Our friend Les Fullerton suggested this magazine commemorating the 200th anniversary of Harrisburg’s founding and the 100th anniversary of Milby High School, whose mascot is the Buffaloes – hence the name, Bison-tennial.The Harrisburg story rarely gets mentioned in discussions about the region’s founding as a mercantile hub, even though Harrisburg predates Houston by a decade, […]
Archive | Communities
Why Houston, Not Harrisburg
No one at the time of founding would guess that the runner up town of Houston would supersede the notable town of Harrisburg. However, such was the fate of Harrisburg; a promising town with enormous potential became just another acquisition of the younger, more accomplished neighboring city of Houston.
Charles H. Milby: How the Man and the School Shaped Harrisburg
Charles H. Milby left a lasting impact on Harrisburg and Houston, solidifying the strong sense of community that remains among East End residents today. A year after his passing, the Harrisburg school board unanimously voted to name its new high school after him.
The Milby COED Cadettes: 100 Years of Friendship, Honor, and Service
For nearly a century the Milby COED Cadettes have entertained students and residents from Harrisburg and the East End, as well as across Texas and in Hawaii.
The Long Road Ahead: Desegregation in HISD and Milby High School
Brown v. Board of Education paved the way towards integration in public schools nationwide and set a crucial precedent in the fight to end segregation. The process of implementing the Brown decision varied from state to state, city to city, and district to district, each with their own story. In some areas, the story of […]
Buff Nation: A Tale Of Two Seasons In Boys’ Athletics
By Devin Herrera with Cindy Rives AlfaroThe 1958-59 team met its challenges head on, as the coaches worked to turn the students into polished athletes. Photo Courtesy of The Buffalo, Milby High School yearbook, 1959. Athletics are the backbone of the school spirit, and without them a school can have no spirit.Nestled in a low-income neighborhood […]
Milby High School’s Magnetism
By Diego Guerrero with Cameron WrightMuralist and Milby alumnus, Donkeeboy (Alex Roman Jr.), completed this mural at the Milby entrance in 2023 as part of the Houston Loves Teachers Mural Project. It captures the affection students and alumni have for Milby and its faculty. Photo courtesy of Alexander Mizerik.What is the most important institution in […]
21.2 Letter from the Editor
The Spring 2024 issue of Houston History magazine reflects on ways in which we celebrate and preserve our history.
Musical Migrations
The soul of Houston has been shaped by the journeys of its people. One of the most ethnically diverse large cities in the United States, Houston reflects a mosaic of experiences from people all over the world. The path to this distinction began at the onset of the twentieth century, as the migrations of three […]
Patsy Swayze: Queen of Dance
“It was a life-changing thing to meet her. It was like she had a magic bubble of enthusiasm around her, and you could not walk by without getting some of it on you,” said Judy Jones, a former student of Patsy Swayze. The two met after Jones won the Miss Houston Pageant in 1959, and […]