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Collector's Notebook |
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| Welcome to our Collectors' Notebook page. We'll continually be updating this page to bring you news about new arrivals in the Houston gallery, special events and offers, or a highlight of one of the fine artists we feature. For additional information about these selections, contact us at arader_hstn@msn.com. | ||
A record of Houston’s proud emergence from war and pestilence
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the rare and famous 1869 survey by city engineer W.E. Wood
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 detail - Christ Church |
A rare, spectacular glimpse into the history of Houston Truly one of the most outstanding city maps ever produced, this grand-scale depiction of 1869 Houston is a magnificent tribute to the city's remarkable comeback after a series of devastating blows. It spans a three-square-mile layout centered at Main and Congress. Uniquely, this same area is today enjoying a similar revitalization as one of the most dynamic urban areas in the States. Very few copies of this map are known to exist today. The spectacular size alone is captivating. City blocks are large enough to include property owners’ names, a fascinating glimpse into early Houston history and the families who shaped the present. Insets include a plan for New Houston, a proposed site at a wide spot in the bayou where transfer of freight from ship to rail was planned. New Houston was abandoned when bayou dredging opened up navigation. |
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Throughout much of the War Between the States, Houston was financially crippled by the Union Blockade. The bayou, bustling with steam ships before the blockade, no longer saw activity.When it re-opened it had been so badly neglected that navigation was difficult around multiple shoals and bars. The small city was further crippled by the yellow fever epidemic of 1867. The year 1869 marked a remarkable turnaround for the city. Still under military rule and financially crippled, enough private funds were raised to begin re-dredging what would become the Houston ship channel. Railway construction strengthened the city's commercial trade and an air of enthusiasm drowned out the bitterness resulting from corrupt military control. Around the borders are 15 vignettes of Houston landmarks, originally photographed by prominent photographer J.T. Blessing with studios in New Orleans and Galveston. Included are Christ Church, a downtown landmark and the Morris Bldg, the first four-story building constructed. The vignettes of Ms. Browns’ Young Ladies Seminary (Mckinney & Crawford) and the Westheimer City Stables remind us of a time not so long ago but oh so very different. Horse and mule-drawn trolleys and gas street lamps, added to the city in 1868, are visible in the vignettes. This remarkable map is a tribute to the determination and dedication of early Houston leaders, who forged ahead on a pathway towards today's vibrant city. This remarkable map is a striking testimony to the spirit of Houston and the energy that drives its continuing development. |
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