Kennedy Bakery facts for kids
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Kennedy Bakery
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The building's exterior in 2010
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 Location in Houston Downtown
Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 813 Congress St., Houston, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1860 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002963 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1979 |
The Kennedy Bakery is a very old building in Houston, Texas. It is located at 813 Congress Street. This historic spot was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1979. It faces Market Square in downtown Houston. Many people believe it is the oldest building in Houston still standing in its original spot.
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History of the Kennedy Bakery
The Baker, John Kennedy
The Kennedy Bakery is named after John Kennedy. He was a baker who was born in Ireland. He lived in New Jersey and Missouri before moving to the Republic of Texas in 1842. John Kennedy arrived in Houston without much money. But he quickly opened his first bakery on Franklin Street. He bought and built properties near Congress and Travis streets. Sadly, these buildings were destroyed in a fire in August 1860. John Kennedy quickly rebuilt. It is thought that the current Kennedy Bakery building might be this 1860 structure.
During the Civil War
John Kennedy was very successful before the American Civil War. He updated his bakery to use steam power. He also ran a grocery store. He even started his own mill to grind grain. He owned a lot of land around Houston. During the war, he supported the Confederate States of America (CSA). He sold "hard tack" to the CSA Army. Hard tack was a type of hard biscuit that soldiers ate. He also turned one of his buildings into a place to store weapons. After the war, he sold his rural land. He lost a lot of money doing this.
Later Uses of the Building
By 1873, Kennedy's building was used as a drug store. Different pharmacists rented the space until 1932. After that, it continued to be a place for shops. In 1960, the building was updated. New grillwork was added to its design. The Kennedy family owned the building until 1970. Then, William V. Berry bought it. He opened a bar called La Carafe. In 2012, La Carafe was one of the oldest bars still open in Houston.
What the Building Looks Like
In 1979, when it was listed as historic, the Kennedy Bakery was described as a two-story brick building. The first floor had a wooden window with 24 small glass panes. To its east, there was a narrow alley about five feet wide. To its west, another shop was right next to it. The front of the building was about fifteen feet wide. Its brick walls were part of the building's structure.
The main entrance had tall, thin columns on each side. Above the single front door was a decorative archway. The windows on the second floor had two sashes. Each of these windows had nine small glass panes. The alley next to the building led to a small open area inside.
