Historic Houston Streets

by Marks Hinton

  EASTGATE: Leading to the tiny Liberty County town of the same name, this community was established in 1911. The name is due to the town’s location at the east gate of the Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western Railroad’s yard. That line operated from 1903 until 1956. Today the Union Pacific Railroad owns the tracks. 6

  EASY JET: We love our horses in Houston and this street recalls another one. He became a legend in quarter horse racing circles. As a two year old he was loaded into the starting gate a staggering 26 times and won 22 of those races. For his effort he was named World Champion Running Quarter Horse. A year later he won the title of World Champion Racing American Quarter Horse. Easy Jet retired with a record of 27 wins, 7 places, 2 shows and 2 out of the money in his 38 race career. 7

  EASY: If we have streets in Houston that are misnamed, this is a leading candidate for the title. Located in a depressed neighborhood northwest of downtown, Easy was christened by the area’s developer as a marketing ploy to draw potential buyers. He saw the name on a street in an Ohio town and liked it. One resident told a Houston Chronicle reporter, “I don’t like the name. It ought to be called ‘Hard Knocks.’” 8

  EBERHARD: This street is the middle name of Herman Detering, an early landowner and merchant in the city. He owned property in the 4th Ward and since he had already named a street using his surname he elected to use his middle name on this lane. (See Detering.) 9

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

  EDLOE: Real estate developer Edward Lillo Crain Sr. named this street for his son, Edward Jr. It is from a contraction of the first two letters of Edward plus the first and last letters of Lillo with an “e” added on the end. Running south to north, Edloe dead ends into Westheimer. If you extended the street north into River Oaks it would run into Mr. Crain’s front door in the 3600 block of Chevy Chase. Mr. Crain, who developed Garden Oaks, Southside Place, Riverside Terrace, Cherryhurst and Pineview, is buried in Glenwood Cemetery. 10

  SPACE CITY U.S.A. OR “HOUSTON THE EAGLE HAS LANDED”

  It is no wonder that as important as Houston has been to the Space Program that the area near NASA would have a number of streets recalling space age verbiage. Saturn recalls the rocket series that eventually culminated in the Saturn V, the largest launch vehicle ever built at 363-feet in height and capable of generating 7.7 million pounds of thrust on take off, propelling our astronauts to the Moon. Skywalker remembers the many space walks astronauts took while conducting research. Moon Rock is for the lunar rocks returned to NASA by the Apollo astronauts that landed on the surface of our nearest planetary neighbor. Thor was initially an intermediate range ballistic missile. It was later modified to be a first stage launch vehicle for space craft. Gemini was the space capsule employed by NASA between the Mercury and Apollo programs. Ten manned and two unmanned missions were launched in 1965-66. Ed White made the first space walk during Gemini V. Mercury was America’s first manned space craft. Our first heroic astronauts Alan Shepard, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Walter “Wally” Schirra and Gordon Cooper hurled their bodies into the great void in these tiny (6’ by 6’) capsules. Titan was the U. S. first intercontinental ballistic missile. It was later modified for use by NASA. Between 1959 and 2005 about 170 of these behemoths were launched from Cape Canaveral. The Apollo program (1963-1972) was designed to send American astronauts to the Moon and return them safely. Six missions (Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17) did land on the lunar surface. Apollo 13 experienced a frightening malfunction but returned to Earth safely. Later a terrific motion picture was made about this almost disaster. Hercules is a solid rocket motor propellant. 19

  EDMUNDSON: W. L. – He came to Houston from Galveston in 1900. Edmundson became a very successful real estate developer with such projects as Edmundson’s Addition (bordered by Leeland, Scott, Miller and Hutchins) as well as Avalon Place near River Oaks. He eventually became the world’s largest hay dealer. He is credited with inventing the cotton compress during WW I. 11

  EDNA: Located in the Park Place Addition, this two block street is named for Edna Davis, the wife of American General Insurance Company vice president, Bob Davis. 12

  EDWARD TEACH: See sidebar Pirates of the Caribbean, page 280.

