We are pleased to present our April, 2021 “Waco, Texas History in Pictures Magazine”, which is all about the OLD Lake Waco and Dam. This 36-page magazine is FREE to view online, and may be shared to any social media platform or via text or email. It is FILLED TO THE BRIM with amazing photos of that special moment in time known as the Old Lake Waco. And large print so that historic eyes can easily read the great history contained therein! And a special “thank you” to all of of our group members who contributed photos! Be sure to visit our Facebook Group “The Old Lake Waco and Dam” to view so many more photos.
In this issue, you will find;The Old Lake Waco Dam, The Old Highway 6 Bridge, The Old Lake Shore Drive, The North Side of the Dam, Below the Dam, The Speegleville Shore, The Bridges of the Bosque, The Trellis Courts, The Lake Hill Food Store and The Perdichis, The Halbert Buchanan Home at Lake Waco, The Edward C. Bolton Home at Lake Waco, The Mount Carmel Center, Our Website and Past Issues.
If you would like a print copy of this magazine, please contact Vicki at Firmin Printing in Waco at 254-776-5742. The cost is 16.00 plus tax, which ONLY covers cost of printing. We appreciate their help in preserving Waco History! . The first two issues are also available…they are both 16-pages and 9.00 plus tax.
Touch the photo below to view the April 2021 Waco, Texas History in Pictures Magazine.
This was a card that was produced by The Waco History Project and the printing was courtesy of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. The back of the card says:
“Pete the Pup (1929-1946) of the Hal Roach “Our Gang” comedies of the 1930s, was the best known of several American Staffordshire Terriers who played the companion to The Little Rascals. He was the pet of former Robinson mayor Ted Lucenay (1925-2004), whose father, Harry Lucenay, signed the dog to the movies starting at $125.00 per week (1,500.00 in today’s dollars). Photo courtesy of Mrs. Ted Lucenay.”
Waco’s First United Methodist (organized 1850), 4901 Cobbs Avenue. This was the original sanctuary when the church moved from the downtown location. Postcard image from eBay.
This aerial postcard photo of Waco is postmarked 1941. It’s good to see the Dennis Building (5th and Austin) and the Padgitt Building (5th and Franklin) still standing in this photo. They were both destroyed in the 1953 Waco tornado.
Stadium Drive-In, 1948-1992 2621 Clay Avenue Fraser C. and Eloise Holder, owners
Stadium Drive-In was originally known as Holder’s Grocery and Market. The store enlarged in 1954 and the name was changed to Stadium Drive-In Grocery. Hamburgers were added in 1955. Stadium Drive-In closed with the death of Mr. Holder in October, 1994. Mrs. Holder passed away in May, 2020.
Their son, Paul Holder, said: “Business customers included patrons from throughout the city, especially workers from Cameron Mills and Central Texas Iron Works–Baylor Football games-businesses within 3 blocks of the stadium and included many out of town regulars. There was a group (5 men) of Razorbacks who came every other year for 20 years (home and home schedule). They always claimed they made the trip( they were from Little Rock) for the burgers and not the game. Several Baylor coaches and players would partake. There was only one table-so nearly all business was “to go.” Certain Baylor players stopped regularly after practice.In truth they usually stopped for soft drinks and small cigars-list included the All American Ronnie Bull. Of some local renown, MCC Professors Henry Apperson and Vince Clark both ate there before becoming professors.”
Photos contributed by Paul Holder.
Stadium Drive-In. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Eloise Holder and grandson Jeff. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Fraser C. Holder. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Fraser c. Holder. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Stadium Drive-In. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Eloise Holder. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Holder’s Grocery. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.Stadium Drive-In. Photo contributed by Paul Holder.
We are not sure when it was built, but Scenic Wonderland was a popular nightclub and entertainment venue in the early 1950s. It was out LaSalle Avenue, across the Brazos River at the Marlin Highway. It was built by the Gorham Brothers-Tracy, John and Mack. Our group member Deborah Gorham is the daughter of Tracy Gorham. They sold it to Judson Baker, and he sold it to Cecil Epps, who owned several other clubs in Waco. Group member Paula Owen is Cecil Epps’ daughter. Scenic Wonderland was billed as “The Largest Nightclub West of the Mississippi” and hosted popular bands and entertainers of the day…comedians, magicians, and big-name bands including Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Spivak, Gene Krupa, and Hal McIntire. Local musicians and bands like Doodle Owens and Omar McKim also played there. In later years, Scenic Wonderland hosted wrestling matches. The Scenic Wonderland exploded burned on Tuesday, October 4, 1955.
