IronTiger Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 With rumblings of College Station's proposed takeover of Wellborn, I'm sure that Houston has probably sucked up independent suburbs that were once not in Houston city limits. While some have been surrounded (West University Place, Jersey Village), I'm sure others didn't survive. Does anyone know some of the old cities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Some aren't annexed or even in Harris county (and some may just be train stations), but I made a map a while ago listing area names from maps from 1915/1916:http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=205937566729555760537.00049573ecca37d11c3c6&t=h&z=9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Read through the "Sole of Houston" series at Houston Press. I recall John Lomax mentioning some long lost places in his treks up and down major roads.Another curiosity along these lines is that the phone calls from my home phone in west Houston between Westchase and the Energy Corridor used to list Buffalo, TX on one of the bills. Think I've seen that on bank statements for some charges at local businesses, too. Looked up Buffalo and it's nowhere near the Houston area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 With rumblings of College Station's proposed takeover of Wellborn, I'm sure that Houston has probably sucked up independent suburbs that were once not in Houston city limits. While some have been surrounded (West University Place, Jersey Village), I'm sure others didn't survive. Does anyone know some of the old cities?Sunnyside was its own town until Houston annexed it in 1956. There's also Bordersville (located on old FM 1960 between Lee Rd. and U.S. 59), Almeda, Alief and Riceville (SW Houston). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specwriter Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I'm not sure if all the places on the list were incorporated at some time before annexation. One that was is the Park Place neighborhood. My recall of the dates may be inexact but I believe it was from about 1909 to 1921. I visited the Park Place Branch of the Houston Public Library back in the late 1980's, before its latest renovation. At that time it was a 1950's building wrapped around the original early 20th century library. The staff librarian at the time showed me a box of old documents and photographs giving evidence the early property owners wanted to incorporate so they could pass ordinances prohibiting their neighbors from letting their livestock run free. Apparently, incorporation had the desired result but only a decade later the citizens of Park Place decided to dis-incorporate and allow themselves to be annexed by the booming City of Houston. Their thinking at the time was they would get better municipal services (police and fire protection primarily) from the larger CofH. I wonder what would be the result if a similar vote was taken today. Just think Park Place could have been "The Other West University Place." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 Don't forget Houston Heights, annexed in the early 20th century. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Just north of Houston Heights was Independence Heights. It was the first black municipality in Texas and incorporated in 1915 with a population of 600. Independence Heights had shell paved streets, plank sidewalks, and a municipal water system. Their City Hall/Courthouse was located at or around 700 E. 34th. There's a structure standing at N. Main and Link that looks to be a ringer for it or another structure from that time period. Independence Heights was annexed by Houston in 1929. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I found this building on the east side of town just off of Harrisburg I think it is the old Harrisburg fire department and city hall building. How about Frost town which was located near Minute maid park is down town is and 59 runs right over it now. About all that is left of the place is one road and a bridge. Clinton Park on the far east side of Houston was also once a stand aloe community until anexed by Houston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Clinton Park on the far east side of Houston was also once a stand aloe community until anexed by Houston....to the chagrin of burn victims. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Director Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 I found this building on the east side of town just off of Harrisburg I think it is the old Harrisburg fire department and city hall building. How about Frost town which was located near Minute maid park is down town is and 59 runs right over it now. About all that is left of the place is one road and a bridge. Clinton Park on the far east side of Houston was also once a stand aloe community until anexed by Houston. Where is this building located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Where is this building located? It's at 73rd and F and is the old Magnolia Park City Hall https://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.737181,-95.294788&ll=29.736415,-95.294514&spn=0.005362,0.006968&num=1&t=h&z=18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyf Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Awesome find Hunter! HCAD still has the building listed as a fire station built in 1950. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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