kayzer

Town & Country opened around 1966. I don't remember when Joske's was built, but Sakowitz opened in November of 1967. I know because I worked there from the time it opened until 1972. Behind Joske's was a mini mall containing a few stores, but the only store name I remember was The Berry Tree. There was also a store called The Mod Mart in the strip center that was on the east side of the street that runs from Kimberley to where Joske's was. It had nice gift items and I still have a glass lampshade that came from there. There was a Mini Max grocery store and SuperX drug store. There was also a James' Coney Island and Demaris Barbeque. They were both on Kimberley. The Mexican Restaurant was Casa Martinez.

As I remember, two of the anchor stores were Joske's (later Dillard's) and J.C. Penney. The Wiki link to old Mall is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_&_Country_Mall

Also, we used to go on the roof of the parking structures and watch the fireworks on July 4th.

I find it odd that nearly every highway has added at least four lanes (two in each direction) since 1978. Katy Freeway has the biggest "improvement" overall. Watch the ol' MKT right of way disappear!

Also: The Woodlands had more trees than it does now. Easy to say when EVERYTHING was REAL woods.

When I moved here in 1979, my dad bought me a street map. The key was to the left of Gessner. That was as far west as Houston went! There was literally NOTHING past Gessner! I spent my birthday that year driving up and down Highway 6 looking for Bellaire. Unbeknown to me, they didn't intersect at the time. Not funny then, but VERY funny now.

Speaking of firehouses, a lease listing just popped up on HAR for a former firehouse, $1900 for a 2 BR with 2 kitchens that still has the original firepoles installed at 910 Hardy.

Awww...those Victorians rock!

Thanks!

Though, the house hasn't been torn down yet, and Hakeem has cooperated with GHPA to some extent on other issues in the past - so I wouldn't assume just yet that he won't make some concession to the historical significance of this building. Even if it's just not charging a non-profit as much as he would a commercial venture for the purchase of the building.

This needs more publicity to push it over the edge. I signed it, though.

Well, whatever goes up there will most assuredly be crap.

No doubt. And sitting on the market forever. If that house had been renovated properly, it would have been snatched up. Stats don't lie.

I wish city ordinances would mandate tax breaks for houses with vintage architecture and that new construction is sympathetic and in keeping with the architecture of the neighborhood. Houston does this crap all the time, and it really fries my okra!

Can't say that I've seen them sell in the Bend. Of all the houses listed for sale in Memorial Bend, none of the McMansions are listed as anything but "active" which means they're just sitting there. Of the 3-4 houses that are option pending or sale pending, none are McMansions.

I'm not surprised about that. When will developers learn?

Actually, I prefer the house next door. I almost thought that was the one you were talking about.

I moved to Sugar Land when it was Sugarland, but way after segregation. I was told that the old part of town with numbered streets were the white houses and the part of town with lettered streets were for black residents. With this in mind I recall the old M.R. Wood School on Avenue F, which I thought had a very nice design. It apparently has now either been torn down or rebuild beyond recognition. I realize that it probably needed to be enlarged, but I'm sad that another of our old buildings have been lost.

Question #1: Where is the former "Sugar Land High School"? From 1950 to 1953, Ken Hall rushed for 11,232 yards for Sugar Land High School. Where is that school today?

Question#2: Are there any older existing schools in the area? It seems they all have been torn down. I know both Sugar Land and Mo City each have an old auditorium, but I think that's about it. Of these 3 cities, Stafford is the oldest established town, yet, I have never seen an old school that serviced it.

Question#3: Do either Mo City or Stafford have areas which were once segregated and where are they located?

Question #4: Does anyone know the history of the large house facing South Main (90A) near Present Street?

Question #5: Does anyone have a photo of the old M.R. Wood School they could post?

Any information or memories you'd like to share would be awesome. Thanks.

I've heard that Sugar Land schools are excellent, and I've heard good things about a lot of different subdivisions in Sugar Land. I'm hoping someone can help me narrow my search a bit by telling me:

1. What are the BEST elementary schools (and high schools, for future reference) in Sugar Land?

2. In terms of access to freeways, and mature trees, are First Colony and New Territory my best choices? Are there others that are close to freeways (and as close to Houston as possible) that also have mature trees?

thanks for any advice/suggestions.

