Historic Houston Streets

by Marks Hinton

  SARATOGA TRAIL: Named for the famous horse racing track in Saratoga, New York, it is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in America, opening August 3, 1863. Since 1864 it has been the site of the Travers Stakes, the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in the U. S. Saratoga’s nickname is “Graveyard of the Favorites.” Man o’ War suffered his only defeat in 21 starts. Secretariat, a Triple Crown winner, was upset by Onion. And Kentucky Derby winner Gallant Fox was beaten by 100-1 long shot Jim Dandy in 1930. (See Secretariat, Gallant Fox, Man o’ War and Triple Crown.) 20

  SARTARTIA: Now a ghost town located south of Sugar Land, Texas, in 1907 it was the location of the corporate offices of the Imperial Valley Railway. This rail line was created to serve the needs of the Imperial Sugar Company. Although the plans for this railroad were grandiose, only five miles of track were ever laid. There was also a plantation here of the same name. Today the site is a real estate development named New Territory. 21

  SASQUATCH: In pseudo-scientific language this beast is known as a crypto-bipedal primate. To the rest of us it is an unclassified two-legged mammal usually called Bigfoot or Yeti. The first sightings of this mysterious ape-like creature came from American Indians in the northwest hundreds of years ago. It is usually described as covered with hair, standing 6 to 9 feet in height and weighing 300 to 1,000 pounds. The Sasquatch seems to prefer remote areas and shuns human contact. This street is located near Montgomery County, a rural, less populated area. There have been eight reported sightings in that county with the latest being on February 28, 2005. We do not know if alcohol was involved in any of these reports. 22

  SATCHMO: Louis Daniel Armstrong was born in New Orleans August 1, 1904. He has been described as “perhaps the most important American musician of the 20th century.” He came to prominence in the 1920s with his innovative playing of the cornet and trumpet as well as his famous gravelly singing voice. His genres included Jazz, Dixieland, Swing and Pop. Satchmo was also a master of scat singing or wordless vocalizing. He passed away in 1971. 23

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

  SAUER: Reinhold – Some evidence indicates this street is named for an early Dutch settler who owned property north of Brays Bayou west of where Herman Park is today. It is more likely that it is named for Private Herman Sauer who was killed in action in France during World War I. He was also Conrad Sauer’s youngest brother. (See Conrad Sauer and sidebar Houston Streets Named for Men Killed During World War I. page 22.) 24

  SAXET: This is one more of our streets that is a word spelled in reverse. It is Texas backwards. (See Lemac and Remlap.) 25

  SAYERS: This street lies northeast of downtown and recalls a family of early Houston settlers. 182

  SCANLIN: (See Scarcella.)

  SCANLOCK: D. – He was a 2nd lieutenant in Company D of the 11th Texas Volunteer Infantry under Walker’s Texas division during the War Between the States. 26

  SCARBOROUGH FAIR: Located on a sandy peninsula on the east coast of England near Yorkshire, Scarborough was given the right to hold an annual fair by King Henry III in 1253. For centuries it was held on the beach there. It was made famous by the 1970s rock stars Simon and Garfunkle. 27

  SCARCELLA: In the early 1900s Stafford was a booming place and many families were moving there as were these people. Others joining them were Scanlin and Vaccaro families. (See Stafford.) 28

  SCARLETT: (See O’Hara and sidebar Gone with the Wind Too Far, page 303.)

  SCARSDALE: The Farm & Home Savings Association of Nevada, Missouri developed this southeast side neighborhood in 1969. They opted to use a New York theme in naming the streets including the main street, Scarsdale, that is a suburb of New York City. Others follow the score including Gotham, Flushing Meadows, Nyack, Algonquin, Teaneck, Barbizon, Astoria, Amsterdam, New Rochelle and White Plains. 29

  SCHAUER: Stephen and Elizabeth – This couple, like so many in the Tomball area, emigrated via the port of Galveston in 1854. Their home had been in Brandenburg, Germany. 30

  SCHENDEL: August – (See Needville.)

  SCHERER: George – He arrived in Rosehill in the 1850s. In 1852 he was a founding member of the Salem Lutheran Church. The Scherer family donated land to the church for a burial ground. Many of the tombstones are written in German. By the 1880s Scherer was a very successful cotton gin operator. 31

  SCHERZO: See sidebar It’s Music to My Ears, page 218.