Scenic Wonderlsnd. Photo contributed by Deborah Gorham. The Waco News Tribune, October 27, 1951.The Waco News Tribune, September 7, 1952.The Waco Tribune Herald, April 30, 1950.The Waco News Tribune, March 7, 1953. The Waco News Tribune, December 19, 1951.The Waco News Tribune, January 21, 1951.The Waco News Tribune, October 27, 1950.The Waco News Tribune, July 6, 1953.The Waco News Tribune, May 31, 1952.
In 1959, it was announced that a shopping mall would be built on Bosque Boulevard. The Lake Air Mall was developed by Arthur Temple, Charles Sligh, and George Nokes. Goldstein-Migel, was the first store to open in the new mall on Monday, October 31, 1960. The Grand Opening of the Lake Air Mall was Thursday, March 16, 1961. The Lake Air Mall was an innovative and amazing place, and will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew it. It closed in January, 2002.
STORES OF LAKE AIR MALL
According to the 1961 Waco City Directory, all spaces except for Goldstein Migel were vacant. This reflects January-February, 1961. By March 1961, much of the spaces at the mall were filled.
The First Phase of the Opening of The Lake Air Mall was the opening of Goldstein-Migel’s on October 31, 1960.
The Grand Opening of the Second Phase was March 16, 1961. The stores that were on the mall by then were:
5201 Pioneer Savings Association
5201 Lake Air Mall
-232 Lake Air Barber Shop
-234 Sherwin-Williams Paint Co.
-236 Bettis Art Center
-237 Holt’s Sporting Goods
-240 Walgreen’s Grill & Restaurant
-241 Walgreen’s Drug Store
-247 Butler’s Shoe Store
-249 Cardinal Co. Apartment Managers
Lake Air Inc.
Lake Air Development Co.
Lake Air Merchants Assn.
George Nokes, Lawyer
Town Hall Meeting Place
Waco Property
-250 Texas State Optical
-251 Lewis Shoe Store
-252 South’s Gift Shop
-253 TG&Y Variety Store
-254 Book Nook
-258 Morris Jewelers
-259 National Shirt Shops
-261 Grayson’s RTW Women’s Clothes
-264 Andes Candies
-275 Goldstein-Migel
By the end of 1961, The Third Phase had occurred, and included the addition of Safeway, Montgomery Ward, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Casual Corner, and Bauer McCann.
By the time the 1963 Waco City Directory was published, Lake Air Records, Farmers Insurance Group, Junior House Children’s Clothes, and Singer Sewing Machine Co. had been added. At some point, the office area of the Lake Air Mall was added, but we are not sure of when that happened.
The layout of the stores in the 1963 Waco City Directory is:
5201 Pioneer Savings Association
5201 Lake Air Mall
-211 Safeway Store No. 259
-215 Montgomery Ward
-230 Lake Air Records
-231 Piccadilly Cafeteria
-232 Lake Air Barber Shop
-234 Sherwin-Williams Paint Co.
-236 Bettis Art Center
-237 Holt’s Sporting Goods
-238 Farmers Insurance Group
-240 Walgreen’s Grill & Restaurant
-241 Walgreen’s Drug Store
-247 Butler’s Shoe Store
-249 Cardinal Co. Apartment Managers
Lake Air Inc.
Lake Air Development Co.
Lake Air Merchants Assn.
George Nokes, Lawyer
Town Hall Meeting Place
Waco Property
-249A WACO Radio Station
-250 Texas State Optical
-251 Lewis Shoe Store
-252 South’s Gift Shop
-253 TG&Y Variety Store
-254 Book Nook
-258 Morris Jewelers
-259 National Shirt Shops
-260 Junior House Children’s Clothes
-261 Grayson’s RTW Women’s Clothes
-263 Singer Sewing Machine Co.
-264 Andes Candies
-267 Casual Corner
-271 Bauer McCann Co.
-275 Goldstein-Migel
Postcard from our personal collection. Photographer not known.Postcard from our personal collection. Photographer not known.Postcard from our personal collection. Photographer not known.Postcard from our personal collection. Photographer not known.Photo from the 1978 Jefferson-Moore High School Yearbook.
Waco, Texas History in Pictures 