Historic Houston Streets

by Marks Hinton

  SMITHERS LAKE: Houston Lighting and Power Company (now Reliant Energy) began construction of this man made lake on Dry Creek in Fort Bend County in 1956. Work was completed a year later. The company uses the water to cool the steam-electric generating station located on the banks. 105

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

  SOLOMON: Thomas Ralph – A educator, he was born in Macon, Georgia in 1904. He earned an A. B. (1929) and A. M. (1933) at Wayne State University. Solomon went on to receive a Ph.D from the University of Michigan (1939). He was the second black American to earn that degree in Political Science. Solomon joined the faculty at Prairie View A & M University in 1939. Until his retirement in 1972 he taught history, coached and was Dean of Students. He was elected to the City Council of Prairie View, Texas also. (See photograph on page 297.) 106

  SOLOMON: In the 1870s freed slaves from Alabama moved to northwest Harris County and started a community named Kohrville. Many members of the Solomon family are buried in the Kohrville Cemetery. The Solomon Temple Church of God in Christ still conducts services near the burying ground. (See Cossey.) 107

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

  SORREL: (See Appaloosa.)

  » SOLOMON: Street marker on Prairie View A & M campus

  SOUTH HOUSTON: Named Dumont in 1901 by its founder C. S. Woods of the Western Land Company, it was incorporated in 1913 as South Houston, Texas. In its early years the area was principally truck farming for vegetables and fruits to ship to the farmer’s market in Houston via the old Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad. (See Dumont.) 108

  SOUTH SHORE: This Galveston County road dead-ends at the southern shore of Clear Lake, one of our area’s major recreation destinations. It passes by the South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center and through an upscale residential area of the same name. 109

  SOUTH: (See Parkway.)

  SOUTHGATE: E. H. Borden developed this neighborhood and named the boulevard that is its main street. Because of its location just south of Rice University, it likely recalls the southern entrance to the campus. Rice is known for it magnificent gates that front on Main Street. 186

  SOUTHAMPTON: See Southampton’s English Streets, page 255.

  SOUTHWAY: In 1951 when a Houston Post reporter asked real estate developer B. F. Sturman how he came up with the name of this drive he replied it sounded good in conjunction with the street to its north, Briefway, that he also named. (See Briefway.) 110

  SOUTHWESTERN: This Methodist university opened its doors in Georgetown, Texas in 1873. However, it can trace it roots back to a letter written by Colonel William Barret Travis in 1835 requesting a Methodist presence in the Mexican colony of Texas. In 1840 Rutersville College, a predecessor institution, opened. One of its more famous alums is author J. Frank Dobie (class of 1910.) 111

  SPACE CITY: This street is the northern boundary of NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center near Webster. 112

  SPANISH CAMP: This area was settled by Stephen F. Austin’s colonists in the early 1830s. After 1836 it got its name because General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna camped on Peach Creek near here. Some of the soldiers remained here as the Mexican Army pursued Sam Houston. Legend has it that when they heard of Santa Anna’s defeat at San Jacinto they buried a large amount of gold and fled back to Mexico. So far no treasure has turned up. 113

  SPARTAN: Stafford High School’s mascot is the Spartan, named for the fearsome ancient Greeks soldiers. 114

  SPELL: Daniel – A native of Louisiana, Spell arrived in the Willow Creek region in 1852. 115

  SPENCER: R. H. – He was a county judge in the 1930s best remembered for creating Sylvan Beach Park. An old Pasadena native told me that one of that city’s eccentric characters, George W. “Little Barnum” Christy, a two term mayor as well as circus owner, lent his elephants to the road crews during construction of this highway. (See Sylvan.) 116

  » SPENCER: R.H. – Circus elephants working on construction of Spencer Highway

  SPENCER: See sidebar Brazoria County’s Old Plantation Streets and Roads, page 258.

  SPENCER: Thomas M. – It is possible this west Houston road is named for this gentleman. He was superintendent of the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD from 1942 until 1947. 117

  SPICA: See sidebar Starry Night, page 111.