  SCHIEL: Numerous families from Germany arrived in the Houston area during the 1800s. Among them were the Schiels. Many of them are interred in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, a burial ground established in 1878. Another early resident, Henry Raatz, donated the land to St. John’s Lutheran Church for this graveyard. Other Schiels are interred in the Fritsche Cemetery. (See Lutheran Cemetery and Fritsche Cemetery.) 32, 33

  SCHILLING: Nicholas – He was a doctor who immigrated to the Baytown area from Bavaria. Schilling originally built a lean-to on the bank of Cedar Bayou where he practiced medicine. If a patient had no cash the good doctor would accept produce in exchange for treatment. He later built an office/house that may be seen today in a state park in Anahuac. 34

  SCHLUMBERGER: This street was named by company management as it formed the western boundary of the property owned by this oilfield service company’s North American Wireline Division in east Houston. 35

  SCHOLL: Ignatius – The first wave of German immigrants arrived in Texas in the 1840s. A second group came here 20 years later. Scholl arrived in 1869 from Fulda, Germany. Hundreds of German immigrants left for Texas in the 1800s. Many settled west of Tomball, Texas. The Scholl family members are buried in the nearby Siedel Cemetery (often called Rosehill Cemetery). (See Siedel Cemetery.) 36, 37

  SCHOOL ROAD: This street leads to Missouri City Middle School and E. A. Jones Elementary School in Missouri City. 38

  SCHOOL: Tomball Intermediate School is on this street. 39

  SCHULER: Marion – See sidebar Houston Streets Named for Men Killed During World War I, page 22.

  SCHWARTZ: These early German immigrants settled in the Rosehill area where they were members of the Rosehill United Methodist Church. Services in this sanctuary were held in German until World War II. 183

  SCOTT: Henry – This Rosenberg street is most likely named for this gentleman who received a league of land here from Stephen F. Austin in the early 1830s. 40

  SCOTT: William – This Baytown street is named for one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred. In 1824 Scott received a land grant covering in excess of 9,000 acres where the city is today. He operated a sawmill, gristmill, cotton gin, general store and wharf. Rumor has it that Scott contributed the blue silk to make one of the first State flags in 1835. Scott is credited with naming the area Baytown. (See Baytown.) 41

  SEA BISCUIT: If this street were spelled Seabiscuit, residents could point to a thoroughbred that won Horse of the Year honors in 1938. In 2003 Universal Pictures released a wonderful film about the “never say die” thoroughbread. The movie was based upon the book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. However, as it is designated on the city map, sea biscuit is another name for hard tack, a tough bread made from flour and water. 42

  SEA-LAND: This company operates container vessels used in international marine trade. With about 70 ships and over 200,000 containers, Sea-Land’s business is worldwide. Containers are protective steel boxes 20’ or 40’ long into which cargo is placed. They are loaded and shipped on ocean going vessels. Upon arrival the containers are offloaded onto trailers or railroad flat cars for delivery. 43

  SEABROOK SHIPYARDS: This large facility is the oldest of the Houston, Clear Lake and Galveston Bay area full service marinas. It was founded in 1939. (See Sydnor.) 44

  SEABROOK: (See Sydnor.)

  » SEALY: Sealy-Hutchins Building on the Strand in Galveston

  SEALY: Anglo-Americans began arriving here in the 1820s. Soon, nearby San Felipe would become the capitol of Stephen F. Austin’s
colony. In 1875 the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad (GCSFRR) bought land and laid a track. Sealy was established in 1880. It was named for George Sealy, a director of the GCSFRR. The town rapidly developed into a market and manufacturing center because of its good access to the railroads in the area. The most famous business started here was the Sealy Mattress Company. 45

  SEALY: John Hutchings – Born in Galveston in 1870 he was the son of John Sealy who co-founded Hutchins-Sealy Bank. When his father died he became a full partner in that financial institution. This civic minded Galvestonian was instrumental in the Seawall construction as well as the grade raising. Sealy was president of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad and the Galveston Wharf Company. He founded Magnolia Petroleum Company and sold it to Standard Oil Company of New York for a small fortune. He was greatly involved in philanthropic efforts and is most remembered for giving the city the John Sealy Hospital that he named for his father. When Sealy died in 1926 he was reportedly the wealthiest man in Texas. 46