  EGBERT: James D. – A printer from New York City, Egbert came to Texas in 1836. He fought at the Battle of San Jacinto in Captain George M. Casey’s Company of Regulars. Egbert held the rank of corporal. 13

  EGGLING: Henry – All of this area in west Harris County was originally part of the George survey. In 1859 this gentleman bought 480 acres from Patrick George and Darius Gregg who had acquired the land in 1838 from a gentleman named Toliver. 14

  EGYPT: An Englishman, George Bell Madeley, settled in this area of Montgomery County in the 1840s. He raised corn, cotton, fruits, cattle, owned a grist mill and a vineyard. Other farmers bought corn from Madeley and they named the town for the biblical story of Jacob’s family going to Egypt to buy corn from their brother during a famine. 15

  EICHWURZEL: Sam – Located just east of the intersection of I-45 and Loop 610 near the banks of White Oak Bayou, this man was a land owner here in the 1890s. Other residents of the area were the Sharman family for which Sharman street is named. Members of both families are buried in the cemetery on Enid. 16

  LET’S GO TO A TRACK AND FIELD MEET

  The developers of Walden on Lake Houston must be like your author – a fanatic about track and field – because they named most of the streets in the beautiful lakeside community for that sport. If you like jogging or racing this is your kind of place. Lace up the Nikes and go for a run on Relay, Cross Country, Runners, Sprinters, Joggers, Olympic, Pacesetter, Baton Pass, Mile Run and Sebastian (most likely for Sebastian Coe, two-time Olympic gold medal winner in the 1,500 meters and record holder in the one mile run). If you prefer the field events check out Discus and Vaulted. Finally for the truly gifted have a go at Decathlon. 20

  EISENHOWER: Dwight David – This street is named after the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during WW II and later the 34th President of the United States. This native Texan was born in Denison. 17

  EL CAMINO REAL: Meaning “The Royal Highway” in Spanish, this 530 mile road from San Diego to Sonoma, California linked the 21 Franciscan missions built in that state between 1769 and 1823. Each mission was one day’s ride on horseback from the next. 18

  EL CID: A Spanish soldier whose real name was Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar became a national hero after capturing Valencia in 1049. His exploits are recorded in the epic tale entitled The Song of El Cid. 19

  EL MATADOR: See sidebar Learn a Foreign Language on Your Morning Walk, page 125.

  ELDRIDGE: William Thomas – A jack of many trades, Eldridge was a marshal, hotelier, land developer and railroad man before moving to Sugar Land, Texas where he joined with the Kempner family of Galveston in buying the Cunningham Sugar Refinery. This 20,000 acre plantation was renamed Imperial Sugar Company with Eldridge as the manager. It remains a very successful business operation today. (See Howell-Sugarland, Imperial and Kempner.) 20

  ELEVATOR: Located at the Port of Houston, this street leads to a huge complex of grain storage elevators and the Elevator Storage Railroad Yard. 21

  » ELEVATOR: Early photograph of grain elevators along the Houston Ship Channel

  ELGIN: Robert Morris – He arrived in Texas in 1842. Elgin came to Houston and lived at 1402 Texas at Austin in a home built in 1870. It was demolished in about 1928. He was a partner in a stationery and printing company called Dealy, Cochran & Elgin. The city of Elgin is also named for him and his family. Elgin is buried in Glenwood Cemetery. 22

  ELISSA: This restored 19th century iron-hulled, three-masted sailing barque is owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation. She was launched on the Clyde River in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1877. The Elissa is 162 feet in length, 28 feet at her beam, gross capacity is 430 tons and she carries 19 sails. During her more than 100 yea
rs of service she passed through many owners, sailed the seven seas and did visit Galveston in 1883 and 1886. The Foundation purchased the Elissa in 1974. The ship underwent a complete restoration and now is visited by close to 100,000 tourists anually at her berth at Galveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf. 23

  » ELISSA: Docked at Galveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf

  ELLA LEE: The River Oaks urban legend claims Miss Ima Hogg named this lane for one of her best friends. Lee was the maiden name of developer Hugh Potter’s wife. 24

  ELLA: This lady was the wife of one of Houston real estate developer Edward Lillo Crane Sr.’s partners. This thoroughfare was named in her honor. 25