  SPINDLETOP: This Pearland area street recalls the greatest oil discovery in Texas history. On January 10, 1901 on a salt dome south of Beaumont, Anthony F. Lucas hit the jackpot. The drilling rig began to shake as six tons of drill pipe blew out of the hole. That was followed by mud, natural gas and finally oil – lots and lots of oil – 100,000 barrels per day to be exact. It took nine days to cap the blowout. Beaumont’s population soared from 10,000 to 50,000 as speculators, land men, drillers and gawkers poured into the city to seek their fortune. Some of today’s major energy companies were born during that boom including the Texas Company (now Texaco), Humble (now Exxon Mobil), Gulf (now Chevron), Magnolia (now Exxon Mobil) and Sun (now Sonoco). 118

  » SPINDLETOP: Lucas Gusher blew on January 10, 1901

  SPLASHTOWN: This short Spring area street leads to a water-oriented theme park of the same name. It is owned by Six Flags, Inc., the largest regional theme park operator. In Houston, the company once owned Six Flags Astroworld (now demolished). 119

  SPLENDORA: In the late 1800s this town was called Cox Switch for Charles Cox who was instrumental in getting the Houston, East & West Texas Railroad to extend a narrow-gauge spur here. In 1896 Cox requested the postmaster, M. S. King, to rename the town. King chose Splendora because of the “splendor of its floral environment.” 120

  SPOONER: This Kansan was one of the developers of Pasadena. 121

  SPORTSPLEX: League City opened this 30-acre athletic complex in March 1998. It contains 10 baseball, 7 soccer, 2 football fields and 6 volleyball courts. It is used by Little League, Youth Football, Girls Softball and Youth Soccer teams. 122

  SPRING BRANCH: This street, suburb and the creek share a common name. Located in west Harris County, the farming community was founded as a German religious community. Karl Kolbe was the first settler here in 1830. In 1848 settlers established St. Peter’s United Lutheran Church. (See Kolbe.) 123

  SPRING PINES: The Montgomery County town of Oak Ridge North was developed beginning in 1964 by the Spring Pines Corporation. 124

  SPRING-STUEBNER: Stephen F. Austin’s colonists first settled the area around Spring Creek in the 1820s. In 1838 William Pierpont established a trading post here. Carl Wunsche, a German immigrant, moved here in the mid-1840s. The Goodyear blimp, America, was based in the town of Spring from 1969 until 1992. A major tourist attraction, Old Town Spring, draws antique hunters from all over the region. (See Wunsche and Stuebner.) 125

  SPRINGER CEMETERY: Along this Waller County road are two historic German cemeteries – Springer and Macedonia. The tiny community of Springer was also known as Hegar. Early settlers of the area are interred in these small cemeteries. (See Hegar.) 126, 127

  SPRITE: See sidebar Fairbanks Could Have Its Own Concours d’ Elegance and Road Rally, page 140.

  ST. ANDREW’S: Named for the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of the same name on Scotland’s east coast, pilgrims have been coming here for millennia. Early on worshippers visited the area because the bones of the Saint were rumored to have been brought here from Patras, Greece in 390 A. D. Today the devotees still arrive but for more secular reasons - to try their skills on the oldest surviving golf links in the world. 128

  ST. CLOUD: See sidebar Tennis or Golf, Anyone?, page 348.

  ST. CYR: When an extensive search of “Saint” sites on the Internet produced no St. Cyr, I could not help but think a developer with a good sense of humor perhaps decided to name this Sharpstown area street for Lili St. Cyr, the “Queen of the Strippers,” whose 25 year career started in 1944. Tall (5’6”), curvy (36”-24”-36”), blonde and beautiful she is remembered for her “bubble bath” act w
here she emerged from the bath totally nude except for the bubbles that covered her “forbidden zones.” 129

  ST. JAMES: This English palace in the Westminster borough of London was built as a residence by King Henry VIII. Much of it was destroyed in a fire in 1809. 130

  ST. JOHN: This NASA area street leads to Christus St. John Hospital on the shores of Clear Lake. 187

  ST. JOSEPH PARKWAY: In 1866 two congregations of nuns arrived in Galveston from France. They founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and opened the first Catholic hospital in Texas. In 1887 the congregation moved to Houston and opened St. Joseph Infirmary (now Christus St. Joseph Hospital.) For more than half a century that facility has been a fixture in downtown Houston. This street (once named Crawford) honors that institution’s contribution to the health and well being of several generations of Houstonians including your author who was born at St. Joseph in 1942. (See photograph on page 301.) 131

