Old Sixth Ward Historic District
a.k.a. Sabine Historic District
Bounded by Washington, Union, Houston, Capitol and Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, TXThe Old Sixth Ward Historic District contains the highest concentration of Victorian buildings in Houston and, together with its early 20th-century structures, represents the oldest intact neighborhood in the city. Because Glenwood Cemetery forms a barrier at the western end of the district, traffic has been limited to the district boundaries--Washington on the north and Memorial Drive on the South. Despite the commercialization of the surrounding area, the Old Sixth Ward has escaped major architectural intrusions within its boundaries, thus preventing the decline that has ultimately destroyed similar Houston areas. Located within a few blocks of the Houston and Texas Central railroad lines and shops, the district's development has always been closely tied to railroad activities.
The Old Sixth Ward Historic District was originally part of the two-league John Austin grant made in 1824. On July 6, 1838, two years after John K. and Augustus C. Allen founded the town of Houston on the Buffalo Bayou, S. P. Hollingsworth filed a survey of this area in which he divided the land into large, narrow tracts that ran northward from Buffalo Bayou.
By the first of 1839 those portions of the Hollingsworth survey that lay in the future area of the Old Sixth Ward Historic District along the Bayou had been conveyed to several prominent men of Houston: James S. Holman, William R. Baker, Nathan Kempton and Henry R. Allen. Allen and Holman were powers within the ranks of Houston's government. Holman arrived in Texas shortly after independence was assured and acted as an official agent for the Allen brothers. He also served as the first mayor of Houston. Allen lent his support to the organization of a chamber of commerce in 1840 and was elected an alderman the same year. During Reconstruction, Henry Allen was also active in promoting the creation of the Houston Ship Channel Company. The district's association with such men established a long pattern of involvement of municipal and commercial leaders with the Old Sixth Ward. The man most responsible for the district's present appearance is W. R. Baker, one of Houston's earliest settlers. Baker arrived in Houston as the protege of the Allen brothers at the age of sixteen. In 1841 he was elected county clerk of Harris County, an office which he held until the eve of the Civil War. From 1880-1886 Baker served as the mayor of Houston. Prior to the Civil War Baker's interests were centered around the acquisition of land. Baker began buying property in the Hollingsworth tract as early as 1839 and by 1858 he and his friends owned most of this land or held mortgages on the rest. Engaging Samuel West as the county surveyor, Baker restructured the plat by converting the entire area to the lot and block system of subdividing. In addition, the area was laid out to true north, varying from downtown Houston, which is laid out at a 45° angle to true north. The first sale under the new platting occurred on January 31, 1859, when Baker transferred two blocks to W. W. Leeland. From this time the Baker numeration gained acceptance and the plat essentially looks like this today. The only deviation is in the northeast corner of the district, where a dispute over the plat finally led to a protracted court case. The section was eventually replaced to accommodate both Baker and his opposition and the final plat was filed in Harris County's deed records in 1881.
As the prime director of the railroad operations in Houston, Baker served as the President of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad for many years. The development of Baker's addition coincided closely with the development of the Houston and Texas Central Railway, whose route, authorized by the state legislature in 1856, approached Houston from the northwest. This area was intended to attract the immigrant families working on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad and the railroad's success greatly influenced the growth of the neighborhood.
Although the financial panic of 1857 and the Civil War slowed settlement in the area, the 1860 census shows that the nature of the district was changing. Land that had been farmland a few years before was transforming into a populated neighborhood. The machine shop of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was located in the center of the northern half of the 4th Ward North (as the area was called at that time). The men who came to work on the railroad first lived in boarding houses along Washington Avenue and many later bought land in the neighborhood. Not only was the area occupied by railroad workers, bricklayers, and construction workers but there were druggists, clerks, tailors, doctors, bakers, printers, attorneys and merchants.
