Houston History Alliance - HHA

06/24/2022

This is the perfect season to start researching your family history and learn about resources to help you preserve heritage sites.

Come by the Harris County Historic Preservation Fair this Saturday starting at 9am and listen to the experts in a cool air conditioned facility talk about how to obtain historic markers.

This event is free and open to the public but you must register here: https://bit.ly/3yfMjEH

10/20/2020

Historic mansion in Houston now for sale.

When it was first built in 1921, 2 Longfellow Ln. was home to David D. Peden, president of the Peden Iron and Steel Company. His company was the largest hardware and supply ...

10/15/2020

Trouble is brewing as Houston's historic preservation ordinance is facing opposition. This time it is headed to the Texas Supreme Court!

For the past 25 years, Houston’s historic preservation law, first passed by City Council ordinance in 1995, has been a work in progress. But it now faces its biggest challenge yet.

07/29/2020

Defacing property at the National Buffalo Soldiers Museum.

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum was vandalized with an apparent sw****ka and other images.

07/09/2020

Saying goodbye to another Houston landmark. First Sears, now this!

It's known as the largest Hispanic-focused chain and now it's permanently closing this Houston-area location.

06/16/2020

You're Invited to Learn About the Murals!
Founders' Corners: History Meets Art in Emancipation Park
Description
IS CREATIVE!

Join us in a discussion on art, history, and the creative process behind Emancipation Park’s recently completed Founders’ Corners monuments. The monuments are a tribute to each of the four founders of Emancipation Park (Jack Yates, Elias Dibble, Richard Allen, and Richard Brock). Carefully planned and researched, the unified vision for the project honors the African origins of creation, the universal elements of change and the impact of each of the four founders rendered in bold and brilliantly colored tile mosaic murals. Artist Reginald C. Adams, LLC and historian Deborah Blacklock-Sloan discuss the creative process and historical research behind this permanent public art project.

Jun 16, 2020 06:30 PM

06/11/2020

Let's learn some Houston history!
J Vance Lewis was a formerly enslaved African American who became a lawyer and was admitted to the US Supreme Court. Lewis wrote an autobiographical narrative entitled "Out of the Ditch". A True Story of an Ex-Slave. After going to college and to law school he practiced law in Chicago, Louisiana and Houston.

His home located in historic Freedman's Town in Fourth Ward, Texas is still standing as a reminder of his life and contributions to Houston. Learn more about ways to get involved in preservation of African American cultural and historical resources in Freedman's Town: https://bit.ly/2zogkGx

06/09/2020

When legends leave.

Thomas Freeman, the renowned professor and debate coach whose relationship with Texas Southern University spanned eight decades, died Saturday, his son confirmed. He was 100.

06/05/2020

Still on the frontlines! Rev. Lawson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

On watching the recent protests, Rev. Bill Lawson pointed out those inciting violence are not interested in making a difference.

06/05/2020

There's a whole lot of history at the Original Kolache Shoppe that opened in Houston in 1956 on the corner of Telephone Road and Gillen Street. Founded by Loraine Sharp, who used recipes passed down from generation to generation, Sharp introduced the neighborhood to the fruit-filled pastries of her Czech and German ancestry.

Today, the shoppe is still located in the same place. The bakery makes everything in-house without any additives. The menu is simple with a small amount of the massive kolaches available every hour in the glass enclosed case. Apple, cheese and poppyseed are staples while kielbasa, ham and cheese klobasneks are house favorites.

Stop by and taste a bit of Houston's history. Check out some feature videos highlighting the Original Kolache Shoppe.
https://bit.ly/2MyyXe4

06/04/2020

Time to make the donuts!
Shipley Do-Nuts began in 1936 founded by Lawrence Shipley. When Shipley first created his recipe, the doughnuts were cut by hand and served warm all day, and sold for .5 cents per dozen. The original bakery was on 1417 Crockett Street.

Today, Shipley is still a Houston favorite. Locals argue that the Shipley on Ella is the best. What do you think? What's your favorite Shipley?

06/04/2020

Let's learn some Houston history!
Ernestine Jessie Covington Dent was a concert pianist, educator, community leader and the wife of Albert Walter Dent, President of Dillard University. She was born on May 19, 1904 in Houston, Texas and was the only child of Dr. Benjamin Jesse and Jennie Covington, a prominent African American family in Houston.

She was instrumental in integrating orchestra concerts in New Orleans. Throughout her adult life, she supported the effort of minority classical musicians to increase their number in major symphony orchestras and in teaching positions.

To learn more about the Covington Family, visit Houston Metropolitan Research Center and the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans.