HEREBaytown

Then and now

Fifteen pairs. Drag the handle where both pictures exist; 5 of 15 have both today, the rest say what is coming. Every photograph carries its licence.

  1. 1. Texas Avenue, 1950s vs. today

    The department-store block then; Art Alley and Bocanegra's now. The same buildings, mostly.

    Now: Book Barn, 222 East Texas Avenue, Baytown, Texas 1211101534
    Then: City of Baytown, Texas. Texas Avenue Historic District sign at the corner of Decker Drive and Texas Avenue.

    Then: City of Baytown, Texas. Texas Avenue Historic District sign at the corner of Decker Drive and Texas Avenue. (2008-10-04) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Now: Book Barn, 222 East Texas Avenue, Baytown, Texas 1211101534 — Photo: Patrick Feller · CC BY 2.0.

  2. 2. The Baytown Tunnel entrance vs. the Fred Hartman approach

    The tunnel under the ship channel opened in 1953. The bridge that replaced it was built in the mid-1990s. The tunnel portal on the Baytown side; the bridge ramp where it was.

    Photographs coming.

  3. 3. Goose Creek oil field, the over-water derricks vs. Tabbs Bay today

    The strike came beside Tabbs Bay in 1908, and by 1916 the field was known for the first offshore drilling in Texas. Pilings and rigs then; open water and the Nature Center's edge now.

    Now: Goose Creek Oil Field LCCN2007661609
    Then: Goose Creek, Texas oil field LCCN2007661588.tif

    Then: Goose Creek, Texas oil field LCCN2007661588.tif (1917) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Now: Goose Creek Oil Field LCCN2007661609 — Photo: Fæ · CC BY 2.0.

  4. 4. Brownwood, houses vs. the boardwalk

    A street of homes on the peninsula; the marsh and the herons on the same ground.

    Photographs coming.

  5. 5. The Humble refinery, 1920s vs. the ExxonMobil complex

    Construction on the refinery began in the fall of 1919. A single unit on the channel then; the skyline now.

    With a refining capacity of about 564,500 barrels per day, ExxonMobil’s Baytown refinery is the fifth-largest refinery in the United States by EIA operable capacity; ExxonMobil's Beaumont plant is larger, at about 612,000 barrels per day (fourth). And with 970 hectares of intensely industrialized land within its perimeter, this is one of the largest industrial sites in the world. In addition to the refinery, ExxonMobil Chemical operates two petrochemical plants on the site, making 13 billion pounds of chemicals a year for a variety of industries and products. The refinery opened in 1919, by the Humble Oil Company, which later became Exxon. The 4 kilometer wide plant employs over 4,000 people. The image was acquired October 1, 2003, covers an area of 9 x 12 km, and is located at 29.7 degrees north latitude, 95 degrees west longitude.
    Then only — the other half is coming.

    Then: With a refining capacity of about 564,500 barrels per day, ExxonMobil’s Baytown refinery is the fifth-largest refinery in the United States by EIA operable capacity; ExxonMobil's Beaumont plant is larger, at about 612,000 barrels per day (fourth). And with 970 hectares of intensely industrialized land within its perimeter, this is one of the largest industrial sites in the world. In addition to the refinery, ExxonMobil Chemical operates two petrochemical plants on the site, making 13 billion pounds of chemicals a year for a variety of industries and products. The refinery opened in 1919, by the Humble Oil Company, which later became Exxon. The 4 kilometer wide plant employs over 4,000 people. The image was acquired October 1, 2003, covers an area of 9 x 12 km, and is located at 29.7 degrees north latitude, 95 degrees west longitude. (Take) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

  6. 6. The Lynchburg Ferry, wooden boat vs. today's

    Nathaniel Lynch set up a ferry at this crossing in 1822, and one still runs there. The same crossing, a century apart.

    Now: Lynchburg Ferries, through Monument Inn Window 0228101815
    Then: Lynchburg Ferry

    Then: Lynchburg Ferry (2008) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Now: Lynchburg Ferries, through Monument Inn Window 0228101815 — Photo: Patrick Feller · CC BY 2.0.

  7. 7. Sterling library, the original vs. the current building

    The town's reading room then and now.

    Photographs coming.

  8. 8. The San Jacinto Mall, opening day vs. the Marketplace site

    The parking lot full; the cranes.

    Baytown, TX, October 1, 2008 -- Applicants from eastern Harris County came to the Disaster Recovery Center at San Jacinto Mall to register for FEMA aid. Other agencies on site include the SBA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas Department of Insurance, The Texas Unemployment Office, and a family counseling service. Photo by Greg Henshall / FEMA
    Then only — the other half is coming.

    Then: Baytown, TX, October 1, 2008 -- Applicants from eastern Harris County came to the Disaster Recovery Center at San Jacinto Mall to register for FEMA aid. Other agencies on site include the SBA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas Department of Insurance, The Texas Unemployment Office, and a family counseling service. Photo by Greg Henshall / FEMA (2008-10-01) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

  9. 9. Goose Creek's downtown vs. Pelly's vs. Baytown's: three main streets in the 1940s, one Texas Avenue now

    Goose Creek and Pelly voted to merge in 1947, and the city of Baytown was established on January 24, 1948.

