boiler room

The best way to find info on Dowdy online is to make sure you do searches for all permutations of his name: Wilkes Alfred Dowdy; W. Alfred Dowdy; Wilkes A. Dowdy; W.A. Dowdy; Dowdy, Wilkes A.; etc.

Though he served as city architect in Houston (and so drafted plans for things like a renovation of the city auditorium), he also designed buildings outside Houston, such as the San Jacinto County Courthouse.

Finding blueprints for a city building may require a search of some repositories beyond just those you mention - they're probably somewhere in the city records if the library doesn't have them. Per an old newspaper article, Dowdy presented detailed plans for the hospital (and the nurses home built on the same land - so I'm guessing also the boiler room) to the "hospital board" on March 22, 1923. I'd suggest you start by figuring out what form the city's hospital board took in that time period and where the hospital board's records are kept. Seems like there's a decent chance the blueprints would be with the hospital board records, assuming they haven't been destroyed.

I know you said that you'd already checked with the library, but make sure you've checked with the Houston Metropolitan Research Center specifically. Their hours may still be affected by the construction on the Ideson building, but they're the people who would know if the library has the blueprints.

Others may have other suggestions for you.

Wow, Thank you so much! You have been a wonderful help.

Shoot grades and measure the structure yourself, sheeesh.

Hi portent,I can do that and will, but I because the building was built in 1924 I wanted an original concept to work from. I wanted to try and preserve what the architect did originally, as to give credit to his art. I am also not an architect, but a hard working artist that lives in the restored building beside the hopeful restoration. I have been working for months to try and come up with a concept for the space behind where I live. A community art space that would greatly benefit a struggling area.

Hope I didn't come off harsh, I am just very passionate about the building and area!

Yes, please give us more information. Which building? What is the address? Can you tell us more about the grant? Anything else would help..

I have just received an OK from the owners of the building to do research on funding. I have just sort of reached a stand still in my research of the building. In order for me to do a primary sketch, I would really appreciate the original layout of the building. (as I told Tmariar it is the "boiler room" behind the Jeff Davis Hospital.

Any ideas?

Dowdy did design more than one building, and where you would look for blueprints would depend on the building. I'm assuming you're not referring to Jeff Davis Hospital given it was recently renovated. Can you give us more information?

Hi Tmariar, I actually am referring to a building on the same grounds of the Jeff Davis Hospital. It is the "boiler room" directly behind the renovated building. I was just granted a positive response from the organization who owns the building, to do some research for possible funding sources. The address is the same as the Hospital, 1011 Elder Street.

Any information on Dowdy, or the original design of the building would be very helpful.

Thank you for your response!

Hi, this is a long shot, but I am at the beginning stages of a grant to restore a beautiful 1920's structure here in Houston.My problem is, I can't seem to find the blueprints for this structure. I would like to preserve the architects origional ambission so getting his origional plans would be key. This is the only building that he has designed,( from what I have researched) so resources on him and his building are close to none. Does anyone know where I could find such documents? I have contacted everyone from The Public Library, to the Historical Archives, and beyond.

The Architect's name was Wilkes Alfred Dowdy,

Thanks for your time!