Historic Houston Streets

by Marks Hinton

  » HEINER: An 1881 advertisement for architect Eugene T. Heiner

  HELEN: See Florence.

  HEMPHILL: John – This lawyer and Indian fighter arrived in Texas in 1838. By 1842 Hemphill was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas. He took over Sam Houston’s U.S. Senate seat in 1859. He strongly supported secession and, during the Civil War, served in the Provisional Confederate Congress. Sixth Ward developer William Baker named this street for Hemphill after the Chief Justice ruled in favor of Baker’s son in a case in 1856. (See Henderson.) 33, 34

  HEMPHILL: R. “Bob” B. – For opening one of the first automobile dealerships in Baytown in 1939, he was honored with this street.35

  HEMPSTEAD: This highway leads to the town of Hempstead, Texas, once a station on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. Dr. Richard R. Peebles and James W. McDade founded it in 1856. Peebles named the town in honor of his brother-in-law, Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, who was a native of Portsmouth, Ohio. In the early 1900s Hempstead earned the dubious nickname of “Six-Shooter Junction” because of the contentious nature of the various political groups that lived there.36

  HENDERSON: J. W. – Sixth Ward developer William Baker named this street after this attorney who won a case for Baker’s son before the Texas Supreme Court in 1856. (See Hemphill.)37

  » HENKE: Mausoleum in Glenwood Cemetery

  HENKE: Henry – In the late 1880s this German immigrant was a prosperous wholesale and retail grocer and liquor distributor. Old line Houstonians will remember the grocery chain of Henke & Pillot that operated for many years until being sold to Kroger. His first place of business was Henke’s New Orleans Store, an emporium on Congress Street, opened in 1872. Business boomed and he soon needed facilities to serve out of town clients so he opened Henke’s Wagon Yard nearby that functioned as a camping ground for these customers. 38

  HENRY MORGAN: See sidebar Pirates of the Caribbean, page 280.

  HENRY SHREVE: This gentleman played an important role in the development of steamboats. His designs proved to be more technologically advanced that those of the more famous Robert Fulton. Captain Henry Miller Shreve, commanding a battalion of U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, cleared a 180-mile long raft of debris that clogged the Red River. The project took five years (1833-1838). This feat allowed the 1,600 mile river to remain navigable until 1914 when it began silting up. It was not dredged due to the rising use of railroads to move goods. In 1836 a town at the junction of the Red River and the Texas Trail was named Shreve Town in his honor. Three years later it was renamed Shreveport (Louisiana). 39

  HENRY: John – This was a prominent citizen of Aldine who operated a poultry breeding business in the early 1900s. 40

  HERCULES: See sidebar Space City U.S.A. or “Houston the Eagle Has Landed”, page 106.

  HEREFORD: In a pastoral neighborhood just south of Pearland a number of the streets are named for famous breeds of cattle. This breed was developed in Herefordshire, England 250 years ago. It arrived in the U. S. in 1817 when Henry Clay of Kentucky imported a herd. It is mainly raised for beef. 41

  HERMANN MUSEUM: The Houston Museum of Natural History is on this street. Attendance totals over 2 million visitors annually (second to only the American Museum of Natural History amongst non-Smithsonian museums). Founded in 1909, much of the collection was acquired between 1914 and 1930. The building we see today was erected in 1969. Outstanding permanent exhibits include: Cullen Hall of Gems & Minerals, Lester and Sue Smith Gem Vault, Weiss Energy Hall, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and Wortham IMAX.

  » HERMANN: George H. Hermann’s funeral procession passes through downtown Houston

