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The
Globe Theater - reborn as a tire shop on the corner of Lyons Avenue
and Lathrop
Courtesy
Dr. Jay Grady
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Before
suburbia, gated communities, and strip shopping centers - back when
convenience stores were corner groceries and before pedestrians became
extinct; Texas cities had very distinct neighborhoods. These self-reliant
communities were usually held in place by stable landmarks like high
schools, fire stations or theaters. When residents needed something
really important - there were buses to take them on a downtown adventures.
Sometimes these communities had their own parks and sometimes they
even had their own watertowers. This is the story of one such community,
its watertower and the mystery of the name. It's also the story of
a record-breaking basketball game played by an underdog team of fourteen-year
olds in 1948. |
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The
Old Denver Harbor Fire Station on the corner of Lyons Avenue and Kress
Street
Courtesy
Dr. Jay Grady
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The
Charles Elliot Elementary School
6411 Laredo Street
Courtesy
Dr. Jay Grady
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Houstonian
author Jay Grady has started a grassroots movement to have his old
neighborhood officially recognized as "Texas' Official Mythical Town." |
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The
Mystery - The Legend - The Book |
The
neighborhood went by other names, but the most popular was and is
Denver Harbor. The original boundries of "Podunk" were west of (what
is now) Wayside, north of the tracks and not far from from the notorious
juncture of Lyons Avenue and Jensen Drive (aka "Pearl Harbor"). |
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Photo
of Jay Grady circa 1948 |
Former
Denver Harborites or anyone wishing to sign Dr. Grady's petition for
Official recognition are encouraged to visit his website www.podunktexas.com.
The photos in this page are from the book "Where the Hell
is Podunk, Texas?" and our courtesy of the author, Dr. Jay Grady.
Call toll-free @ 1-877-476-3865 to place an order.
© John Troesser
First published May 1, 2006 |
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