  ST. LO: This was the name of a U. S. Navy Casablanca class escort carrier that fought in the Pacific in World War II. On October 25, 1944 the St. Lo became the first major warship to sink as a result of a kamikaze attack. She went down in the Battle of Layet Gulf. 132

  STADIUM: Follow this street south from Braeswood and it will lead you to Reliant Park – home of several stadiums including Reliant and the “world’s eighth wonder,” the Astrodome. 133

  » ST. JOSEPH PARKWAY: The old St. Joseph Infirmary under construction

  STAFFORD: In 1830 William Stafford opened a cotton gin and sugar cane mill here. Both were the first installations of their kind in Austin’s colony. General Santa Anna’s Mexican army raided Stafford’s plantation in April 1836 as they gave chase to General Sam Houston who was retreating to San Jacinto. At various times the town was called Stafford’s Point and Staffordville. 134

  STAFFORD’S POINT: (See Stafford.)

  STAGECOACH: This Montgomery County street actually follows part of a 19th century stagecoach route. The developer purchased this land from a farmer named W. L. Swinley and began development on Stagecoach Farms in 1958. In keeping with the old west history of the area other streets have western names such as Broken Spoke and Boot Hill. (See Boot Hill, Tomahawk Trail, Wagon Wheel and Westward Ho.) 135, 136

  STAITTI: I believe this Humble, Texas street is misspelled. H. T. Staiti was a geologist from Marshall, Texas. He formed Staiti Oil Company and drilled his first well in Humble in 1903. This discovery at Moonshine Hill was the beginning of his fortune. Staiti predicted in 1896 that oil would be discovered at Spindletop. His forecast proved correct when Anthony Lucas brought in a gusher on January 10, 1901 that flowed 100,000 barrels per day. Staiti moved to Houston and built a mansion at 400 Westmoreland. You can visit that house in Sam Houston Park where it was moved in 1986. (See Humble, Moonshine Hill, Spindletop and Westmoreland.) 137

  STALLONES: B. E. – He was an officer for the Harris County Fair when it took place in Tomball. He was principally responsible for the dairy entries. In addition he was a founder of the city’s first hospital in 1948. (See Hospital and Tomball.) 138

  STANFORD: Opened in 1891 as the Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto California, it has become one of the finest centers of learning in the country. 139

  STANLEY: See sidebar Fairbanks Could Have its Own Concours d’ Elegance and Road Rally, page 140.

  STANOLIN: This is a misspelling of Stanolind Oil & Gas Company. (See Hasting Field.) 140

  STATE HIGHWAY 105: Paralleling this Montgomery County highway is Old Highway 105 and Old-Old Highway 105. If you live on one of these you best be specific when giving directions. 141

  STAUNTON: See sidebar All Things English, page 175.

  STAVINOHA: In the early 1900s a number of families settled in Needville. This was one. Others include Banker, Fenske, Seiler and Meyer. They operated farms and ranches. (See Needville.) 142

  STEINMAN: Steve – This gentleman was the son-in-law of Baytown area pioneer Quincy Adams Wooster. (See Wooster.) 143

  STELLA LINK: Contrary to popular opinion this Bellaire area street was not named for Mr. Link’s daughter. The street paralleled a railroad line that ran from Bellaire to Stella, Texas, a junction of the International-Great Northern and the Texas & New Orleans Railroads south of Houston. Ergo, it was the link to Stella. 144

  STERRETT: John H. – This old salt was captain of the steamboat Neptune during the Battle of Galveston on New Years Day of 1863. He was seriously wounded in the leg during that skirmish resulting in his having a pronounced limp for the rest of his life. Following the War he prospered as a boat captain plying the waters of Galveston Bay and the surrounding bayous. He held the position as commander of the Houston Navigation Company, a firm that regularly operated three steamboats between Houston and Galveston. 145

  STEVENS: James H. – Stevens is another bigger than life Houstonian. He came to the city in 1840 and opened a general store. This was the start of his rather sizable fortune. Interested in politics he served as a representative from the 2nd Ward and was elected Mayor in 1855. He invested in the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad, allowing him to increase his wealth through the transportation of cotton. In his will he bequeathed $5,000 to the city to build a school. Other Houstonians matched his gift and Houston Academy was founded. 146

  STEWART: Amos – This early settler in La Marque donated land for the city’s second school in 1895. Originally called Highlands for its location on Highland Creek, the city was renamed by postmistress Madam St. Ambrose when another town had already laid claim to Highlands. It means “the mark” in French. 147

