Memories of Early Woodland Heights

For Margaret Davila, Woodland Heights resident since the 1930s, memories of her early life in the neighborhood remain vivid. Her enthusiasm for the centennial is evident by her willingness to be a part of the Civic Association's Centennial Committee, and by her eagerness to share these memories to help preserve the history of the neighborhood.

Ms. Davila has fond memories of the shops in the brick buildings along Houston Avenue across from Bayland Street. She says Woodland Drug Store (Gennusa's as it was often called) was a gathering place for neighbors to socialize and find out what was going on. In the 1930s it was also the only place to get ice cream, since the ice boxes at the time only had room for a block of ice. The store also served malts, limeade, hotdogs and various other refreshments at the soda fountain. The drug store was quite large, she says, and there was a large variety of goods. Nunez's Barber Shop was right next door, and then later Opal's Beauty Shop. "Those shops on Houston Avenue, were the life of the neighborhood," she says.

She remembers the Woodland Heights streetcar, and says that later when the tracks were removed the Pecore bus was used by residents to travel to town or to the Heights. "There were more businesses in the Heights," she says, "because Woodland Heights had restrictions. So we went [to the Heights] to shop or dine." A favorite place in the 1950s was the Someburger on East 11th Street. "Felix made the best hamburgers in town," Ms. Davila said.

Most of her family's grocery shopping was done at Hattenbach's Grocery on Houston Avenue and Payne. Mr. Hattenbach, who kept the store from 1935 until it closed in 1950, kept cattle on farmland on Little York Road and butchered them for fresh meat for his store. Fresh beef was put out every Tuesday and she remembers her parents going to the store on that day just to buy the meat.

During the summer it was too hot in the kitchen to cook, so families took their food to cook on grills in Woodland Park. The park's picnic tables would be filled with families eating their meals. Movies were shown in the park in the 30s and 40s and she remembers that a vendor sold root beer to the crowds from large barrels.

Ms. Davila's father is buried at Hollywood Cemetery. She recalls that before the I-45 freeway was built, she could walk to the cemetery. There were many homes that stood between Houston Avenue and North Main, but many were taken for the construction of the road. Some neighbors who lost their homes never returned to live in the neighborhood.

She has enjoyed living in the neighborhood all these years. She misses those who have passed on, but has many memories of the people who were her family, friends, and neighbors. "The way it used to be," she says, "our neighbors were like relatives. Everyone knew everybody and everyone helped each other. It was like a small town." She says she has seen many changes and many new residents in the neighborhood over the years, and is pleased to see the restoration of old homes. Woodland Heights, she explains, was originally designed as a well planned retreat for residents who sought a comfortable friendly place to live without commercial intrusion. She is glad to see that efforts are being made to retain the character of the neighborhood that has been her home for so many years.

(Near Northwest Banner, February 5, 2007)