    Now: Goose Creek Oil Field LCCN2007661609
    Then: Ashbel Smith was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1805. Recieved his M.D. degree from Yale in 1828, and came to Texas from South Carolina in 1837. He established a plantation called Headquarters on Goose Creek in 1840 and in 1847 purchased property adjoining his and a plantation home named Evergreen on Tabbs Bay, part of the San Jacinto Estuary. Dr. Smith kept the name Evergreen for the combined estates. This estate remained his home until his death in 1886. Dr. Smith's active life as physician, statesman, soldier and educator often took him away, but he always returned to Evergreen and his life as a farmer, rancher, scientist and writer. Dr. Ashbel Smith served the Republic of Texas as Surgeon General 1837--1839, Minister to England and France 1842--1843, and Secretary of State 1845: worked to establish the Texas Medical Association 1853 and the Texas State Agricultural Society 1863: represented Harris County in the 11th and 16th Legislatures of the State of Texas: formed the Bayland Guards 1861: was Colonel 2nd Texas Infantry Confederate Army: led the way in founding Prairie View State Normal School 1879, The University of Texas in Austin 1881 and the medical branch in Galveston. Served as the first president of the University of Texas Board of Regents 1881--1886.

    Then: Ashbel Smith was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1805. Recieved his M.D. degree from Yale in 1828, and came to Texas from South Carolina in 1837. He established a plantation called Headquarters on Goose Creek in 1840 and in 1847 purchased property adjoining his and a plantation home named Evergreen on Tabbs Bay, part of the San Jacinto Estuary. Dr. Smith kept the name Evergreen for the combined estates. This estate remained his home until his death in 1886. Dr. Smith's active life as physician, statesman, soldier and educator often took him away, but he always returned to Evergreen and his life as a farmer, rancher, scientist and writer. Dr. Ashbel Smith served the Republic of Texas as Surgeon General 1837--1839, Minister to England and France 1842--1843, and Secretary of State 1845: worked to establish the Texas Medical Association 1853 and the Texas State Agricultural Society 1863: represented Harris County in the 11th and 16th Legislatures of the State of Texas: formed the Bayland Guards 1861: was Colonel 2nd Texas Infantry Confederate Army: led the way in founding Prairie View State Normal School 1879, The University of Texas in Austin 1881 and the medical branch in Galveston. Served as the first president of the University of Texas Board of Regents 1881--1886. (2009-04-02) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Now: Goose Creek Oil Field LCCN2007661609 — Photo: Fæ · CC BY 2.0.

  10. 10. Town Square before it was a square

    The intersection and the traffic; the lawn and the tree.

    Photographs coming.

  11. 11. The Brunson Theater marquee, then and now

    The movie house opened on Texas Avenue on August 23, 1949. The restored building has a new 50-foot sign on the facade.

    Brunson Theater, Baytown, Texas 0227101416
    Now only — the other half is coming.

    Now: Brunson Theater, Baytown, Texas 0227101416 — Photo: Patrick Feller · CC BY 2.0.

  12. 12. Pelly's main street vs. the same block today

    The company town's storefronts and what replaced them.

    Photographs coming.

  13. 13. Cedar Bayou's landing vs. Roseland Park

    The old settlement's waterfront, with its stores, shipyards and brickyards, and the park's ramp.

    Now: Drawbridge, Tri-City Beach Rd (Farm to Market 2354) over Cedar Bayou, Baytown, Texas, August, 1984
    Then: A 1984 view of a since-removed bridge that once carried Tri-City Beach Road over Cedar Bayou, in Baytown, Texas, with its bascule draw span opened. This is a digitized Kodachrome slide from August 1984. The bridge was removed in the mid- to late 1980s and not replaced.

    Then: A 1984 view of a since-removed bridge that once carried Tri-City Beach Road over Cedar Bayou, in Baytown, Texas, with its bascule draw span opened. This is a digitized Kodachrome slide from August 1984. The bridge was removed in the mid- to late 1980s and not replaced. (1984) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Now: Drawbridge, Tri-City Beach Rd (Farm to Market 2354) over Cedar Bayou, Baytown, Texas, August, 1984 — Photo: Patrick Feller · CC BY 2.0.

  14. 14. Lee College's first building vs. the campus now

    The original hall and the Performing Arts Center.

    Photographs coming.

  15. 15. Garth Road as a two-lane vs. the corridor

    The road before the mall, and the road now.

    A billboard on Garth Road, Baytown, Texas is ravaged by the strong winds of Hurricane Ike in Sept 2008.
    Then only — the other half is coming.

    Then: A billboard on Garth Road, Baytown, Texas is ravaged by the strong winds of Hurricane Ike in Sept 2008. (2008-10-04) — Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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