  » HERMANN: George - tombstone in Glenwood Cemetery

  HERMANN: George H. – He was a man destined to become one of Houston’s greatest philanthropists. Hermann was born August 6, 1843 in a log cabin where the City Hall reflection pool is today. He came from humble beginnings. His parents arrived here in 1838 with $5 and three kids. Mrs. Hermann pawned her jewelry so they could open a bakery. George’s first job was as a stock keeper for Governor Lubbock’s Simms Bayou ranch. Active in the Civil War, he served with distinction in Company A of the 26th Cavalry. Hermann took up cattle ranching in 1872. He made his fortune on livestock, land and oil. In 1885, as Houston’s importance as a world port increased, he traveled by train to New York City and caught a steamship to Europe. This tour was possibly the only big indulgence he allowed himself in his long and frugal life. When the Board of Park Commissioners was formed in 1910, Hermann was one of its founding members. Later that year Hermann gave the land where he was born to the city for a park. One condition of the gift was that anyone who was drunk could sleep it off in the park without being arrested. The reason: Hermann did not want to constantly bail out his employees, thus wasting time and money when they could be working. On May 30, 1914 he gave the city 278 acres of beautifully wooded land that became Hermann Park. He died October 21, 1914. Hermann Park officially opened July 4, 1915. As Hermann never married, his estate, valued a $2.5 million, was willed to a foundation to build and operate a hospital. Hermann Hospital, constructed at a cost of $1 million, commenced operations July 1, 1925. He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery beside his parents and two bachelor brothers. 42

  HERNDON: John H. – He was a wealthy real estate developer in the Richmond/ Rosenberg area. 43

  HERRIDGE: The neighborhood where this street is located was called Oak Ridge in the 1930s. It was developed by Herridge & Company. 44

  HEWITT: Thurman – This gentleman was real estate developer Frank Sharp’s in-house home architect. (See Frank Sharp.)45

  HIALEAH: This street is named for the beautifully landscaped Hialeah Park and Race Course in Florida. This visually stunning horse race track is famous for its large flock of flamingos. 46

  HICKOK: James Butler – Best known as Wild Bill Hickok, he was born in Illinois in 1837. He moved west to become a stagecoach driver. Hickok became famous as a skilled driver, marksman and gunfighter (carrying two Colt 1851 Navy revolvers), scout, lawman and professional gambler. It was in this latter profession that Hickok met his maker. While playing poker in a Deadwood, South Dakota saloon Jack McCall shot him several times in the back. At the time Hickok was holding two pairs – aces and eights. Ever sense, poker players have called this a “dead man’s hand.”47

  HICKORYTEX: See sidebar Howdy Tex, page 263.

  HICKS: A. – This gentleman was the first real estate agent in Tomball. He and his brother, Howard, owned Homeseekers Land & Loan Company. He later became manager of Tomball Townsite Company. William Malone, a major land owner in the area, owned that firm. (See Malone and Tomball.)

  HICKS: Earl or Thomas B. – See sidebar Houston Streets Named for Men Killed During World War I, page 22.

  » HIDALGO: Miguel Hidalgo, father of Mexican Independence

  HIDALGO: Padre Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was the father of Mexican Independence. This Roman Catholic priest was born in the state of Guanajuato in 1753. Prior to the revolution Hidalgo was not only a humanitarian but an entrepreneur as well. He started a night school for artists, operated a pottery plant, a tannery, vineyard, olive grove, carpenter shop, smithy and wool weaving looms. In addition he raised silkworms. On September 15, 1810 he called for the overthrow of the Spaniards from his pulpit and began leading a rag-tag army toward Mexico City. Successful early on, Hidalgo was betrayed by a traitor. Spanish authorities executed him before a firing squad on July 30, 1811. However, his courageous efforts did lead to the independence of Mexico. 48

  HIGGINS: The Higgins Oil Company was one of the early wildcatters in the Moonshine Hill section of the famous Humble oilfield, located in the town of the same name. (See Humble and Moonshine Hill.)49

  HIGHLAND BAYOU: From its source south of La Marque this bayou travels 12 miles southeast and empties into Jones and West Bays. At its mouth is a brackish water marsh. 50

  HIGHLAND: (See Highland Bayou and Hitchcock.)

  HIGHLAND: Studemo
nt was developed by Varner Realty Company in conjunction with Mike and Will Hogg (who later joined forces with Hugh Potter to develop River Oaks). Executives at Varner named the streets in the subdivision. Miss Dorothy Witt, a resident of Studemont since 1929 (the streets were not even paved when she moved there), believes Highland was named because of its elevation above Buffalo Bayou.51

  HIGHLANDS WOODS: Located on the east bank of the San Jacinto River, it was named because the east bank was higher than the west. The town of Highlands was a station on the Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western Railroad. For a time the community was also know as Elena.52

  HIGHLIFE: Houston Distributing Company’s property abuts this road. They are the local distributor of Miller High Life Beer.53