The Houston and Texas Central was the first railroad to resume building after the Civil War and it continued successfully, finally reaching Denison in 1873. This terminus connected the line with Missouri, Kansas, and Texas and gave the state its first through line to St. Louis. The success of the railroad influenced the growth of the Fourth Ward North. The 1870 census reveals that everyone living in the area either worked for the railroad or provided services for those who did. In 1871 Glenwood Cemetery opened to the west of the residential section. Washington Street was graded in 1872 and more businesses began to locate along this thoroughfare. Several private schools opened in the area in the 1870s and in 1876 the city school system bought block 428 (the present location of Dow Elementary School) for a public school. An increase in the population led the municipal government to separate the 4th Ward North district from its parent ward and create it as the Sixth Ward on January 1, 1876. By 1878 the Houston street rail- way extended along Washington Avenue and in that year a local newspaper remarked that the whole area was filling up.
During the 1880's the settlement of the Old Sixth Ward continued and businesses increased in the area. Among the commercial establishments, there were blacksmith shops on Washington, three boarding houses, the Houston Brick Works at the south end of Sabine, two saloons on Washington, a watchmaker and jeweler on Washington, and six grocery stores in the immediate area. In fact, in 1885 and 1887 the business district along Washington Avenue was known as the "uptown" business community of Houston, as opposed to the Market Square and City Hall-Courthouse area which was known as the "downtown" business community.
Within this district of small Victorian and early 20th-century houses, interspersed with neighborhood businesses, are a few pivotal buildings worthy of individual mention. One of the focal points in the district is Dow Elementary School, located at the center of the Old Sixth Ward Historic District. Although the current site has been occupied only since 1912, the block was originally purchased by the school system in 1876. The first public school in the neighborhood, the Fourth Ward School, housed 110 children in a building at the foot of Trinity Street in 1885. With the increased enrollment a two-story, six-room building was constructed at 1600 Washington Street, and in 1888 the school name officially changed to "Dow" in memory of Justin E. Dow, principal of Houston High School from 1882 to 1885 and superintendent of Houston Public Schools from 1855 to 1887. Finally, in 1912 a 16-room building was built at 1911 Kane Street (block 428) and this building has continued to serve as the neighborhood primary school. Subsequent additions enlarged the building to 28 rooms in 1926.
Although the majority of the houses in the district are modest, one-story, frame cottages, one particular house stands out as different in both architecture and scale.
The two-story, brick Classical Revival house at 2018 Kane Street was built in 1906 by Henry R. Lighthouse, a noted industrialist, who together with his brothers, had made his fortune in brick, concrete, and wood in Houston. Henry owned and operated the Lighthouse Brick Works (now the Andy Cordell Brick Co.) on the east side of Houston. Brick from this company was used to build many of Houston's most notable buildings, such as the Rice University Buildings. When Lighthouse made his fortune in the early 1900s, he chose to build his large two-story home in his current neighborhood, the Old Sixth Ward, rather than building a grand house in the wealthier subdivisions as was the practice of many of Houston's nouveau riche. For this reason, the two-story, brick Classical Revival house contrasts with the general character of the neighborhood.
Henry Lighthouse had moved to Houston in 1887 with his wife's family, the Frederick Roemers. Frederick Roemer, a piano and violin carver, who had immigrated from Germany in the 1840's moved his family to Houston in 1887 and bought a house built by James McGee in the Old Sixth Ward. Henry Lighthouse and his wife lived there until moving to a small house at the corner of Kane and Henderson. This house was relocated in 1908 when Lighthouse built the two-story house at this corner.
The two most architecturally significant structures along Washington Street which have been included in the district are Fire Station No. 6 and the Brunner Building, known originally as Mechanic No. 6, the fire station was built in 1903 and served the area known as North Side Buffalo Bayou to White Oak Bayou and the city limits. The horses were housed in stalls in either side of the Central Bay and the harness dropped from hangars above their stalls when the fire bell sounded. The fire district and station were established many years earlier in a wooden structure further east on Washington Road. The adjacent building was built between 1890 and 1900 by Antone Bruneer and was first occupied by a bottling works, Vogler Bottlers. The area around and immediately to the north of the Brunner building was known as "Brunner Court". An arched passageway on the first floor of the Brunner Building's central bay allowed carriages and wagons to reach the courtyard in the rear. The Vogler Bottlers and the Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Company both opened their enterprises on Washington Avenue prior to 1890.
