Houston Historical Locations
1. Jack Yates House
In 1870 former enslaved person, Rev John Henry "Jack" Yates
(1828-1897) used his carpentry and leadership skills to build this home,
which was formerly located in the Fourth Ward; Yates was widely
respected for his ability to motivate former slaves to get an education,
buy land, build homes and vote; Rev Yates helped establish the first
Baptist College in the state which opened in Marshall, Texas in 1881; a
few years later, 1885, he helped open the Houston Baptist Academy to
prepare students for business, industrial trades, and the ministry; call
The Heritage Society for tour times; Sam Houston Park at 1100 Bagby;
713-655-1912
2. Freedmen's Town
This historic district was founded just after 1865 and is the oldest
African American district in the city; lots of wooden shotgun houses
still serve as dwellings; the skyline of downtown Houston grew up as a
backdrop on its east side; Rutherford B Yates, son of Jack Yates and the
1st AA printer in Houston lived here; Founder’s Memorial Park sits of
the northern edge of the district; call for tour info; roughly bounded
by I-45, Kirby, Montrose, and Gray; 713-739-9414
3. Dowling Street
One of Houston’s most notable and traditional Black neighborhoods is
always worth a visit; when the city was a hotbed of Civil Rights
activity in the 1950s and 60s, this area was the locus; while in 2106
Dowling Street, Eldrewey Stearns, George Washington, Jr, Hamah King and
others plotted civil rights strategy that successfully desegregated the
most of the city; Wesley Chapel AME Church at 2209 Dowling Street was
designed by one of the countries first AA architects, William Sidney
Pittman; the El Dorado Building on Dowling and Elgin, used to jump to
the sounds of big bands in the first half of the 20th century; today
there is a youth boxing center and a traditional soul food restaurant on
the street; historic Dowling Street begins south of I-45 and extends to
Wheeler Street;
4. Emancipation Park
One of the most enduring gifts to Houstonians by Rev Jack Yates and
other former enslaved people in 1872 was this park; it was purchased for
annual Junteenth celebrations; today the park is still widely used and
includes ample picnic space and a swimming pool; 3108 Dowling Street
5.
Muhammad Mosque #45
Sunday worship at 2pm; minister Robert Muhammad's motto is "set
yourself in heaven at once"; 6734 Cullen Blvd, Houston 713-741-2747
6. Houston Negro Hospital
(no
map available)
Now called "Riverside General Hospital", the Houston Negro
Hospital completed in 1926, is a three-story building in Spanish
Colonial Revival style located in the city’s Third Ward; it was the
first non-profit hospital for Black patients in Houston, and it provided
a place of work for Black physicians; hospital campus is still in use
for medical purposes; listed on the National Register of Historic
Places; 3204 Ennis Street
7. Independence Heights
(no
map available)
The first Black community in Texas was established aroud1908 as
middle-class African American families began moving into north Houston;
Independence Heights operated as a city from 1915 until its annexation
by the city of Houston; it has a Texas Historical Marker at 7818 North
Main and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; bounded
by N Yale, E 34th and I-610 freeway at 3204 Ennis Street
8.
Phyllis Wheatley High School
(no
map available)
Most older cities with large AA populations have historic schools which
showcased the best and brightest; in Houston this Fifth Ward school was
among the best; it includes Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland as alumni
since they were Fifth Ward residents; Solo and Market Streets, just
south of I-10 freeway
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