  SEATTLE SLEW: Another Triple Crown champion, this rough and tumble thoroughbred had the mentality of a bone-crushing fullback combined with the destructiveness of a middle linebacker. In the 1977 Kentucky Derby he got off to a slow start. Forced to come from behind he banged Get the Axe out of the way, sideswiped Sir Sir and shoved three more horses toward the outside rail. Spying the leader, For the Moment (literally), Slew took up chase. He captured the lead at the head of the stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths. (See Triple Crown.) 47

  » SEAWALL: It was pre-cast and assembled in sections

  » SEAWALL: As it looks today

  SEAWALL: The citizens of Galveston knew they had to do something radical to protect the city following the destruction caused by the Great Storm of 1900. In 1902 they decided to erect a seawall to separate the city from the Gulf of Mexico. It was to be 17 feet high, 3 miles long and made of solid concrete. Construction began in October 1902. The work was done by J. M. O’Rourke & Company who built the wall in 60 foot sections. The job took one year and four months to complete. The wall started at the South Jetty on the Island’s east end, followed 6th Street to Broadway and then paralleled the beach to 39th Street. To protect Fort Crocket the U. S. Government added a one mile section in 1905. Over the years it was extended several more times, finally reaching its current length of 10.4 miles in 1960. Since Hurricane Ike blasted Galveston in 2008 there has been talk of extending it to protect the beach houses on the West End. 48

  SEAWOLF: Located on Pelican Island in Galveston, this street honors the USS Seawolf, a submarine that was sunk by friendly fire on December 28, 1944 while on her 15th combat patrol. A Japanese submarine had fired on the 7th Fleet task force. While seeking to find and sink the ship the U. S. destroyer Richard M. Rowell unknowingly mistook the Seawolf for the Japanese submarine and sank it with depth charges. This road leads to Seawolf Park where visitors can tour the USS Cavala, a submarine built in 1943, and the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort that went into service in 1942. 49

  SECRETARIAT: This Triple Crown winner is the stuff of sports legends like Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Joe DiMaggio and Jack Nicklas. His 2 1/2-length victory in the 1973 Kentucky Derby in 1:59 2/5 is one of only two times under 2 minutes and a record that stands until this day. In both the Run for the Roses and the Preakness he came from last to first to win in record time. In the Belmont he annihilated the field with a 31-length margin of victory. Secretariat was virtually a unanimous choice for Horse of the Year in 1972 and 1973. (See Triple Crown.) 50

  SECURITY CEMETERY: Originally known as Pocahontas, the name was changed to Bennette in honor of J.O.H. Bennette in 1902. Bennette sold his acreage to Security Land Company and the name was changed again. Security suffered the fate of many small Montgomery County towns — the timber supply dwindled and SH 105 bypassed it. These events caused most of the population to move elsewhere. The historic cemetery remains, however. 51

  RULES CONCERNING PUBLIC STREET NAMES

  The process of naming our streets is governed by a strict but not lengthy law. You can find the regulations in Chapter 42, Section 133 of the Houston City Code of Ordinances. That ordinance is reproduced below:

  1) The name of a new street that is not an extension of an existing street shall not duplicate the name of any existing street located within the city or the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

  2) The name of a new street that is a direct extension of an existing street shall be the name of the existing street, except in those instances where the existing street name is a duplicate street name.

  3) Street name prefixes such as “North,” “South,” “East” and “West” may be used to clarify the general location of the street, provided that these prefixes must be consistent with the existing and established street naming and numbering system of the general area in which the street is located.

  4) Street name endings shall be used as follows:

  a “Court,” “Circle” and “Loop” shall be limited to streets that terminate at a cul-de-sac or are configured as a loop street.

  b. “Boulevard,” “Speedway,” “Parkway” and “Expressway” shall be limited to major thoroughfares or other streets designed to handle traffic volumes in excess of normal neighborhood traffic generation or that are divided streets with at least two lanes of traffic in each direction separated by a median.

  c. “Highway” and “Freeway” shall be used only to designate highways or freeways falling under the jurisdiction of the state department of transportation.