Another focal point in the district is St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Founded in 1882 as the first Catholic church north of the Buffalo Bayou, the wooden church with steeple was located on the corner of Houston and Kane streets. Also on the property was a school taught by the Incarnate Word Sisters. The 1900 hurricane destroyed the building and in 1901 a new brick church was erected by architect P.S. Rabbit, formerly with the firm of Nicholas J. Clayton in Galveston. Mr. Rabbit was in government employ in 1901 and Geroge E. Dickey, one of Houston's most prominent architects during this period, was the superintendent of construction. C. H. Wynn was the contractor.
Beyond the architectural elements that are distinguished in the district, the old Sixth Ward has been noted for its ethnic diversity. Beginning with a wave of German immigrants in the 1870's, the neighborhood has been at various times the home of Swedish, German, English, Irish, French, Swiss, Italian, Polish, and Mexicans. Because the area tended to attract immigrant workers for the railroad, the district residents have come from a variety of national backgrounds. Today the area is predominantly inhabited by Mexican- American families and a few Vietnamese.
As a result of the location of the Houston and Texas Central in the vicinity and their related railroad shops, the 01d Sixth Ward became the home for a number of craftsmen. Their workmanship was also expressed in many of the neighborhood houses. James McGee, the master car builder in charge of the Houston and Texas Central car shop, constructed several houses within the Old Sixth Ward. Between 1882 and 1888 he worked on No. 10 Trinity (Shudde Hat Brothers) and on No. 68 Kane. In 1892 McGee built a house for George Augustus on lot 10, block 427, as well as four other houses in the district. Two brothers, Conrad, and August Bering, also worked in the Old Sixth Ward. The Berings were German immigrants who arrived with their parents in Galveston in 1846. The family settled in Houston and the brothers operated a successful construction and lumber business across the Long Bridge in the Old Sixth Ward near the HTC Depot. A third recorded builder was Jenry Holtkamp, who built on lot 9, block 440 in 1892.
Preservation activities have become a concern within the district in the last few years. In addition to a few private businesses and residences that have undergone restoration, St. Joseph's Church has been active in the rehabilitation of several neighborhood residences. Some Jesuit seminarians at St. Joseph's Church are sponsoring a Vietnamese placement program, placing families in homes in the area and restoring these sites with labor supplied by the church. Under this program, eight houses in the district have been restored or are in the process of restoration.
Furthermore, two local organizations, the 01d Sixth Ward Historic Association, and the Sabine Association, have been established to promote neighborhood preservation and adaptive
use.
Local significance of the district:
The Old Sixth Ward Historic District was originally part of the two-league John Austin grant made in 1824. On July 6, 1838, two years after John K. and Augustus C. Allen founded the town of Houston on the Buffalo Bayou, S. P. Hollingsworth filed a survey of this area in which he divided the land into large, narrow tracts that ran northward from Buffalo Bayou.
