Historic Houston Streets

by Marks Hinton

  WHEELER: Rebecca Wheeler named this street in honor of her family. In 1873 she married Benjamin C. Simpson, a New Yorker who came to Houston in 1859 and later fought in Hood’s Texas Brigade on the Confederate side in the War. Her father, Daniel G., was an owner of Phoenix Iron Works. The Wheeler’s lived in a family compound on the block bounded by Main, Rusk, Travis and Capitol. 52

  WHIDBEY ISLAND: Dwight Dawson speculates that someone based at the naval air station on this Washington State island may have named this street. 53

  WHIRLAWAY: In 1941 this thoroughbred won the 67th running of the Kentucky Derby by eight lengths. His trip around the track was done in record time (2:01 2/5), a mark that stood for 21 years. Legendary jockey Eddie Arcaro was in the irons. This thoroughbred went on to win the Triple Crown with victories at the Preakness and Belmont with Arcaro aboard. This difficult colt was the first winner for the legendary Calumet Farm, an organization that went on to breed eight more Derby champions. (See Triple Crown.) 54

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

  WHITE: Francis Menefee – He fought in the Texas Revolution, seeing action at the Siege of Bexar and the Grass Fight. White entered politics and held a number of elected positions, the most important being commissioner of the General Land Office (1857-1862). Sixth Ward developer William Baker named this street for him. 55, 56

  WHITING: Harvey – He arrived in Texas from Connecticut in 1833. Whiting was a jack-of-all-trades. He practiced medicine, operated a farm and ranch on Oyster Creek and ran a boot and shoe manufacturing plant in the Baytown area. Whiting treated both Texas and Mexican soldiers who were wounded at the Battle of San Jacinto. He died in 1852. (See John Martin.) 57

  WICKED WICKET: In the classically English game of cricket the action centers around two wickets, three wooden stumps topped by two sticks called bails. A bowler (pitcher) delivers a ball toward a batsman (hitter) whose job is to keep the wicket from being knocked over by the ball. If he fails and the wicket falls, the batsman is out. A wicked wicket is British slang for a wicket that is particularly difficult to knock over. 58

  WICKERSHAM: (See Larchmont.) 59

  WIGGINSVILLE: This rural community south east of Conroe was started in the early 1900s. In 1931 the Conroe Oilfield was discovered nearby. When oil production ceased so did Wigginsville. 60

  WILDER: Joseph – This man came to Texas in 1836 and enlisted to serve with Captain John Hart’s Company at Velasco. At San Jacinto he fought under the command of Captain Richard Roman. During the Texas Revolution soldiers were paid in land for their services. The men were given a certificate to exchange for 640 acres. Since Wilder did not cash in his voucher and they were non-transferable we must assume he died shortly after the Battle of San Jacinto or left the state. 61

  WILDING: Anthony “Tony” Frederick – This New Zeeland native was a champion tennis player. Wilding was ranked number one in the world in 1913. He won singles titles at Wimbledon (4), Australia (2) and a bronze medal in the 1912 Olympics. He enlisted in the Royal Marines during World War I and was killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in France on May 9, 1915. 62

  WILKES: See sidebar Gone With the Wind Too Far, page 303.

  WILKINS: Horace M. – He was the president of the State National Bank of Houston. Following the death of Monroe D. Anderson, Wilkins was named successor trustee of the M. D. Anderson Foundation in 1940. Colonel Bates acknowledged Wilkins work in creating the Texas Medical Center saying, “He was a wise trustee with farsighted vision, judgment and discretion. He deserves a full share of credit for the worthwhile things the Foundation has done.” (See Bates.) 63

  » WILLCLAYTON: William Lockhart clayton

  WILL CLAYTON: As one of the founders of the hugely successful cotton brokerage company, Anderson, Clayton & Company, William L. Clayton established the base for his fortune. Clayton and his wife Susan lived at 5300 Caroline Street (today the Clayton Geological Library). He would walk to his office in the Old Cotton Exchange Building at 202 Travis, a distance one way of about 2.5 miles. A philanthropist and civic-minded citizen he served as Undersecretary of State in the Truman administration in the 1940s. 64

  WILLIAM TELL: This 14th century Swiss hero was forced to shoot an apple off of his son’s head with a bow and arrow for refusing to acknowledge Austrian supremacy over Switzerland.