  HILDEBRANDT: John – In the 1870s this gentleman owned a sawmill in the area of north Houston where this road is today. The land where Hildebrandt Intermediate School is located was originally farmland owned by the family. A descendant, Paul Hildebrandt, was a founder of the Farmer’s Market on Airline Drive.54

  HILLENDAHL: Heinrich – The first of the Hillendahl family arrived from Hanover, Germany in 1851. Heinrich bought 80 acres in the Spring Branch area for $2 an acre. By 1896 Spring Branch was called Hillendahl, Texas. He was one of the founders of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is buried along with other family members in a small cemetery in the parking lot of an auto repair shop on Long Point and Pech.55

  HILSHIRE GROVE: This street is in Hilshire, one of the six incorporated Memorial Villages. A local landowner, Frank Bruess, named the Village for an English country estate.30

  HINKLE’S FERRY-CHURCHILL: Churchill Bridge is a small Brazoria County community located on the banks of the San Bernard River. It was named for Andrew S. Churchill who arrived here in 1836 and built a ferry landing. In 1875 postmaster Lewis T. Bennett bought the ferry and 200 acres of land from Churchill. Bennett changed the name to Bennett’s Ferry. When the Bennett family sold the land the place was renamed Churchill Place and later Churchill Bridge when the ferry was retired and replaced by a highway bridge. (See Hinkle’s Ferry.)56

  HINKLE’S FERRY: A small town was located here near the San Bernard River ferry crossing on FM 2611 southwest of Brazoria. The place and the ferry were named for J. V. Hinkle who owned a general store and was also the town’s postmaster in 1884. Your author recalls using this little ferry in the 1950s and 60s to reach our family compound on Caney Creek. If memory serves me correctly it only carried two or four cars per crossing. (See Old Caney and San Bernard.)57

  HINTON: W. H. – Dr. Hinton was named first president of Houston Baptist College in 1962. The school opened in September of 1963 with a freshman class of 193 students. He remained very active with this institution of higher learning until his retirement as University Chancellor in 1991. There is no indication that your author and Dr. Hinton are related.58

  » HINTON : Entrance to Houston Baptist College

  HIRAM CLARKE: Hiram O. Clarke was an executive vice president of Houston Lighting & Power (now Reliant Energy). In addition he was chairman of the committee to build the San Jacinto Monument as well as vice president of the Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years. Clarke also headed the drive that secured funds to build the Downtown YMCA. This street and the power station on it are named for him.59

  HIRSCH: John – An immigrant from Germany, he settled in the Tomball area in 1856.60

  HIRSCH: William – This German immigrant settled in Tomball in the 1800s as did hundreds of other families who fled the wars of Europe at that time for a better life in the New World. William Hirsch owned the Hirsch Cotton Gin and was a founder and director of the town’s first bank, First State Bank of Tomball. Some of the family members are buried in Siedel (Rosehill) Cemetery. (See Siedel Cemetery.)61

  HITCHCOCK: Jonas Butler bought a league of land here in Galveston County in 1848, naming it Highland as it was on the banks of Highland Bayou. About 1873 it was renamed for Lent M. Hitchcock when his widow, Emily, donated a 450-foot wide tract of land to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad for a depot if they would name the town after her late husband. (See Camp Wallace and Highland Bayou.)62

  HOAD DEUCE: Lew Hoad was an Australian tennis professional and two-time Wimbledon champion (1956, 1957). Going into the 1956 U.S. Open he had posted victories at the Australian and French Opens as well as Wimbledon and was seeking the Grand Slam of tennis by winning all four majors. However, he lost the final in four sets to Ken Rosewall. Deuce is a tennis term for each player in the match having the same number of points.63

  HOBBY: This Fort Bend County road recalls a ghost town from the 1920s. Between 1919 and 1925 a salt mine opened and oil was discovered nearby. Hobby became a boom-town full of gambling houses and saloons. The name was later changed to Blue Ridge. The town disappeared when the land was sold to the Texas prison system in 1936.64

  HOCKLEY: The town of Hockley lies northwest of Houston on U.S. 290. The Bauer-Hockley road recalls George Washington Hockley who established the town in 1835. This was one of many towns served by the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. It is possible that Bauer was named for one of the early European immigrants who came to Texas in the mid-1800s and settled in this area. 65

