Old Braeswood, Houston facts for kids
Old Braeswood is a lovely neighborhood in Houston, Texas, United States. It's a place with many single-family homes. You can find it near South Main, North Braeswood, Kirby Drive, and Holcombe. Important places like the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, Rice Village, and the NRG Center are all very close by. Other neighborhoods nearby include Southgate, West University Place, and Braeswood Place.
This neighborhood was first started in 1928 and was simply called “Braeswood.” Later, in 1982, its name changed to “Old Braeswood.” The homes here show off different building styles from different times. Some houses were built in the late 1920s and 1930s. Others were built later, mostly in the 1950s. Because of its interesting and high-quality architecture, Old Braeswood was chosen for a special tour in 2016 by a group that protects historic places.
Old Braeswood is special not just for its buildings, but also for the interesting people who have lived there. In 2016, the average cost of a house in Old Braeswood was about $1,255,000.
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History of Old Braeswood
The story of Old Braeswood began around 1927. A company called Braeswood Corporation bought a large piece of land, about 456 acres. Their idea was to create a beautiful "garden suburb" with country-style houses along South Main Street. They also set up rules for the properties to keep the neighborhood looking nice.
A famous landscape design company, Hare and Hare, planned the layout of the neighborhood. They had designed many other garden suburbs across the country. Braeswood Corporation even hired local architects to design the first houses. Many of these early homes were built in the English manorial style, which looks like old English country estates. The very first house was sold in 1929 to William Hobby, who was a board member of Braeswood Corporation and a former Texas Governor.
The neighborhood continued to grow following this original plan. In 1937, the City of Houston officially added Braeswood to the city. The name changed to "Old Braeswood" in 1982. This new name helped tell it apart from other nearby areas also named after Brays Bayou. It also showed how much the people living there valued the neighborhood's history.
Old Braeswood grew at the same time as two other well-known Houston neighborhoods, River Oaks and Riverside Terrace. They even shared some of the same architects and building styles. Many talented architects helped shape Old Braeswood in its early years, through the 1930s.
Building slowed down during World War II because of rules about non-essential construction. But in the 1950s, there was another big building boom. Many homes from this time were architect-designed "midcentury ranch houses." These homes often had a modern, open feel.
Some of the most famous houses in Old Braeswood include the Allen House (built in the Bauhaus style), the Gordon House (built in the International style), and the Herzog House (built in the Midcentury Modern style). These homes are celebrated for their unique designs.
People Who Lived Here
Many interesting and important people have called Old Braeswood home. Here are a few:
- LaVerl Jean Daly (1930-2017): She was honored by the Emperor of Japan for her amazing skill in Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. She was also named Houston's Woman of the Year in 1980.
- William P. Hobby (1878-1964): He was the governor of Texas from 1917 to 1921. He also worked as an editor and publisher for a newspaper called the Houston Post-Dispatch.
- Oveta Culp Hobby (1905-1995): She was the very first U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. She also led the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She was the first woman to receive a special medal from the U.S. Army.
- William P. Hobby, Jr. (1932 -): Following in his father's footsteps, he served as the lieutenant governor of Texas for many years, from 1973 to 1991.
- Glenn H. McCarthy (1907-1988): Known as “Diamond Glenn,” he was a famous oilman who built the well-known Shamrock Hotel. A character in a famous novel and movie, Giant, was inspired by him.
- Rabbi Hyman Schachtel (1907-1990): He was a Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel. He also wrote for the Houston Post and taught at universities. He even gave a special prayer for President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.
Neighborhood Activities
If you own property in Old Braeswood, you're part of the Old Braeswood Property Owners Association (OBPOA), also known as the Old Braeswood Civic Club. This group meets twice a year to share news and choose leaders. The OBPOA Board helps make sure the neighborhood rules are followed. They also take care of the parks and work with "Trees for Houston" to plant more trees. They even have a private security patrol to help keep everyone safe. The club also plans fun social events for families in the neighborhood park.
The OBPOA works with the city and other local groups to keep Old Braeswood a great place to live. In 1988, they even published a book about the history of the neighborhood's architecture.
There are also other clubs for residents. The Old Braeswood Garden Club started in 1939 and is one of the oldest garden clubs in Houston. It meets every month. The Old Braeswood Book Club, started in 2014, also meets monthly for residents who love to read.
Schools and Learning
Local Schools
Children in Old Braeswood usually go to schools in the Houston Independent School District. The public schools for this area are Roberts Elementary School, Pershing Middle School, and Lamar High School. Pershing Middle School is known for its fine arts programs. Students who are supposed to go to Pershing can also apply to Pin Oak Middle School in Bellaire, which focuses on foreign languages.
Debakey High School for Health Professions, a special school for students interested in medicine, is also close by in the Texas Medical Center.
Roberts Elementary School first opened its doors in 1936.
There are also several private schools very close to Old Braeswood, like St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. Rice University, a well-known college, is only about a mile away.
Libraries
For books and learning, residents can visit the Houston Public Library McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library or the Harris County Public Library West University Branch. Both are conveniently located near Old Braeswood.
Parks and Green Spaces
Braeswood Park is a City of Houston park right in Old Braeswood. A special group called the Old Braeswood Park Corporation helps raise money to keep the park looking nice and make improvements. This group also takes care of the grassy areas in the middle of some streets, called esplanades.
Right next to the neighborhood is Bayou Greenways, which has a path for biking and walking along Braes Bayou. Hermann Park, a very large and popular park, is also only about a mile away.
Local News
To stay updated on local news, residents can read the Houston Chronicle, which is the main newspaper for the area.
There are also local community newspapers like the West University Examiner and the Village News and Southwest News that are delivered in the neighborhood.
In the past, a newspaper called the Southwestern Times used to serve Old Braeswood and nearby communities.
Community Information
The Weekley Family YMCA is a community center located near Old Braeswood, offering various programs and activities.