  WILLIAMS: Amanda, Daisy, J. W and Marion – This family filed the plat for Mont Belvieu in 1922. (See Barbers Hill.) 65

  WILLIAMS: Austin M. – This gentleman was a farmer and grandson of pioneer William Scott. His home on Pleasant Point, near Baytown today, was known as Point Comfort. (See Scott.) 66

  WILLIAMS: Samuel May – Born in Rhode Island in 1795, Williams arrived in Texas in 1822. The following year Stephen F. Austin hired him as a translator and secretary. He became postmaster at San Felipe and a tax collector as well. For his service he received eleven leagues (almost 50,000 acres of land) between Oyster Creek and Buffalo Bayou. Following the Texas Revolution he and Thomas F. McKinley formed a commission house that dominated the cotton trade in the Republic. Williams was an investor in the Galveston City Company that founded that city. He moved there, became interested in banking and lived there until his death in 1858. (See McKinney and Oaklawn.) 67

  WILLIAMSBURG: See sidebar America the Beautiful, page 176.

  WILLIAMSON: Jerome – There is a good possibility that this street is named for this early Houston area resident (1860-1928). He is buried in Tetter Cemetery located north of this road. (See Tetter Cemetery.) 68

  WILLIS-OLD WAVERLY: Waverly was founded in the mid-1800s. When the citizens refused the Houston & Great Northern Railroad a right-of-way in 1870 the tracks were laid 10 miles away at a town they named Waverley Station. As that town began to prosper many people move there and the name was changed to New Waverly while the population losing Waverly added Old to its name. Today little remains of Old Waverly. (See Willis-Waukegan.) 69

  WILLIS-WAUKEGAN: Galveston merchants Peter J. and Richard S. Willis donated this Montgomery County land for a town site along the Houston & Great Northern Railroad in 1870. Early on it was an agricultural and lumber market town. Unlike many towns in this area that depended on lumber, Willis survived and had a population of 3,985 persons in the 2000 census. (See Waukegan.) 70

  WILLOW CREEK CEMETERY: This Tomball area road leads to the old Willow Creek Cemetery. During the mid-1800s the village of Willow Creek, named for the nearby watercourse, was located here. In 1837 Claude Nicholas Pillot established a farm in the area and is buried in the nearby Pillot Cemetery. (See Pillot.) 71

  WILLOW CREEK: This 18 mile watercourse runs through northeast Harris County, emptying into Spring Creek. Early settlers named it for the plethora of willow trees that lined its banks. The small community of Willow derives its name from the creek. Settlers arrived in the 1830s. An unusual fact about this area is while most of the early pioneers were German immigrants this spot was first settled by the French. Claude Nicholas Pillot, a farmer, arrived in 1837. For a time the area was called French Settlement. (See pillot.) 72, 73

  WILLOWICK: The Santa Anna, California Willowick Golf Course was built in 1928. Although this is a beautiful street, the links for which it is named are not visually exciting. 74

  WILLOWTEX: See sidebar Howdy Tex, page 263.

  WILMA-LOIS: Pasadena real estate developer Herbert Tatar named this street for his daughter-in-law (Lois) combined with the name of his partner’s daughter (Wilma). 75

  WILSON: Emma – Churchill Fulshear, Jr. hired this lady in the 1860s as a housekeeper and children’s nurse. Wilson was such a faithful employee and adopted member of the Fulshear family that when he died in 1892 Fulshear left the bulk of his estate to her. She also operated the first dairy in Fort Bend County. (See Katy-Fulshear.) 76

  WILSON: James Theodore Dudley – This Missouri native arrived in Texas in 1835. He served as a private in the Republic of Texas Army, participating in the capture of the Mexican sloop, Correo Mexicano. I
n 1837 Wilson came to Houston and became one of our city’s first real estate developers. He served as mayor from 1877 until 1879. 77

  WILSON: Woodrow – This tragic figure was the 28th President of the United States (1913-1921). Although significant legislation was passed on his watch including creation of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Trade Commission as well as the graduated income tax and the Clayton Anti-Trust Bill, his failure to make Congress enroll the U.S. in the League of Nations left him a broken man. The pressure of this shortfall resulted in Wilson suffering a stroke and becoming incapacitated, unable to exercise the duties of President. However, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1920. 78