  MY HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED OR WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE GETS STOP SIGNS

  By the early 1930s West University Place had become quite a bustling bedroom community. As a result the City Commissioners ordered six stop signs to aid in traffic control. Two were placed at the intersection of Wake Forest and Rice, two at Belmont and University and the remaining two at Buffalo Speedway and University. 21

  ELLINGTON PARK: This street recalls a historic airfield north of Friendswood. Ellington Field was built in 1917 on 1,280 acres of coastal prairie land. It was named for Eric L. Ellington who died in a plane crash in San Diego, California in 1913. Its purpose was pilot and bombardier training. Following World War I it was mothballed until 1941 when once again it was opened to train servicemen. Following World War II Ellington trained air reservists, air guardsmen and Navy and Marine pilots. It is the field where Air Force One lands when the President of the United States visits the Houston area. 26, 27

  ELLIOTT: Karl L. – See sidebar Houston Streets Named for Men Killed During World War I, page 22.

  ELLIS: Littleberry Ambrose – This gentleman was a plantation owner in the area near where Sugar Land is today. He was a business partner of Colonel E. H. Cunningham. (See Cunningham.) 28

  ELMORA: Edward Lillo Crain Sr. was a real estate developer in the city during the 1920s and 30s. He named a number of streets in Southside Place. Crain named this one block street for his secretary of many years. (See Edloe.) 29

  ELMTEX: See sidebar Howdy Tex, page 263.

  ELSBURY: The Elsbury family lived on this Montrose area street. 30

  ELVIS: It’s named for the “King,” who else?

  ELYSIAN: In Greek mythology the Elysian Fields were the abode of the blessed after death. 31

  EMILY MORGAN: Better known as the “Yellow Rose of Texas,” she was born a mulatto slave. Captured by Santa Anna at Morgan’s Point on Buffalo Bayou, Morgan learned of El General’s attack plan on the Texans. She sent another slave to warn Sam Houston and then distracted Santa Anna with her feminine charms. With his interest focused on the Rose rather than the Battle at San Jacinto, the Texans won their independence in 18 minutes. Morgan was granted freedom for her heroic efforts. 32

  EMMET O. HUTTO: He was born in Bertram, Texas in 1918. After attending the University of Texas he joined the Army Air Force during World War II. Hutto flew 38 missions over Nazi targets in Europe and North Africa. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a citation for bravery. Hutto was a successful businessman in Baytown operating a real estate office, hotel and restaurant. He also served on the Baytown City Council. 33

  EMNORA: It is possible that this Spring Valley street is named for two members of the Bauer family. The “Em” comes from Emily with Nora added on. 34

  EMORY: The Methodist Church founded this southern university in 1836. It was named for John Emory, a popular bishop who had been killed in 1835 in a carriage accident. It is located in Atlanta, Georgia. 35

  ENDEAVOUR: This British Royal Navy research vessel was under the command of Captain James Cook. In April 1770 she became the first ship to reach the east coast of Australia. Cook landed at what he named Botany Bay. While sailing up the Australian coast the Endeavour ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. She limped into the Dutch East Indies for repair. Sailing on around the Cape of Good Hope, she returned to England after a three year expedition. This Seabrook street recalls this historic vessel. 36

  ENGELKE: This pioneer German family were landowners in the 2nd Ward, east of downtown. There were so many immigrants from Germany that Canal Street was originally named German Street and the area was called Germantown. (See sidebar titled Houston’s Germanic Heritage, page 60.) 37

  ENGLEWOOD: Leading to the large railroad yard of the same name, both derive their names from the Southern Pacific Rail Road’s Englewood Yard in Chicago. 38

  STARRY NIGHT

  If you visit North Star Estates in Tomball you can take a celestial tour of the major stars in our heavens. Altair is the 15th brightest star in the sky. Located a mere 45 light-years from Earth is Capella, the 6th brightest star in the night sky. Castor is one of the two major stars in the constellation Gemini. Orion is one of the most visible constellations in the Houston area. Named for the mythological Greek hunter it is easily spotted by finding his belt and sword. Polaris, also known as the North Star, is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper. Pollux is the other main star in Gemini. Rigel is a blue-white supergiant in the Orion constellation. Located 600 light-years from the Sun it is 25,000 times more luminous. Spica, one of the 15 brightest stars in the sky, is in the constellation of Virgo. 22

