School), Gulf Bank and Interstate 45 North (was part of a Mazda dealership at one time), and at Bellfort and Telephone Road. I believe the last one is a Fiesta now. None of these though was ever a Weingartens.

This is really reaching back to the farthest and weakest parts of my memory but I believe my parents took some out-of-town guests to Rembrandt's in the late 60's or very early 70's. I remember comments later about the painted ladies and the black lights. If memory serves (and I'm not betting on it), Rebrandt's was located on Market Square across Milam Street.

Firebird, glad to see you back from your hiatus. Your dilignet research on the Aldine area is appreciated. I'm an Aldine alum (won't give much more information than that other than to say I graduated when Vernon Lewis was principal of Aldine High School). I stay in touch with Mr. Wesbrook and am also aware of his knowledge of the district. I don't know what to say about the old neighborhood now but it was certainly a great place to grow up in the 60's and most of the 70's. It seemd as if it might have hit bottom and is on its way back up. I'm heading over there now to pick up my parents and take them to dinner for their 51st anniversary. They still live in the same house they had built shortly after they were married.

Since it was (if it really was) from Randy Pace it is probably authentic. He had a big part in restoring the three late 19th century buildings on Prairie Ave back in the 1990's (one of which housed the Carter & Cooley Deli for a time) so I believe his concerns are sincere. If you don't have a cooperative owner there is not much that can be done and that's a pity.