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

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

  WIMBLEDON: This peaceful London suburb becomes the focus of the world of major tournament tennis each June when the best players match their talents in the All-England Tennis Championship. A win in this tournament assures the victor tennis immortality. (See Agassi Ace, Borg Breakpoint, Laver Love, McEnroe Match and Sampras Ace.) 79

  WINDSOR CASTLE: This magnificent structure has been the residence of English monarchs since William the Conqueror erected a stone enclosure to replace a wooden one. Built on a large mound that fronts on the Thames River this castle is located 22 miles west of London. The site was selected because mythology said this high ground was used by King Arthur who would hold fourth with his Knights of the Round Table. 80

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

  WINFREE: Z. T. – Mont Belvieu opened its post office in 1890 with this man as the first postmaster. (See Barbers Hill.) 81

  WINGATE: See sidebar Texas Heroes’ Names for Houston Streets Urged in 72 Proposed Changes, page 96.

  WINKLER: Henry F. – He was a member of Local Union No. 84 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Ironworkers. In addition Winkler was president of the Houston Labor Council (1931-34) and first vice president of the Texas State Federation of Labor. The street was named for him on September, 6, 1936. 82

  WINKLER: Milton J. – See sidebar Houston Streets Named for Men Killed During World War I, page 22. 83

  WINROCK: – Arkansas investor Winthrop Rockefeller III calls his investment company Winrock. Through that corporation he was involved in real estate development in the area around Westheimer and Voss. 84

  WIRT: Roy David – This gentleman was a Spring Branch area sheriff for more than 20 years. As one of the city’s best lawmen, citizens wanted to honor him with a street. 85

  WISTER: The original street sign for this Timbergrove Manor street was Wisteria. However, during a storm the “ia” broke off resulting in Wister. It was never corrected when a new sign was made. 86

  WITTE: The Wittes were a prominent Spring Branch family. 87

  WITTER: Pasadena founder Charles Munger’s wife’s maiden name was Alvida Witter. (See Munger and Pasadena.) 88

  WOLVIN: Captain Augustus B. – A founder of Texas City, he persuaded the U. S. Government to finance the dredging of a ship channel in that town in 1900. (See Texas and Texas City Dike.) 89

  WOOD: Charles H. or Thomas W. – See sidebar Houston Streets Named for Men Killed During World War I, page 22.

  WOODHEAD: John – This gentleman was an early settler from England. He was reported to be “a great church worker who left many descendants” in the Houston area. In 1935 pupils from Lanier Junior High School appeared before City Council to request the street name be changed to Higginbotham in honor of the school principal, Miss Blanche Higginbotham. But they also had one other motive besides just “polishing an apple” for the principal. It seems students at another school had begun calling the Lanier kids “woodheads” implying they were not very smart. After hearing testimony as to the high character of Mr. Woodhead, Council decided to retain the street name. The students wrote a letter of apology to E. S. Woodhead, John’s brother and a Houstonian. In that letter they said “If we have offended members of your family by this petition, we offer our sincere apology; and yet we cannot regret the opportunity that has come to us to learn more about the distinguished gentleman for whom this street is named.” 90

  WOODLANDS: This parkway is the main entrance to the huge master-planned community known as The Woodlands. Located on approximately 25,000 acres in southern Montgomery County, this town was developed by Mitchell Energy & Development Corporation beginning in 1972. 91

  WOODLOCH: This tiny town (.01 square miles) near Montgomery only has four streets making it the smallest in the county. Woodloch is a bedroom community of Houston that was established in 1974. 92

  WOODRIDGE: Carl Detering Sr., a real estate developer and son of Herman E. Detering, owned the land around an office complex he built on the Gulf Freeway. He called the street Woodridge after a company he owned of the same name. (See Detering.) 93

  WOODRUFF: See sidebar Texas Heroes’ Names for Houston Streets Urged in 72 Proposed Changes, page 96.