  ENNIS: Cornelius – His was another typical early Houston success story. Ennis owned a general store, shipped the first cotton out of Galveston to New England, was mayor in 1856-57, was a founder of the Great Northern Railroad, built the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, was a successful blockade-runner during the War Between the States and chaired the building committee that erected the Galveston Daily News building. Ennis is buried in Glenwood Cemetery. 39

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

  EPSOM DOWNS: This famous English racecourse is where the 12th Earl of Derby in 1780 held the famous horserace named after himself, prompting the use of the word derby to describe a race for three-year old horses. 40

  EPSOM: On Thanksgiving Day 1933 Houston’s first pari-mutuel horse race track opened. It was named Epsom Downs, in honor of the famous English racecourse. The Texas Breeders and Racing Association owned the track. Built at a cost of $650,000, an enormous sum of money during the Great Depression, it would hold 52,000 spectators. Epsom closed in 1937 when the Texas Legislature outlawed pari-mutuel wagering but the street lives on in its memory. This Eastex/Jensen neighborhood also has a Downs Street. (See Epson Downs.) 41

  ESPERANZA: A tobacco farmer named William Spiller named this town. In Spanish it means hope. His rationale was to hope this optimistic name would help his ailing tobacco business. Unfortunately the idea failed and Esperanza disappeared, leaving only this lonely road. 42

  ETHYL: This industrial thoroughfare leads to the Ethyl Corporation Industrial District docks on the Houston Ship Channel. In 1921 Ethyl discovered a combination of chemicals that when added to gasoline reduced engine “knocks.” After that, motorists could buy “regular” or the higher test “ethyl” gasoline. Some readers may remember when all gas stations were full service and an attendant would ask the driver if he wanted to fill up with “regular or ethyl.” Today Ethyl Corporation develops and produces additives for fuels and lubricants on a worldwide basis. 43

  ETON: One of the most prestigious private boys schools in England, it was founded by King Henry VI in 1441. 44

  EULE: William – One of the best rice farming regions in Texas is the area around Katy. This gentleman was responsible for the introduction of rice cultivation there in 1901. Hunters owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Eule. The world-class duck and goose hunting in the Katy region is partially due to the massive amounts of land there devoted to rice farming. 45

  DO YOU HAVE TO OWN AN EXPENSIVE IMPORT CAR TO LIVE HERE?

  We all know Houstonians are crazy about their automobiles. Just look how much time we spend and fun we have showing them off on our freeways. But there are two area neighborhoods where you cannot only own a fancy sports car b
ut also live on a street named after it. In northwest Harris County near George Bush Intercontinental Airport you can live on Ferrari (Italian), De Lorean (American), Boxster (German), Volvo (Swedish), Porsche (German), Mercedes Benz (German), Rolls Royce (English) or Lexus (Japanese). If these models do not suit your taste go down to Pearland to see Morris (English), Lotus (English), Avanti (American), Bentley (English), Duesenberg (American) Berlinetta (Italian) or Leyland (English). 23

  EUREKA: In 1872 a large cotton factory, Eureka Mills, was located here. There was even a small town named Eureka Mills, Texas that existed for seven years. Today the area is a major train yard for the Union Pacific Railroad. 46

  EVA: Real estate developer Herbert Tatar named this South Pasadena Villas street for his wife. 47

  EVANS: Reda Bland – This black woman was born in Goliad in 1913. She earned her bachelors (1943) and masters (1945) degrees at Prairie View A & M University. She joined the staff there and taught mathematics from 1945 to 1952. Evans was named Dean of Women in 1946 and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1983. As Dean she was responsible for seven residence halls, each containing 150 girls. 48

  EVANS: W. L. – This gentleman developed Riverview on Houston’s southeast side. The neighborhood was located east of Telephone Road and south of Braes Bayou where this street is today. I believe he named the street for himself. 49

  » EVANS: Black educator at prairie View A & M