Keynote Vol. 22, No. 2
Spring 2012
the newsletter of
Preservation Houston
Houston’s Local Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.preservationhouston.org
Author Steve Berry to speak at PH events Proceeds from luncheon, writers’ workshop will help preserve the City of Houston’s first flag courtesy of history matters foundation
The first events produced under the Preservation Houston banner will feature literature in service to preservation. On Wednesday, May 23, New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry (The Jefferson Key, The Paris Vendetta, The Amber Room) will speak at the PH 2012 Spring Luncheon and conduct a writers’ workshop. Proceeds from the special events will fund Preservation Houston’s conservation of the City of Houston’s first flag. Berry is appearing courtesy of his own History Matters Foundation. He and his wife were inspired to create the foundation while conducting background research for Berry’s his-
New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry will be featured speaker at Preservation Houston’s 2012 Spring Luncheon at The Parador on Wednesday, May 23.
torical thrillers. He wrote in the Huffington Post, “More than 4.8 billion artifacts are held in public trust by more than 30,000 archives, historical soci-
eties, libraries, museums, scientific research collections and archaeological repositories in the United States, but lack of funding places a third of these items at risk of being lost. This is why my wife, Elizabeth, and I started our foundation, History Matters. History is not something obscure or unimportant. History plays a vital role in our everyday lives. We learn from our past in order to achieve greater influence over our future.” During the luncheon, Berry will discuss the work of the History Matters Foundation and tell his story of rejection — 12 years, 85 rejections — and what it took to persevere and eventually land novels on the New York Times bestseller list with nearly 14 million books in print in 51 countries. The luncheon will be held at The Parador, 2021 Binz. The event begins with a reception at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30. Berry will be
available to sign his new book, The Columbus Affair, during the reception. Books to be signed must be purchased at the event. Tickets for the 2012 Spring Luncheon start at $200 for Preservation Houston members and $300 for the general public. Reservations and prepayment are required. Reservations are not refundable. The registration form and additional information are available online at www.preservationhouston.org/luncheon. To register by phone, please call 713-510-3990. Please send questions to contact@ preservationhouston.org. Preservation Houston is very grateful to Deborah Keyser for providing The Parador for the luncheon. Geo. H. Lewis & Sons is graciously furnishing chauffeured services for Steve Berry during his visit. Please see Berry, Page 2
jim parsons
Preservation Houston: New name, same mission
family together,” said Carroll Blue, the original owners’ great-granddaughter. “This house taught me the importance of home.” The Carroll House is one of the oldest buildings in Independence Heights. In 1910, the Wright Land Company established the subdivision north of Houston Heights and developed the area for black homeowners. About 600 people lived in the community by 1915, when Independence Heights was incorporated. The new town was the first municipality in Texas governed by African-Americans. Residents vot-
Greater Houston Preservation Alliance is now Preservation Houston. After serious consideration, GHPA’s Board of Directors voted to shorten the organization’s name; the Texas Secretary of State and Harris County Clerk certified the change in February. “Our name may be different, but our mission remains the same. Preservation Houston will continue to promote the preservation and appreciation of our shared architectural and cultural historic resources,” said Preservation Houston President Patty Porter. “The organization, the staff, the board and our membership will remain the same.” The new name better reflects the organization’s current work. “When GHPA was incorporated in 1978, Houston did not have a historic preservation ordinance; there were no historic districts and no local landmarks. Everyone had to work to get the fundamental tools in place,” said Preservation Houston Executive Director Ramona Davis. “Now our work is much more nuanced. Each of the historic dis-
Please see Carroll, Page 2
Please see Name, Page 2
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1924, 1926, William Ward Watkin) is among the buildings that will be featured during PH’s walking tour of Main Street and Montrose Boulevard on Sunday evening, June 10. walking tours
Preservation Houston’s Walking Tours Program will take refuge from the Houston heat with its Summer Twilight Tours at 6 p.m. the second Sunday of June, July, August and September. The June 10 tour, Main Street and Montrose Boulevard, will focus on the neighborhood around the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The tour will tell the story of the development of the museum itself and will explore nearby structures designed by MacKie & Kamrath, Joseph Finger, Alfred C. Finn and Isamu Noguchi, among others. Please see Tours, Page 3
david bush
This summer, explore the city with PH walking tours
The Carroll House (c. 1910), 309 E. 32nd St., became Independence Heights’ first City of Houston Protected Landmark in April. The designation protects the historic structure from demolition. historic neighborhood resources
Independence Heights gains its first city protected landmark In April, Independence Heights Redevelopment Authority hosted a ceremony to commemorate the designation of the c. 1910 Carroll House, 309 East 32nd Street, as the historic African-American neighborhood’s first City of Houston Protected Landmark. Andrew Carroll, a farmer and minister, built the home with his wife, Polly, and four of their 12 children. The small frame house has remained in the Carroll family for more than a century. The homeowners applied to have their property registered as a protected landmark. “To think that two former slaves put together their pennies to buy these lots to keep their