About Harlingen, Texas
Silk Stocking Row History
Silk Stocking Row History, Norman Rozeff, March 2004
It was in the period 1920 to 1939 that, as the professional people of Harlingen became more affluent, the city's first suburb develops just southeast of the business district. Substantial and beautiful houses are constructed on East Taylor Street along the so-called "silk stocking row." In general order of their appearance, these include: The pink-colored Southern Colonial brick with the steeply pitched roof is built by L.W. Hoskins in 1921 at 614 E. Taylor. It is the first house built on the street which was previously occupied by cotton fields. In 1926 the house was occupied by attorney Emory Polk Hornaway and his wife, who was principal of Austin School. He is at one point in the State house of Representatives, and his son Emery is state mascot for one year. A daughter would marry the famous magician, Harry Blackstone, Jr.
It is in 1925 that Miller Harwood arrives in Harlingen. He was born in Gonzales TX 12/18/87. He attended the U. of Virginia and UT, marrying Clair Leverton 11/24/09. He served as city treasurer, was Rotary Club president, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Together with L.W. Hoskins he will develop the East Taylor Street area.
In 1925 Dr. and Mrs. J.M. Green construct the two-story Colonial Revival house at 822 E. Taylor. They have been here two years. Born in Weimar, TX 11/19/87, he was educated at Northwestern U. in Chicago. He married Ruth Rylander 1/5/14. He is in investments and real estate. This Baptist is also a Rotarian, city commissioner of streets, and will have an office in the lobby of the Reese-Wil-Mond Hotel.
The Wyricks are by 1945 to own the 1925 Prairie style home on 822 E. Taylor. It was in 1923 that Otha Alton Wyrick, around 18 years old, arrives here. This native of Emerson, AK is to become a citrus grower and cotton farmer. Over the years he is deeply involved in civic endeavors including boy scouting, serving on boards, and with the Church of Christ. When he dies in April 1986 at age 81 he leaves his wife Anna Mote, son Michael of Harlingen, and two daughters.
The Italian villa style home built by W.T. Liston at 613 E. Taylor is for Oscar Nathan Joyner and his wife Anne Evelyn. The house was built in late 1925 and early 1926 for the Joyners who had come to Harlingen in 7/26/19 from Rosdale, TX. He became the first Valley agent for the Texas Co. (Texaco). This Presbyterian member was also a Mason and Shriner.The house was modeled on Boca Raton, FL homes designed by Addison Mizner, a famous architect of the day. The Joyner family owned it to the early 1980s when the new owner completely restored it. O.N. Joyner was born in Rockdale, TX 9/1/91 and attended high school there. He married Annie E. McCalla on 7/15/13. Training under C.W. Blackwell she is one of the first women in Texas to obtain an aviation license. Her husband purchases a plane for her.
At 902 is the 1926 Spanish Colonial Revival home of Mr. and Mrs. B. Manning Holland. He is the executive vice president of the Valley State Bank.
At 617 E. Taylor is the Georgian style 1927 home of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Johnson. He is vice president and cashier for the First National Bank of Harlingen but by 1937 he will have left his wife, who is a Spanish teacher, a widow.
The first Harlingen Ford automobile dealer Bob Hollingsworth and his wife own the 1927 Georgian brick mansion at 701 Taylor. It boasted Harlingen's first private swimming pool. In 1935 it was purchased by real estate developer Sid Berly and his wife. Berly is attracted to the Valley in the year 1920. He is a native of Mansfield, LA having been born there 8/23/96 to a father, C.J., who was a stockraiser. Berley was to marry Marion Elizabeth Walker of Lake Charles on 3/18/17. They had one daughter, who was given the same name as her mother. Although he studied law for two years he never completed his studies. Instead he became a representative for the Willys-Knight Motor Co. As president and general manager of Valley Properties, Inc. located in the Reese-Wil-Mond Hotel he becomes a potent factor in the development of both agricultural and city land in the Valley, especially around Harlingen. He serves as Chamber of Commerce president in 1946-47 and is a Rotary member. In 1952 he is president of Adams Garden.
Around 1928 William L. (Bill) Trammel moves into the English stone house at 1022. He was owner, president and general manager of the Valley Baking Company with its Rainbo brand and later was in top management with the Holsum Baking Company here.
At 618 Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins own their own two story timber frame Georgian style house which they build in 1929. In the 1940s the home is purchased by Mr. and Mrs. McHenry Tichenor. This radio pioneer is to go on to establish a huge radio-television empire founded on Spanish language programming.
At 717 E. Taylor Joseph and Fred Flynn own the 1929 Spanish stucco house until 1957. The latter, who is a principal in the Rio Grande Saving and Loan Company as well as in insurance, will go on to build a beautiful home in the newly developing Parkwood area.
At 917 E. Taylor John and Anne Morris live in their 1930 two story Spanish Colonial stucco house. It has solid wood-hewn beams in its living room. He is a produce buyer, packer, and shipper. It remained in the family until 1968. The house is now owned by Attorney Graham McCullough and his wife Anne.
In the early 30s Mr. and Mrs. Grafton Burdette live in a two story Southern Colonial frame home at 905 E. Taylor. He is a mortician and owner of Kriedler-Ashcraft Funeral home.
Under construction for R.L. and Ola Hill as the Hurricane of 1933 strikes is a Spanish Colonial Revival home at 1102 Taylor. It has notable architectural elements including arched doorways, and windows and a hand-carved front door. The panels of the mesquite door show brush as the explorers found it here, ranch scenes, brush clearing and the introduction of water, and citrus and palm trees. The Hills had come to town in 1928, he from Indiana and she from Oklahoma. He ran the ice plant partnership with Mr. Martin, and they have prosperous branches across the Valley. He is also to be a partner with H. E. Butt in constructing the huge food processing plant at F Street and West Jackson. Eleanor Roosevelt was entertained here as was Gov. W. Lee O'Daniel.
Added in 1933 or 34 is J.L. and Maude Teas' 602 E. Taylor Mexican hacienda style home. He is a salesman with the Washmon Motor Company.
It was in 1935 that the home at 721 was built by William E. Armstrong for Thomas Read Williams, Sr.and his wife Jimmie Davis Williams. It is a Georgian style frame house. Williams, who came here in 1925, was a pharmacist and opened the Rio Grande Pharmacy on the ground floor of the Baxter Building in 1929. He was the first pharmacist in Harlingen to possess a college degree, his from the University of North Carolina. The Williams' son Thomas Read Williams, Jr. became a well-known children's dentist in Harlingen while their daughter, Patricia Williams Speer, followed in her father's footsteps and for many years in Harlingen was a pharmacist.
At 702 E. Taylor, J. Louis and Maude Boggus construct a Southern Colonial frame house for $9,000 in 1939. Boggus had come to the Valley in 1917. Here he owned and operated Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships, was president of the Chamber of Commerce, and promoted highways and schools. The city's largest stadium, east of Memorial Middle School, is named in his honor. The house was sold in the late 1940s. Forrest Runnels, one of the founders of Tropical