  5) Alphabetical and numerical street names must not be used to name any new street on any subdivision plat except in those instances where the street is a direct extension of an existing street with an alphabetical or numerical name that is not a duplicate street name.” 46

  SEGUIN: Juan Nepomuceno – This hero of the Texas Revolution fought with James Bowie at the Battle of Concepcion, participated in the Siege of Bexar, was sent from the Alamo to request reinforcements, fought a rear guard against Santa Anna during the retreat to San Jacinto and joined Sam Houston there to participate in the battle that gained Texas her independence. In addition he was elected to the Republic of Texas Senate, fought Comanches during Senate recesses and served as mayor of San Antonio in 1841-1842. He died in 1889 at the age of 83 while living in Nuevo Laredo. (See James Bowie.) 52

  SEIDEL CEMETERY: At the end of this short road is the Seidel Rosehill Cemetery. Most of the people interred here were German immigrants and their descendents including members of the Juergen family. (See Juergen.) 53

  SEIDEL: The Rosehill area of north Harris County was appealing to many German immigrants who came to Texas. This family settled there in the 1800s and became members of the Salem Lutheran Church in that community. 54

  SEILER: (See Stavinoha.)

  SEMINARY RIDGE: Much fighting occurred here during the massive and bloody Battle of Gettysburg on July 1-3, 1863. Seminary is just one of several ridges including Herr and McPherson’s, from which the Confederates launched their attack on this Pennsylvania town. (See Gettysburg.) 55

  SEMINOLE CANYON: See sidebar The Most Scenic Spots in Texas, page 310.

  SEMMES: Raphael – This Mobile, Alabama native was an admiral in the Confederate navy. 56

  SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN: The 270 miles of this highway (also known as U. S. 59) from Laredo to Houston were renamed in honor of this Texas senator. Bentsen was born in Hidalgo, Texas in 1921. He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He flew 35 combat missions over Europe and won the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. From 1949 until 1955 he was a U. S. Representative. Then he went to work in the financial sector and had a very successful business career. Bentsen was elected U. S. Senator in 1971 and served until 1993. President Bill Clinton made him Secretary of the Treasury in 1993. He died in 2006. 57

  SERENADE: See sidebar It’s Music to My Ears, page 218.

  SETTEGAST: Empirical evidence leads me to believe this street is named for the Settegasts
, an old line Houston family. (Many family members are buried in the historic Glenwood Cemetery off Washington Avenue.) They were large land owners in this area. It is likely the large (375-acre) eastside railroad yard named Settegast Yard (opened by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1950) is also named for them. The family is still prominent in the city today and operates Settegast-Kopf Funeral Home. 58

  SETTLERS VILLAGE: This northwest Harris County street recalls the old town of Settlers Village that was once located along the banks of Dinner Creek. (See Dinner Creek.) 59

  SEWANEE: This is the nickname for the University of the South, an arts and sciences college and theology school in Sewanee, Tennessee. It opened in 1868. 60

  SEYMOUR: The original plan of Pasadena was platted on the Vince & Seymour surveys, land named for two early settlers. (See Vince.) 61

  SHADDER WAY: This peaceful little street looms large in the urban legendry of River Oaks. My mother swore this story was true. It seems that a lady wanted to buy an oversized lot on this street. The developer refused to sell her so much property so she filed suit. She won in court and neighbors suggested naming the street Shadder Way because “she had her way.” True, part true or apocryphal? Who knows? Of course it could have been named by Mrs. H. A. Kip, the wife of the River Oaks Corporation vice president, for the street in London. But that’s nowhere near as good a tale. 62

  SHADOW CREEK: This parkway leads into the 3,500 acre lake-themed master-planned community south of downtown in Pearland. It is named for the famous Tom Fazio golf course of the same name in Las Vegas. That property was the ultra-exclusive retreat of casino magnate Steve Wynn (Bellagio, Treasure Island, Wynn, etc.). Wynn owned the name and guarded it jealously. Fortunately, an investor in the Pearland development was an old pal of Wynn. After hearing that the development was to be first class, Wynn allowed his friend to use the Shadow Creek name. 63