  HODGE’S BEND: Alexander Hodge was born in 1760. He fought in the American Revolution under the command of “Swamp Fox” Francis Marion’s South Carolina Brigade. He arrived in Texas in 1825 as a member of Austin’s Old 300 families. He named his 1828 land grant Hodge’s Bend. Two of his sons fought in the Texas Revolution. 66

  HOFFMAN ESTATE: This street in the Tomball area, most likely remembers Charles F. Hoffman who opened the city’s first general store. He may have also owned a sawmill in nearby Rosehill. 67

  HOFFMAN: This Kansas gentleman was one of the early investors in the development of Pasadena. Alvida Munger named this street in his honor. 68

  HOGAN: James B. Jr. and Thomas M. - These brothers came to Texas in 1836 to help the fledgling Republic gain her independence. Both fought with Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto. Following the revolution, James opened the first blacksmith shop in Houston on Main Street. He was elected sheriff of Harris County in 1850 and served in that position until 1854. Thomas won election to that post in 1854 and held it for the next two years. He is remembered for pursuing a murderer named Hyde to Louisiana where Hogan arrested him. Upon their return to Houston, Hyde was publicly executed in the first legal hanging in the city’s history in 1854. Retiring from public life, the men opened Hogan’s New Hotel on Market Square. Both are buried in Founders Memorial Park on W. Dallas. 69

  HOGAN’S ALLEY: Ben Hogan was one of America’s greatest golf pros in the 1940s and 50s. Born in Dublin, Texas (the only place on the planet where you can still buy Dr. Pepper made from the original recipe at the local bottling plant) in 1912 Hogan began his professional career in 1937. Winning the P. G. A. Tournament in 1946 and 1948, he was in an almost career ending car wreck in 1949. Hogan made an amazing recovery and comeback, going on to win four U. S. Opens, two Masters and one British Open. 70

  HOLCOMBE: Oscar – Holcombe is one of Houston’s legendary politicians. First elected mayor in 1921 he would be re-elected 11 times. In 1922 the Ku Klux Klan controlled many county offices. The Klan asked Holcombe to fire three city administrators who were Catholic. He refused and the KKK set out to defeat him in the most outrageous campaign in the city’s history. In their newspaper the KKK claimed Holcombe was a drunk and a gambler. Actually he was a member in good standing of the First Baptist Church and had no known vices. Slandered by a rumor that he shot craps at a New Year’s party, Holcombe challenged the Klan to prove it. He asked the Baptist Ministers Association to try him on the charges. The Klan produced two witnesses who claimed they peeked over the transom and saw the Mayor but he produced six attendees who swore Holcombe was not there. He won acquittal and a second term. Early in his career he became known as the “Gray Fox” for his political showmanship, cunning and premature silver hair. Holcombe was a good businessman
and became very wealthy through investments in lumber, home building, gas stations, apartments, oil and a turkey farm. He combined the power of city manager and mayor giving mayors of Houston more power than those in other American cities. Under his administrations the Harris County Navigation District and the Houston Independent School District were created. Once while the mayor was out of town the city council changed the name of the street on which he lived from Marlborough to Holcombe and it remains so today. 71

  » HOLCOMBE: Mayor Oscar Holcombe

  HOLDERRIETH: All we know about this gentleman is that he was Fritz Bogs’ partner in a cotton gin in the Tomball area. (See Bogs.)72

  HOLIDAY: This Galveston street is a double entendre. Many people enjoy taking a holiday in the sun in this beach town. However, the street also led to a large Holiday Inn here that no longer exists. 73

  HOLLY HALL: Located near the Astrodome, this street leads to a retirement community of the same name. 74

  » HOLMAN: Mayor James S. Holman

  HOLMAN: James S. – He was elected district court clerk of the County of Harrisburg in early 1837. The City of Houston was incorporated a few months later and Chief Justice Andrew Briscoe called an election. Holman was elected the first mayor in a tight contest, collecting 12 votes to Francis Lubbock’s 11 and Thomas W. Ward’s 10. After this cliffhanger there were no reports of hanging chads, lawsuits, lawyers, Supreme Court intervention or sore losers. 75

  HOLMES: H. H. – I believe this road located south of south loop 610 West is named for this land developer. In 1912 Holmes purchased acreage here and named it Sunnyside. He marketed the development to blacks. Holmes platted lots and built homes that could be purchased for as little as $10 down and $10 a month. The first black woman in Texas to earn a private pilot’s license lived here.76