By the first of 1839 those portions of the Hollingsworth survey that lay in the future area of the Old Sixth Ward Historic District along the Bayou had been conveyed to several prominent men of Houston: James S. Holman, William R. Baker, Nathan Kempton and Henry R. Allen. Allen and Holman were powers within the ranks of Houston's government. Holman arrived in Texas shortly after independence was assured and acted as an official agent for the Allen brothers. He also served as the first mayor of Houston. Allen lent his support to the organization of a chamber of commerce in 1840 and was elected an alderman the same year. During Reconstruction, Henry Allen was also active in promoting the creation of the Houston Ship Channel Company. The district's association with such men established a long pattern of involvement of municipal and commercial leaders with the Old Sixth Ward. The man most responsible for the district's present appearance is W. R. Baker, one of Houston's earliest settlers. Baker arrived in Houston as the protege of the Allen brothers at the age of sixteen. In 1841 he was elected county clerk of Harris County, an office which he held until the eve of the Civil War. From 1880-1886 Baker served as the mayor of Houston. Prior to the Civil War Baker's interests were centered around the acquisition of land. Baker began buying property in the Hollingsworth tract as early as 1839 and by 1858 he and his friends owned most of this land or held mortgages on the rest. Engaging Samuel West as the county surveyor, Baker restructured the plat by converting the entire area to the lot and block system of subdividing. In addition, the area was laid out to true north, varying from downtown Houston, which is laid out at a 45° angle to true north. The first sale under the new platting occurred on January 31, 1859, when Baker transferred two blocks to W. W. Leeland. From this time the Baker numeration gained acceptance and the plat essentially looks like this today. The only deviation is in the northeast corner of the district, where a dispute over the plat finally led to a protracted court case. The section was eventually replaced to accommodate both Baker and his opposition and the final plat was filed in Harris County's deed records in 1881.
As the prime director of the railroad operations in Houston, Baker served as the President of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad for many years. The development of Baker's addition coincided closely with the development of the Houston and Texas Central Railway, whose route, authorized by the state legislature in 1856, approached Houston from the northwest. This area was intended to attract the immigrant families working on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad and the railroad's success greatly influenced the growth of the neighborhood.
Although the financial panic of 1857 and the Civil War slowed settlement in the area, the 1860 census shows that the nature of the district was changing. Land that had been farmland a few years before was transforming into a populated neighborhood. The machine shop of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was located in the center of the northern half of the 4th Ward North (as the area was called at that time). The men who came to work on the railroad first lived in boarding houses along Washington Avenue and many later bought land in the neighborhood. Not only was the area occupied by railroad workers, bricklayers, and construction workers but there were druggists, clerks, tailors, doctors, bakers, printers, attorneys and merchants.
The Houston and Texas Central was the first railroad to resume building after the Civil War and it continued successfully, finally reaching Denison in 1873. This terminus connected the line with Missouri, Kansas, and Texas and gave the state its first through line to St. Louis. The success of the railroad influenced the growth of the Fourth Ward North. The 1870 census reveals that everyone living in the area either worked for the railroad or provided services for those who did. In 1871 Glenwood Cemetery opened to the west of the residential section. Washington Street was graded in 1872 and more businesses began to locate along this thoroughfare. Several private schools opened in the area in the 1870s and in 1876 the city school system bought block 428 (the present location of Dow Elementary School) for a public school. An increase in the population led the municipal government to separate the 4th Ward North district from its parent ward and create it as the Sixth Ward on January 1, 1876. By 1878 the Houston street rail- way extended along Washington Avenue and in that year a local newspaper remarked that the whole area was filling up.
During the 1880's the settlement of the Old Sixth Ward continued and businesses increased in the area. Among the commercial establishments, there were blacksmith shops on Washington, three boarding houses, the Houston Brick Works at the south end of Sabine, two saloons on Washington, a watchmaker and jeweler on Washington, and six grocery stores in the immediate area. In fact, in 1885 and 1887 the business district along Washington Avenue was known as the "uptown" business community of Houston, as opposed to the Market Square and City Hall-Courthouse area which was known as the "downtown" business community.
Within this district of small Victorian and early 20th-century houses, interspersed with neighborhood businesses, are a few pivotal buildings worthy of individual mention. One of the focal points in the district is Dow Elementary School, located at the center of the Old Sixth Ward Historic District. Although the current site has been occupied only since 1912, the block was originally purchased by the school system in 1876. The first public school in the neighborhood, the Fourth Ward School, housed 110 children in a building at the foot of Trinity Street in 1885. With the increased enrollment a two-story, six-room building was constructed at 1600 Washington Street, and in 1888 the school name officially changed to "Dow" in memory of Justin E. Dow, principal of Houston High School from 1882 to 1885 and superintendent of Houston Public Schools from 1855 to 1887. Finally, in 1912 a 16-room building was built at 1911 Kane Street (block 428) and this building has continued to serve as the neighborhood primary school. Subsequent additions enlarged the building to 28 rooms in 1926.
