| |
Rooms
with a Past • Razed in TexasJoseph
Finger - Architect
1925 - 2006
1423 Texas Avenue
10 Stories
Houston
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Your Hotel Here & Save |
| An
article by reporter Lisa Gray in the January 28, Houston Chronicle reported the
demolition of the William Penn Hotel. Vacant since its last tenant moved out in
1994, the article was titled "Hotel's demolition catches preservationists by surprise."
|
| | The
last complete corner.
Photo courtesy www.arch-ive.org., January 2006 |
| | Demolition
in progress
Photo courtesy www.arch-ive.org.,
January 2006 |
| | A
dramatic night view of the demolition.
Photo
courtesy www.arch-ive.org.,
January 2006 |
| According
to the article, the owner of the building decided to demolish the building to
make decisions easier for any potential buyer. Downtown Houston,
which has had success in rehabilitating and remodeling many older buildings for
lofts and apartments now has another vacant lot. The buildings owners stated that
the low ceilings and small rooms weighed heavily against its conversion. One photo
that accompanied the text, showed 90% of the structure already gone. |
| | Final
remains in front of the Houston
skyline.
Photo courtesy www.arch-ive.org.,
January 2006 |
| | William
Penn Hotel in 1942
Postcard
courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
In 2003 the buildings
owners had received a "Good Brick Award" from the Greater Houston Preservation
Alliance.
The most recent awards (held Friday, January 27, 2006) gave
15 awards - three of them going to renovated buildings designed originally by
Joseph Finger.
Houston
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
A
Brief Biography of William Penn, the Man by
John Troesser |
Born
in England in 1644, Penn converted to Quakerism while attending Oxford University.
His enthusiasm for his new faith was considered "aggressive" and he was expelled
for misconduct. In 1668 he was thrown into the Tower of London for publishing
an attack on the Church of England. When his father (Admiral William Penn) died,
Penn inherited an annual income plus a claim of £16,000 against the government.
In 1681, in lieu of this claim, he was granted lands in "the colonies" which now
comprise the state of Pennsylvania. Penn had wanted to name his vast holdings
Sylvania, but King Charles II added Penn's name as a friendly gesture. Penn turned
his grant into an asylum for the persecuted Quakers as well as other groups. His
desire was to create a government where the people could enjoy "the highest possible
degree of freedom and happiness."
His first visit to the New World was
in August of 1682. A few months later he met with local Indian tribes under a
large tree - providing engravers and historians with a dramatic image (and cigar
makers with a memorable trademark). The city of Philadelphia was planned and named
by Penn. He remained in the colony for two years before returning to England to
influence James II to release all religious prisoners. Due to Penn's intervention,
over 1200 Quakers were released and many of these left England for Pennsylvania.
Penn was accused of treason and arrested on charges of conspiracy, but was acquitted
on all counts. In 1699, he returned to Pennsylvania to govern for another two
years. He returned to England in 170l, to find that his English agent had ruined
him through mismanagement. The agent died leaving false claims against Penn and
rather than be extorted, he voluntarily entered prison. Although his release was
arranged by friends, his health was ruined and he died in 1718. Editor's
Note: The town in Washington County, Texas named William Penn was actually named
after a riverboat that had been named after the man.
Houston
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
| Houston's
William Penn Hotel may now be history; but a more opulent hotel under the same
name is still accepting guests in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The address is 520
William Penn Place. | |
|