  WOODWAY: On the original plat of Tanglewood this thoroughfare was called Park Drive. However, the city felt it would be confused with Parkway in Broadacres and asked developer William Farrington to rename it. His daughter says he chose Woodway because it sounded like a nice and pretty place. 94

  WOOLWORTH: This is another Denver Harbor Addition street recalling one of the city’s early retail establishments, Woolworth’s 5 & 10. In 1878 Frank Winfield Woolworth developed the concept of displaying a large number of products all of which sold for either five or ten cents. He opened a store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1880. The idea caught on and by his death in 1919 there was more than 1,000 outlets around the country. In 1913 he paid for the company’s New York headquarters building, at that time the tallest skyscraper in the world, with cash. 95

  WOOSTER: Quincy Adams – This gentleman arrived in the Baytown area in 1891. He purchased over 1,000 acres of land with the intention of starting a town. Although a community formed, it was never incorporated and was absorbed by Baytown in the mid-20th century. The street, however, remains. A prisoner of war camp holding captured German soldiers was located here in World War II. His great-granddaughter, Trevia Wooster Beverly, a Houstonian, wrote At Rest: A Historical Directory of Harris County, Texas, Cemeteries (1822-1992). This is an excellent book on the area’s burying grounds. 96

  WORDSWORTH: William – Alphabetically, Wordsworth is the last of the great English authors, poets, essayists and playwrights that Houston developers used to emphasize the superior intellect of their neighborhood. A poet with an affinity for writing about his beloved Lake District and its natural beauty, he was named Poet Laureate of England in 1843. 97

  WORTHINGTON: R. H. – He was born in North Carolina in 1826 and moved to Fort Bend County in 1849. He is remembered for the nursing care he gave to citizens of Richmond during the great yellow fever epidemic of 1853. Miraculously, Worthington did not catch the disease which was one of the most deadly plagues that swept through Texas in the 1800s. 98

  WRIGHT: John H. – (See Stewart.) 99

  WRIGHT: Thomas, Jr. – Baytown land developer W. E. Defee named this street for his friend Wright. 100

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

  WUNDERLICH: Peter – Over 100 years ago this north Harris County farm was founded by this German immigrant. Today it is listed in the Family Land Heritage Program by the State Department of Agriculture. It has been under the same family ownership since 1861. (See Strack.) 101

  WUNSCHE: Carl – An early settler in Spring, Texas, Wunsche arrived in the 1840s. A German immigrant and farmer he took advantage of the Texas Homesteading Law. That statute stated the people could settle on public property and if the person added improvements the land could not be taken away by the courts to settle debts. The family operated Wunsche Bros. Saloon and Hotel in the early years. (See Spring-Stuebner.) 102

  WYATT EARP: Born in Illinois in 1848, Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp would become a legend
in his own time. During his life he was a farmer, teamster, buffalo hunter, gunfighter, boxer, gambler, saloon owner and lawman. He is best remembered for the famous “Gun Fight at the O. K. Corral.” In Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881 Earp, his brothers, Virgil and Ike, and Doc Holliday shot it out with Ike and Billy Clanton and Tom and Frank McLaury. The McLaurys and Billy Clanton were killed. Virgil, Morgan and Doc had minor wounds. Wyatt was unscathed. He gave up gun fighting, moved to California, ran a saloon and gambling parlor, became a newspaper sports reporter and died of old age at 80. 103

  WYETH: Andrew – He was one of America’s best known realist painters of the middle 20th century. Wyeth’s favorite subjects were the land and people around his homes in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania and Cushing, Maine. Christina’s World is one of the 20th century’s most recognizable images. He is also remembered for the 247 studies of his neighbor Helga Testorf, done between 1971 and 1985. 104

  X

  X: (See Luella.)

  XENOPHON: This Greek historian and philosopher was born in Athens about 430 B.C. He is best remembered for his writings about having Athens use its influence to maintain peace in the Greek world and for using the Temple of Delphi to settle questions of diplomacy. 1

  TYPICAL STREET CLASSIFICATIONS

  Street classifications define the function of each of our many highways and byways. The Houston Planning and Development Department considers many factors when determining a street’s classification including: travel demand, street right-of-way width, maintenance cost, needs for access to adjacent property, safety, preservation of neighborhood character, distance between major streets known as arterials, adjacent land uses and connections to the regional transportation system and to major destinations. The following table details the characteristics of each type of street. 51