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, […]
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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.
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 […]
Gordon Quan: A Paragon of Diversity
Houstonian Gordon Quan, who moved to the United States from China as a child in 1951, as worked to better his community through teaching and practicing law throughout his career. As an immigration attorney, he assists people wanting to emigrate to the United States negotiate the difficulties they face. Gordon Quan’s inspiring story illustrates the […]
Two Activists Who Shaped the East End
Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado, left, spoke for fifteen hours to demonstrate her opposition to voting restrictions that would make voting more difficult for people of color and people with disabilities. At right, Maria Jimenez was exposed to labor organizing early in her life. She continued to fight for fair labor policies and joined the […]
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.
Harris County Historical Society: A Century of Preserving and Sharing Local History
A call to action begins “A Plea for County Historical Societies,” published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) in the July 1923 issue of The Southwestern Historical Quarterly. The people of Harris County were the first to answer, founding the Harris County Historical Society (HCHS) in the fall of 1923. HCHS exemplifies how the […]
Movers and Shakers: Houston Women in the Arts
Women have played significant roles in the history of Houston’s cultural development. Some have had talent; some have had resources; some have had influence as powerful journalists or fundraisers. Among these women were Houston’s cultural impresario Edna Saunders and the formidable journalist Wille Hutcheson. Three other remarkable women, however, were historically strategic in shaping Houston’s […]