Although the majority of the houses in the district are modest, one-story, frame cottages, one particular house stands out as different in both architecture and scale.
The two-story, brick Classical Revival house at 2018 Kane Street was built in 1906 by Henry R. Lighthouse, a noted industrialist, who together with his brothers, had made his fortune in brick, concrete, and wood in Houston. Henry owned and operated the Lighthouse Brick Works (now the Andy Cordell Brick Co.) on the east side of Houston. Brick from this company was used to build many of Houston's most notable buildings, such as the Rice University Buildings. When Lighthouse made his fortune in the early 1900s, he chose to build his large two-story home in his current neighborhood, the Old Sixth Ward, rather than building a grand house in the wealthier subdivisions as was the practice of many of Houston's nouveau riche. For this reason, the two-story, brick Classical Revival house contrasts with the general character of the neighborhood.
Henry Lighthouse had moved to Houston in 1887 with his wife's family, the Frederick Roemers. Frederick Roemer, a piano and violin carver, who had immigrated from Germany in the 1840's moved his family to Houston in 1887 and bought a house built by James McGee in the Old Sixth Ward. Henry Lighthouse and his wife lived there until moving to a small house at the corner of Kane and Henderson. This house was relocated in 1908 when Lighthouse built the two-story house at this corner.
The two most architecturally significant structures along Washington Street which have been included in the district are Fire Station No. 6 and the Brunner Building, known originally as Mechanic No. 6, the fire station was built in 1903 and served the area known as North Side Buffalo Bayou to White Oak Bayou and the city limits. The horses were housed in stalls in either side of the Central Bay and the harness dropped from hangars above their stalls when the fire bell sounded. The fire district and station were established many years earlier in a wooden structure further east on Washington Road. The adjacent building was built between 1890 and 1900 by Antone Bruneer and was first occupied by a bottling works, Vogler Bottlers. The area around and immediately to the north of the Brunner building was known as "Brunner Court". An arched passageway on the first floor of the Brunner Building's central bay allowed carriages and wagons to reach the courtyard in the rear. The Vogler Bottlers and the Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Company both opened their enterprises on Washington Avenue prior to 1890.
Another focal point in the district is St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Founded in 1882 as the first Catholic church north of the Buffalo Bayou, the wooden church with steeple was located on the corner of Houston and Kane streets. Also on the property was a school taught by the Incarnate Word Sisters. The 1900 hurricane destroyed the building and in 1901 a new brick church was erected by architect P.S. Rabbit, formerly with the firm of Nicholas J. Clayton in Galveston. Mr. Rabbit was in government employ in 1901 and Geroge E. Dickey, one of Houston's most prominent architects during this period, was the superintendent of construction. C. H. Wynn was the contractor.
Beyond the architectural elements that are distinguished in the district, the old Sixth Ward has been noted for its ethnic diversity. Beginning with a wave of German immigrants in the 1870's, the neighborhood has been at various times the home of Swedish, German, English, Irish, French, Swiss, Italian, Polish, and Mexicans. Because the area tended to attract immigrant workers for the railroad, the district residents have come from a variety of national backgrounds. Today the area is predominantly inhabited by Mexican- American families and a few Vietnamese.
As a result of the location of the Houston and Texas Central in the vicinity and their related railroad shops, the 01d Sixth Ward became the home for a number of craftsmen. Their workmanship was also expressed in many of the neighborhood houses. James McGee, the master car builder in charge of the Houston and Texas Central car shop, constructed several houses within the Old Sixth Ward. Between 1882 and 1888 he worked on No. 10 Trinity (Shudde Hat Brothers) and on No. 68 Kane. In 1892 McGee built a house for George Augustus on lot 10, block 427, as well as four other houses in the district. Two brothers, Conrad, and August Bering, also worked in the Old Sixth Ward. The Berings were German immigrants who arrived with their parents in Galveston in 1846. The family settled in Houston and the brothers operated a successful construction and lumber business across the Long Bridge in the Old Sixth Ward near the HTC Depot. A third recorded builder was Jenry Holtkamp, who built on lot 9, block 440 in 1892.
