Moonshine Hill, Texas facts for kids

Moonshine Hill is an area in Houston, Texas, United States. It used to be a separate community in Harris County, built around the Humble oilfield.

Moonshine Hill started because of an oil boom. It was about 2 miles east of Humble in northeastern Harris County, near Farm to Market Road 1960. People first noticed gas seeping from the ground in 1887. James Slaughter and S.A. Hart tried to drill for it but didn't succeed. In 1903, Charles F. Barrett from Houston leased land at Moonshine Hill.

In 1904, oil was found! This discovery made the town grow very quickly. Moonshine Hill had three big oil booms. But once there was no more oil to find, the town began to shrink and eventually faded away.

Life in Moonshine Hill's Heyday

At one point, Moonshine Hill was even bigger than the nearby town of Humble. Its population reached about 10,000 people! This was at the beginning of the 1900s.

During its busiest time, Moonshine Hill had many businesses. There were 6 to 8 saloons, 3 grocery stores, and a dance hall. It also had a meat market, a drugstore, a school, and a church that welcomed everyone.

Moonshine Hill During World War I

During World War I, some soldiers from the 19th Infantry were stationed at Moonshine Hill. They came from Fort Sam Houston. There's still a reminder of this time today: a street named Belleau Woods Drive.

This name refers to the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. In that battle, American forces took back a wooded area in France from German soldiers.

The 1994 Flood

Moonshine Hill and other areas near the San Jacinto River were badly damaged by a flood in October 1994. The Houston Chronicle reported that the larger Houston area had over 15,000 homes damaged. More than 3,000 homes were completely destroyed, and 22 people sadly lost their lives.

This happened because 29 inches of rain fell in Harris County over just three days. Many homes along the river were simply washed away. Others had to be torn down later because of water and mold damage.

Moonshine Hill Today

Today, Moonshine Hill is mostly a reminder of what it once was. A few homes are still scattered along the accessible streets. However, many of the homes that are lived in have "No Trespassing" signs or security cameras. Some homes even look like they might have burned down.

The area shows many signs of its age. You can see old shacks that are barely standing. There are also old or unusual fire hydrants and mailboxes. The roads are often gravel and dirt. Sometimes, the area can feel a bit wild. Sadly, trash is dumped in places, which spoils the beauty and mystery of the old town. You might also see people looking for scrap metal or fishing in spots that used to be peaceful but are now full of trash.

Education

Children living in Moonshine Hill go to schools in the Humble Independent School District.

• Humble Elementary School
• Ross Sterling Middle School
• Humble High School