I've been a First Colony resident since '79. We do have mature oak trees and excellent schools with established instructors. Teachers aspire to teach in First Colony Schools; it's a plumb job. Clemens HS is top-notch...check the stats. I see kids walking home from school, often without adult supervision, under huge shady trees looking very happy. Colony Bend Elementary is excellent. There is a lack of after-school programs...however there isn't much interest as there are a lot of stay-at-home or home business moms here. Many kids go to hang out or work in the family business after school. We have three restaurant owners on my street alone!

There are about 50% families and 50% empty nesters/or with older kids (like me)...so there is always someone outside gardening or working in their garage during the day. Most neighbors say "hi" and look out for each other; it's very safe. My only complaint is that neighborhoods built in the late 70s-early 80s were often built hurriedly due to the huge jump in population (mostly Rust Belt & Calif. refugees). Sometimes very cheap materials and/or workmanship was involved. Thank goodness, my dad was in construction and knew what he was looking at.

Move here...pick a good house that was well maintained, have it inspected and you've got it made. When I moved here there was NOTHING except the town, the prison, Aztec Rental and the sugar mill.....now it's all real purrrdy!

I'm looking out at the GRB right now and I'm clear over on Louisiana. At the time it was built, I couldn't make up my mind if I liked it or not. As time passed, it's grown on me. It looks alot better since they repainted the smoke stacks.

Those nightime pictures are awesome. You've got to admit that with the new park, etc. this has to leave a very favorable impression to visitors.

Ewwww~! Sorry. It STILL looks like tiled beached ship washed up from Galveston. Nothing's more puke-provoking than brutalist architecutre with make up on!

Yeah, it looks like it was cheap to build, too. And to make a building ugly from a main N-S Interstate is inexcusable in the late 20/early 21st century. When they ripped the design off from the Pomp. Center in France, that notion got lost in the translation, I guess. It reminds me of the old abandoned auto plants in Detroit...they look nice lit up, too. (except they actually have style and craftsmanship going for them).

I apologize to all out-of-town visitors for it. Then I show them the Wortham.

Me too. This is way too important.

I signed too! Lets stop the demolition madness, already!

I bought my car at Courtesy Chevrolet ("Seventy-Seven, Seventy-Seven, Katy Freeway"). I don't remember it being architecturally all that. Correct me if I'm wrong. Knapp is a must have photo, my favorite. Jack Roach was something special, too. Also, River Oaks Chrysler on Kirby is nice. I got my Rendezvous at David Taylor, a very Colonial/Greek Revival looking building. I have to go there tomorrow, I'll try to remember to take a few shots.

Perhaps it's here:

Harris County Cemetery #2

Native Montrosian: It would seem that the adults of your time missed a fine opportunity for you children to learn about people of different backgrounds and experiences. Imagine what insights the two of you could have had, plus still remained friendly. I so sorry than happened. Like the previous example of the children at Poe not receiving appropriate therapy after the explosion, it just shows how differently we perceived caring for our children back then.

I'm not slighting the previous generation; they did the best they could with what they had at the time, I'm sure. For example, it was thought by not discussing traumatic events that have happened, for example, that children would "forget" about it in time. This was also the mind-set of adults in my own situation. Little did they know......

I like to think that our perceptions and methods of parenting have changed since 1958. Let this be a heads-up to all of us now, with kids and grandchildren of our own, if nothing else.

....The Paradise Island/Rock Island/Island Club was opened from the Summer of 1978 to May 1983. The Virgin Whores, Inanimate Objects and the Businessmen played the last show at the Island Club.

Saw Black Flag at the Island/Paradise Island that I can remember for sure. Did I remember a cool sign outside? Whiskey River was off the SW Fwy at Gessner, I think. Went to "On The Border" too, but a little far for me. In 1980, I started going to the Palace, later the Agora Ballroom. We'd go to the Windsor Theater (photos at: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctwindsor.htm) and walk past the shops to the other side toward the club.

The Time Magazine article icepickphil refers to can be found here:

Time Magazine, September 29, 1958