Avondale East Historic District

 neighbourhood, historic district

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Avondale was one of several upscale “suburban” neighborhoods developed during the first quarter of the 20th century, which included Audubon Place, Courtlandt Place, James Bute Addition, Montrose, and Westmoreland. This area attracted Houston’s business and social elite more than a decade before the creation of River Oaks. Avondale was first platted in 1907 and derived its name from a variation on the name of William Shakespeare’s hometown in England, Stratford-upon-Avon. According to an Art Nouveau-style ad in the May 25, 1907, Houston Daily Post newspaper, the name Avondale was chosen from a publicly advertised naming contest. Nine contestants tied for the $25 prize, which was increased to $27 so that the nine winners could split the money evenly. The three major thoroughfares in Avondale were named Avondale, Stratford, and Hathaway. Avondale offered many attractive perks to wealthy Houstonians. All unsightly utility lines and garbage bins were accessed from the alleyways behind every home. The concrete curbs and sidewalks were tinted a pleasing shade of pink so as not to strain the eye in the afternoon sun, and streets were paved with oyster shell. Furthermore, no businesses, boarding houses, or structures costing less than $5,000 were allowed within the neighborhood. The developers touted it as a “first class neighborhood.” The streets were landscaped with a variety of oaks, palms, and camphor trees planted by the fledgling Teas Nursery. Today, the area is an eclectic mix of old and new as well as residential and commercial uses.