Broadacres, Houston facts for kids
Broadacres is a special neighborhood in Houston, Texas, United States. It is part of the Boulevard Oaks community. This area is known for its big yards, beautiful old homes, and wide streets lined with many trees. It's a very nice place to live, located near the Houston Museum District.
Contents
History of Broadacres
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Broadacres Historic District
|
|
 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1300-1506 North Blvd. and 1305-1515 South Blvd., Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| Area | 34.2 acres (13.8 ha) |
| Architect | Birdsall Briscoe, John F. Staub |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004128 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1980 |
Broadacres was created in the early 1920s by a well-known Houston lawyer and banker named Captain James A. Baker. He worked with his son, James A. Baker, Jr., who was also a lawyer. Captain Baker bought a large piece of land in 1908. It was about 32 acres and was close to Rice University and the growing Houston Museum District.
In 1922, his son and 17 other people bought this land. They divided it into 26 lots and started building streets and the first homes. The Bakers wanted Broadacres to be a beautiful place with great architecture and careful planning. They invited their friends and people they knew professionally to buy lots there. Famous Houston architects like William Ward Watkin, Birdsall P. Briscoe, and John Staub designed many of the houses.
Building Homes and the Great Depression
Building in Broadacres stopped during the Great Depression. This was a time in the 1930s when the economy was very bad, and many people lost their jobs and money. Even James A. Baker, Jr. never lived in Broadacres because he thought he couldn't afford a lot. By the 1930s, Broadacres was known as a place where many of Houston's wealthiest families lived.
The Wortham House
In 1980, the family of Gus Sessions Wortham, a local businessman, gave his old house to the University of Houston System. This house became the home for the university's chancellor. The Wortham House is a three-story building on a large piece of land. When it was finished in 1927, it was the most expensive house in the neighborhood.
The chancellor of the University of Houston must live in the Wortham House. Only the second floor is for the chancellor's private use. The first and third floors are used for displaying artwork and for public events. This house is an important part of the Broadacres historic district. In 2009, the house was valued at about $6 million.
Broadacres Historic District Listing
The Broadacres Historic District was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized for its important history and architecture. The district includes 18 special buildings on North Blvd. and South Blvd. Many of these buildings were designed by architects like Birdsall Briscoe and John F. Staub.
What Broadacres Looks Like
The homes in Broadacres show the popular architectural styles of the 1920s. These styles were often seen in beautiful country houses of that time. The neighborhood was designed to have a special feeling. Each house and its garden fit together with the community's overall plan. This created a strong sense of identity for the people living there.
Broadacres is a great example of how wealthy communities were built in Houston during the 1920s. The way the homes and the landscape work together still makes a big impression today.
Education
Children living in Broadacres attend schools within the Houston Independent School District.
- Elementary school students go to Poe Elementary School.
- Middle school students attend Lanier Middle School.
- High school students go to Lamar High School.
Notable Residents
Some well-known people have lived in Broadacres:
- Renu Khator: She is the Chancellor of the University of Houston System and President of the University of Houston.
- William P. Hobby: He was a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas. This is a high-ranking official in the state government.
Gallery
-
Broadacres Park
