John Kirby Estate At The End-Of-Main

[Highrise Tower]

I found this amazing piece of history that's wildly interesting on what ever happened with the land. 

I was browsing the newspaper The Houston Post dated July 3, 1923 and came across an article about John Henry Kirby's planned Country Estate at the End of Main.  This estate would have came after his historic mansion in downtown at 2006 Smith Street. I wonder if there is any photos of the mansion? Mr. Kirby was extremely famous, so I bet there would be pictures of his new home.  That is, if the country estate actually got built. 

For this estate, I believe they are talking about Old Main Street Road. Often times confused with South Main Street.

I found a clue about the Kirby estate while reading Automotive News dated September 24, 1929:

Houston, Tex., Sept. 23. - Actual development of the Curtiss Airport on the Kirby plot, adjacent to the Old Main Street Road, will start within ninety days, according to Paul C. Jackson, manager of the airport.

The total size of the airport, almost, matches the John Henry Kirby's planned state.  The Kirby estate was 400-acres while Curtiss Airport was on 450-acres.  I'm thinking the proposed Kirby estate failed and he eventually sold the land to which Curtiss Airport acquired? 

Country Estate at End of Main planned by Kirby.

400 Acres on Brays Bayou will be transformed into beautiful spot.

Two Mansions To Be Built.

Two palatial country homes, rivaling the mansions a long the bank of the Hudson river in New York, will be constructed by John Henry Kirby and his son-in-law, J. Frederick B. Rawcliffe, at the southern end of Main street, between Bellaire Boulevard and Brays Bayou. 

John F. Staub, Houston representative of New York architectural firm headed by H.F. Lindeberg, said Monday that preliminary plans had been completed and approved. Mrs. John Henry Kirby last week departed for New York city, from which point she will leave for the Adirondack mountains. While in New York she was shown the plans and approved them, it was said Monday. Both Mr. Kirby and Mr. Rawcliffe are out of the city.

Estate of 400 acres.

"Mr. Kirby owns at last 400 acres of land which will be converted into a joint country estate," Mr. Staub said. "A month ago he had acquired that much and, I believe, that since that time he has purchased considerable more acreage. Purchases have extended over a period of nearly two years."

A private park containing a golf course, an artificial lake, tennis courts, a marble swimming pool and paved driveways will surrounded the two dwellings, the exact plans of which would not be reveled by the architect. 

"It would be hard to say whether the house would be two stories in height or not, "Mr. Staub said."  "One could not very well term that a two-story house," and he pointed to a picture on the wall showing architects' drawing of a country mansion. 

Plan Artificial Lake.
Present plans, however, are said to call for buildings of marble, brick and stucco construction.
The outstanding feature of the two estates, which will be connected so as to form a single beautify sport rivaling any in the South, is the plan of landscape. One end of the property is bounded by Brays bayou, a clear shallow stream, which bisects a stretch of rolling prairie and a wooded section. In the center of this prairie is a natural bed, which, it is understood, will be converted into an artificial lake.

One of the houses will be occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Kirby, who now reside at 2006 Smith street.  The other will be occupied by Mr. Rawcliffe and his wife, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. A present they reside at 911 Lovett boulevard, Montrose. 

H.F. Lindeberg, architect, has prepared plans for many palatial homes in the city, including several residences in Shadyside, facing the sunken garden on Main street, opposite the northern entrance to Hermann park.

[strickn]

Two mansions with their own private park grounds are for sale in Beaumont's beautiful West End, and one of them is a 1935 mansion by John Staub that used to house the city's art museum.

https://www.har.com/homedetail/2550-ashley-st-beaumont-tx-77702/4400530

https://www.har.com/homedetail/5975-calder-ave-beaumont-tx-77706/9206018

[ATH]

In 1923, the Braeswood development (now termed "Old Braeswood") had not yet been started, and it's between Bellaire and Brays Bayou on Main.  I wonder if this could have been part of the Kirby property?

[ATH]

In 1923, the Braeswood development (now termed "Old Braeswood") had not yet been started, and it's between Bellaire and Brays Bayou on Main.  I wonder if this could have been part of the Kirby property?

[NenaE]

I'm wondering the same, ATH. Looks like Kirby decided to stay where he was (Smith st.hs.) He remodeled his Victorian Smith st. house in 1925. AIA book says he was "superstitious" about living in a completely new one. (AIA 3rd.ed.)

Braeswood was designed in 1928 by landscape architects Hare & Hare. Several houses on Bluebonnet st. were built in 1929 by The Braeswood Corporation.  So the dates line up.

 I found no mention in the block book info. that Braeswood was Kirby's actual plot of land. 

But Wikipedia states the land was sold in 1927 by John H. Kirby to form the garden style neighborhood. It references a book about Old Braeswood.

Edited December 31, 2022 by NenaE

[Highrise Tower]

Found some more information on a map. Looks like the estate was a long Bellaire/Holcombe near Stella Link/Buffalo Speedway. You can see the Kirby plot of 574 acres on the lower left side of the map.

There is some history to research on this map as well.  The J.C. League estate with a total of 439 acres and the Robert A. Welch Orange Orchard totaling 110 Acres.  I wonder if John Charles League had any mansions on this property? Or if it was just a residential community that he owned.  Was it farm land? 

Map of Westmoreland Farms, showing its location in relation to Houston, Tex.

1909