  STEWART: Charles Bellinger – This Montgomery, Texas pioneer was a true Renaissance man. He was born in South Carolina in 1806 and came to Texas in 1830. Stewart was a physician, pharmacist, scientist and horticulturalist. He was the first man to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence, fought in the Texas Revolution, acted as interpreter for General Sam Houston with the captured Santa Anna, was the first Texas Secretary of State and designed the Lone Star flag to mention just a few of his accomplishments. He opened a drugstore in Montgomery in 1837. (See Montgomery.) 148, 149

  STEWART: J. M. – Doctor Stewart and John. H. Wright opened Katy’s first drugstore in 1904. In addition, Wright is credited with certain municipal improvements including the water system and the installation of telephone lines. 150

  STEWART: Maco – Born in Galveston in 1896, Stewart was educated at Culver Military Academy and the University of Texas and its Law School. During World War I he was a captain in the Marine Corps First Aviation Force. Stewart was a very successful businessman. He was president of Stewart Title Company and a director of American National Insurance Company. Stewart was actively involved with the Texas State Historical Society. He passed away in 1950. 151

  STILLWELL: William Shaler – This Texas soldier fought at the battle of San Jacinto. 152

  STOCKDICK SCHOOL: Katy was ringed by one-room school houses named for area families. Adam Henry Stockdick was an early settler here. A school and drive are named for that family who have also been residents of Katy for years. (See Stockdick.) 153

  GONE WITH THE WIND TOO FAR

  Serious Gone With the Wind junkies will fall in love with this neighborhood the second they hear the name – Twelve Oaks. Everything about this tiny community is related to Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel and Hollywood’s 1939 blockbuster motion picture Gone With the Wind. Twelve Oaks is the plantation of Ashley Wilkes. He is a southern gentleman who although married to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton Wilkes, still has amorous feelings about the book’s heroine, Scarlett O’Hara. She lives on her plantation, Tara. Scarlett is enamored with the protagonist Rhett Butler, a raconteur and Confederate blockade runner. Brent and Stuart Tarlton are twin brothers who live on a nearby plantation and with whom Scarlett periodically flirts. Belle Watling owns a brothel in Atlanta and is Rhett’s mistress. Also remembered here is one real life character associated with Gone with the Wind, David O. Selznick, the moti
on pictures’ producer.

  The title is often erroneously thought to come from a line of Scarlett’s when she wonders if Tara is still standing or has “also gone with the wind which had swept through Georgia.” It actually is from the third stanza of Earnest Dowson’s poem Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae: “I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind.” 47

  STOCKDICK: Adam – This gentleman was in the real estate business in Katy, Texas. 154

  STONE MOUNTAIN: See sidebar the Antebellum Streets of River plantation, page 122.

  STONEHENGE: There are five Houston area streets named in honor of this most famous and mystical ancient place. One of the most important archeological sites in Britain, this circle of huge standing stones is located on the plains near Salisbury. Construction was started around 3,000-2,500 B. C. Clearly the ancient people who built this phenomenal henge had excellent engineering skills as well as a solid knowledge of astronomy. A “henge” is a circular earthwork ditch or bank. Often these embankments contain circles of standing stones or timbers. 155

  STONES THROW: (See Maple Valley.) 156

  STONEWALL JACKSON: See sidebar the Antebellum Streets of River Plantation, page 122.

  STRACK: E. F. – This man owned a farm near Cypress Creek in 1875. In 1974 the Texas Department of Agriculture started a program of registering farms and ranches that had been in continuous operation for 100 years or more. Strack Farm is one of a handful of Harris County properties so registered. It is likely this family arrived in the area from Germany prior to 1850. Land records show two brothers, Henry and Herman, who were blacksmiths, were included in the 1850 U. S. Census. 157

  STRAKE: George William – This oilman and philanthropist was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1894. He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps in World War I. In 1927 Strake moved to Houston and began drilling for oil near Conroe. In 1931 he hit the mother lode. The Conroe Field became the third largest reserve of oil in America. He donated much of his estimated $200 million fortune to educational institutions, civic organizations and charities. Strake was a huge backer of the Boy Scouts of America, donating thousands of wooded acres near Conroe for a camp. (See camp Strake.) 158