Preservation activities have become a concern within the district in the last few years. In addition to a few private businesses and residences that have undergone restoration, St. Joseph's Church has been active in the rehabilitation of several neighborhood residences. Some Jesuit seminarians at St. Joseph's Church are sponsoring a Vietnamese placement program, placing families in homes in the area and restoring these sites with labor supplied by the church. Under this program, eight houses in the district have been restored or are in the process of restoration.
Furthermore, two local organizations, the 01d Sixth Ward Historic Association, and the Sabine Association, have been established to promote neighborhood preservation and adaptive
use.
Transportation; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Texas is also home to the world's largest honky-tonk, Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. The venue covers three acres and can hold up to 6,000 people.
About Harris County
Harris County Timeline
Harris County in Texas has a significant history that shaped its growth and importance. Established in 1837, the county was named after John Richardson Harris, founder of the first settlement, Harrisburg. Houston, the county seat, became a prominent commercial and shipping center due to its strategic location and railroads.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Harris County experienced rapid economic diversification and growth. The discovery of oil in the Spindletop field fueled Houston's emergence as an energy and petrochemical hub. Industries like cotton, lumber, shipping, and manufacturing thrived. NASA's Johnson Space Center further solidified the county's significance in space exploration and technology.
Harris County's demographic diversity is a defining aspect, attracting immigrants from various backgrounds. Houston became a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant culinary scene, dynamic arts community, and diverse festivals, reflecting its multicultural fabric.
Today, Harris County remains an influential economic and cultural center. Its strong economy spans energy, healthcare, technology, and international trade. The county houses renowned medical facilities and research institutions. Despite facing natural disasters, Harris County showcases resilience and implements measures to mitigate their impact.
With its rich history, economic vitality, multiculturalism, and ongoing growth, Harris County continues to shape Texas as a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and innovation.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Harris County experienced rapid economic diversification and growth. The discovery of oil in the Spindletop field fueled Houston's emergence as an energy and petrochemical hub. Industries like cotton, lumber, shipping, and manufacturing thrived. NASA's Johnson Space Center further solidified the county's significance in space exploration and technology.
Harris County's demographic diversity is a defining aspect, attracting immigrants from various backgrounds. Houston became a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant culinary scene, dynamic arts community, and diverse festivals, reflecting its multicultural fabric.
Today, Harris County remains an influential economic and cultural center. Its strong economy spans energy, healthcare, technology, and international trade. The county houses renowned medical facilities and research institutions. Despite facing natural disasters, Harris County showcases resilience and implements measures to mitigate their impact.
With its rich history, economic vitality, multiculturalism, and ongoing growth, Harris County continues to shape Texas as a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and innovation.
Harris County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Harris County, Texas.
Pre-19th Century: The region was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Karankawa and Atakapa.
1822: Harrisburg, the county's first settlement, is founded by John Richardson Harris, a pioneer and one of the early Texas colonists.
1836: The Battle of San Jacinto, which secured Texas independence from Mexico, took place in present-day Harris County.
1837: Harris County is officially established and named after John Richardson Harris.
19th Century: Houston, the county seat and the largest city in Texas, experiences rapid growth due to its strategic location along Buffalo Bayou and the construction of railroads. The city becomes a major commercial and shipping hub, attracting industries such as cotton, lumber, and oil.
20th Century: The discovery of oil in the nearby Spindletop field and the subsequent growth of the oil industry greatly contribute to Harris County's economic development. Houston becomes an energy and petrochemical center.
1960s-1980s: The space industry plays a crucial role in Harris County's history with the establishment of NASA's Johnson Space Center, where mission control for the Apollo program is located.
Today: Harris County continues to be a thriving economic and cultural center. It is home to a diverse population, numerous industries, world-class medical facilities, and renowned cultural institutions.