Downtown, late 1920s

Downtown, looking west toward Sam Houston Hall, late '20s. The Julia Ideson building can be seen left of center.

I found this Sloane Gallery picture while checking out Houstorian, a new blog on local history.

Last of the Ship Channel pics

I thought I had posted all of them, but here is the last photo from the set of Ship Channel pics that I had.

Sam Houston's home

The first photograph is of Sam Houston's old home off Caroline. I'm not sure where it exactly was, but I'm sure it's not there anymore!

The second is of a monument at the San Jacinto Battleground. Hmm...it sure has grown in the last 100 years.

Both photos are from the 1900s.

(Sorry for the lack of updates last week. I've got some things going on in the next few weeks that will indirectly impact BCH in a good way. More about it next week.)

Springtime at the Houston Ship Channel

This aerial photograph was taken sometime around April 1923. To the left is the Turning Basin. Somewhere down the center of the photograph is where Loop 610 would be today.

Turning basin, circa early 1920s

Note bridge at top of photo.

Houston Ship Channel

Two photos, circa 1923, of the Houston Ship Channel area. I have a few more I'll share over the next couple of weeks.

Grants

I took this picture about six years ago, maybe five years ago when I still lived in Houston. This is somewhere near Market Square. I want to say this is at that parking lot on the north side of the Chronicle Building, but I can't remember. It's funny that whoever paved over the lot decided not to pave this part of the storefront.

I want to say this was where Grants dime store used to be, but I'm not sure. Does anyone remember a Grants downtown?

Two photos, two cities

Because I haven't mentioned churches that often, here are two from 1907. First Presbyterian, I believe, was located at Main and McKinney, but someone correct me if I'm wrong. Annunciation Catholic Church, across from Minute Maid Park, was built in 1871 and underwent expansion and reconstruction 13 years later.

I'm almost certain this is a picture looking west down Ball Street toward 21st Street in Galveston.

Muddy day in Houston

Main Street, looking south from Franklin Avenue, circa 1907

(Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been on vacation this week!)

One picture, two buildings

The Horne Sanatorium -- located in the Heights -- was named after Dr. J. Alvin Horne. It didn't last long under his management. The building, which later became the Texas Christian Sanitarium, apparently burned in 1915, according to this Web site.

Both pictures were taken around 1907. St. Agnes Academy was founded in 1905, so it wasn't around for very long in this picture. A brief history on St. Agnes Academy can be found on its Web site.

Two pictures

Texas Avenue looking west at Fannin Street, 1907. Note the Rice Hotel on the far left and the original Chronicle building between the two buildings in the foreground.

And for the Galveston folks...Market Street, 1907.

Two old photographs

Main Street and Lamar Avenue, 1941. You don't have to look very hard to find similar photos of this theater district. In addition to the Loew's State and Metropolitan on the left, the Kirby is on the right. The neon sign on the far right belongs to a "feminine apparel" store. This picture was apparently taken before Woolworth's opened at McKinney Avenue and Main Street.



Travis Street and Capitol Avenue, 1913. Contrary to the note on the photograph, I think the photographer was looking north or northeast rather than east. Anyway, this picture was taken just before renovations began on the old Rice Hotel. Farther up Travis, we see the Southern Pacific Building under construction along with the Union National Bank Building just right of center.

(Photographs used with kind permission.)

More pics from 1935 flood (final set)

Milam Street and Congress Avenue


Milam Street, between Commerce and Franklin. Last time I checked, that building was still there and looks pretty much the same from behind. The front has changed somewhat, I think. That's Bayou Lofts (the old Southern Pacific building) in the background.


This is the northeast corner of what's now Jones Plaza!


This is Louisiana Avenue, looking north toward Texas Avenue. The old city auditorium (now Jones Hall) is on the right.

More photos of the 1935 flood

In the background of the second photo is the old Grand Central Terminal, also known as the Southern Pacific terminal. It opened in 1934 and was torn down in the 1960s to build the downtown post office. More information on that coming soon.

The Great Houston Flood of 1935

This is the intersection of Louisiana Street and Texas Avenue, looking west. To the left is the old City Auditorium. On the right is the Auditorium Hotel, which is now the Lancaster Hotel.

This picture was taken in December 1935 after rains drenched much of downtown Houston and the Houston Ship Channel.

According to the Harris County Flood Control District, damage from the 1935 flood totaled nearly $3 million ($41,414,787.72 in today's dollars) and killed seven people. Twenty-five blocks of downtown Houston were submerged along with 100 residential blocks.

Floods like this one led to the creation of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs located in far west Houston.

More about the Harris County Flood Control District can be found here.

I have a few more photos from the flood, and I'll post them soon.