A ton of fun in Houston

The main carrot on the stick for me on this time traveling expedition primarily deep, deep into the farthest reaches of southern Houston was the neon sign pictured above. In a really good way, it was my Kurtz, if you will. Will you? I really couldn't tell whether or not the charming little motel was still open, but it looked like it was in good shape and possibly motor court style lodging at one time or another. Maybe now!


The journey into Houston's recent and distant history began at the 1893-94 Oriental Textile Mill, which is located in the Heights. For those of you playing along at home, the first occupant was A.R. Morey and Company, producing mattresses.

The 1905 Arthur B. Cohn House is pretty unique. According to the Texas Historical Commission atlas narrative, the house was constructed "on or near the site of an earlier house built in the late 1860s." When the THC narrative was written (early 1980s, I think), the Cohn House was being bullied by "a three-story, solid brick, commercial structure," which can be seen in the early '80s pic used with the assessment. That brick structure is gone, yet this place remains. Downtown Houston sprung up nearby, yet this place remains. Minute Maid Park, Discovery Green, Toyota Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center have all come up nearby, yet this place remains......

Next to the Cohn House is another survivor, the William L. Foley House (1904). The skyscraper in the background is the 1927 Petroleum Building, but more about it in a second.

The William L. Foley (his nephews started the Foley's department store) family built this Classical Revival home in 1904 and lived in it until 1963. The house had to be moved in 1909 when the railroad purchased the Foley's land at 1617 West Avenue. The new address was one block away. It was moved a third time in 2002 to its current spot, next to the Arthur B. Cohn House.

Another couple of the Arthur B. Cohn House (with the city looming behind):



Petroleum Building c. 1927, Art Deco


The Beaconsfield Apartments c. 1911, Abstract Neoclassical


It would be very easy to overlook this little gas station. It's a Crown Oil Company service station from 1957. It's practically Googie.




Glenview Apartments c. 1955

It was immaculate - sort of like a Brady Bunch set.





This cool little pharmacy has been around since 1950




And last, but not least, the carrot in hand: