marmer Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 The Witch's Hat House, from the Houston Architectural Guide, second edition. I used to see this house all the time because I used to bank at Gibraltar, now Bank of America, on San Jacinto and it was right across the street. In the late 80's it looked pretty sharp and slowly deteriorated. Sad, but no one wanted to live there in those days. Interestingly, it won a Good Brick award in 1981! 1 Quote
silverartfox Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 To the best of my recollection, the Witch's Hat House used to be the location of the Hallie Prichard Dance School, a popular place to study tap, ballet, etc., in the 1950's-1960's. Someone with an old city directory may have more accurate information. 1 Quote
musicman Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 the house i'm talking about is in garden villas. the house in the pic is different. Quote
texianjoe Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 the house i'm talking about is in garden villas. the house in the pic is different.They are talking about the Witch Hat House near downtown. The one you are talking about if memory serves me right is behind the Whataburger. My brother reminded me this weekend. You turn off of Telephone onto Haywood and at the first right there is a house on the Y, it is right next door on the left, all you see is the drive entrance the house is set way back. If this is the house it was for sale about 8 years ago. I was told by the realtor it once belonged to a bootleger and had tunnels underneath leading to a small creek that goes to Sims Bayou incase a quick escape was needed.joe 1 Quote
west20th Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 (edited) To the best of my recollection, the Witch's Hat House used to be the location of the Hallie Prichard Dance School, a popular place to study tap, ballet, etc., in the 1950's-1960's. Someone with an old city directory may have more accurate information. That house was demolished and replaced by a bath house . The "witches hat" was at the architural antiques place on Westheimer for a time, don't know where it ended up. Edited January 8, 2007 by west20th 1 Quote
Frank M Posted May 30, 2007 Posted May 30, 2007 I think that is the 'Witch's Hat' house that was off Fannin (I think) near what is now close to Mid Town.FM 1 Quote
dbigtex56 Posted May 30, 2007 Posted May 30, 2007 I think that is the 'Witch's Hat' house that was off Fannin (I think) near what is now close to Mid Town.FMNo, the Witch's Hat house's turret was shaped differently (a sort of concave cone, if that makes sense.) 1 Quote
marmer Posted May 31, 2007 Author Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) No, the Allen-Paul house (Witches Hat house) looked like this: Photo by Gerald Moorhead, FAIA, from the _Houston Architectural Guide_, first edition, 1990, by Stephen Fox and Gerald Moorhead. This looks like an 1880s Victorian, maybe in what would become Midtown? Couldn't find a match on http://www.houstonhistory.com/poduct2/album3/jsalbum.html Most houses that looked similar were built around 1895. Edited May 31, 2007 by marmer 1 Quote
plumber2 Posted September 2, 2007 Posted September 2, 2007 Oh. I loved the "Witches Hat House". My mom lived on the south side as a young girl and walked by this house every day on her way to St Agnes Academy. She said it was scary looking after dark. I remember someone saved the cupola and stored it on a piece of property in MidTown for several years. 1 Quote
Ross Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 Witches hat house was in Midtown, where Club Houston is near theTexaco on Gray and San Jacinto (I think it was the SE corner of Webster and Fannin). The turret cap was stored at the architectural antiques place that used to be on Westheimer near the antique shops. I remember seeing it there in 1998 when we moved to Midtown. 1 Quote
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted September 6, 2016 Posted September 6, 2016 http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Part-of-the-historical-Allen-House-is-restored-at-9201848.php#photo-10872025 1 Quote
EastEndNative58 Posted July 12, 2017 Posted July 12, 2017 I just joined this forum and am browsing topics. I searched the Witch's Hat House and Musicman's old post/inquiry about the Witch House brought to mind the beautiful gem of a house referred to as the "Witch's Hat House" located at 2201 Fannin St. I fell in love with this house back in the late 70's to early 80's when an architectural firm was housed there. It was still beautiful then. I just read an article dated 8.26.16 in the Houston Press , I believe , where the house was demolished but the turret or better known as the Witch's Hat survived and is at a park in sixth ward as the top to a gazebo. Great reading and has beautiful pictures of this lost gem. On another note, I am familiar with Garden Villas but not the witch house referenced in Musicman's original inquiry. Must explore. Totally loving this forum. EastEndNative58 3 Quote
Highrise Tower Posted August 12, 2023 Posted August 12, 2023 Cool building! Very witch like. You can also see the sign for Hallie Prichard Dance School. Quote
EspersonBuildings Posted August 18, 2023 Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) And you can also see the original Club Houston bathhouse to the right, which is now located where this gem of a house once stood. Great picture Highrise! I have fond memories of driving by this house as a kid whenever we ventured into downtown. Edited August 18, 2023 by EspersonBuildings 1 Quote
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