Don't miss what's happening in Kingwood
People on Kingwood.com are the first to know.
Go to top of page
Close
 
Close
Back
* CONTEST TODAY: 24 Hours Only - Win a $25 Gift Card to Panera Bread!  Ends in 16 hrs Read more »

Can anyone tell me about Black Cat Ridge?

Can anyone tell me about Black Cat Ridge?

« Back
This discussion has been locked.
Message Menu
by: EmilyRH Active Indicator LED Icon  OP  New Member
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 4:11pm  
Hello all,My name is Emily, and I am a student at Kingwood Park High School. I'm writing a paper for a competition called the Mayborn Young Spurs Literary Nonfiction Conference, which is a writing contest held by the University of North Texas in Dallas. The assignment for the competition is to compose a historical narrative that discusses the history of the "haves" and "have-nots" in your community, and what events or people have influenced the effects of that divide. I have found a topic that I'd like to work with, and that is the town of Humble, and the town of Black Cat Ridge. Before Kingwood was built, there was a very small community established in this area that called itself Black Cat Ridge. In contrast to Humble, which was doing fairly well, Black Cat Ridge was a poor area who's main attractions were its honky tonks and its liquor store. Do you know that old abandoned bridge that goes over the river on US 59? The official name of that bridge is Black Cat Ridge, which it took from the town. My main interest in this topic is the difference in the area today; Kingwood it very well off now. After the town of Kingwood was built, it must have squeezed Black Cat Ridge out of existence... I believe this would make an excellent topic for my paper. I have read a couple articles on the internet, and I'm going to the Kingwood Public Library tomorrow to pick up a couple books, but the problem is that I have not found an abundance of documentation on this topic. I am writing this post so that I might get some first hand accounts of what happened here between the 1960's, which is when Black Cat Ridge was in full swing, through the building of Kingwood, until now. If you have lived here a very long time and know something about this, I would love to hear from you. If you have heard something from a family member who lived here a long time before you, I would also love to hear that. Anything you know or have heard could be of use. Please reply to this message to contact me.Thank you all so much!- Emily H 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
What are your thoughts? Log in or sign up to comment
Replies:
Message Menu
tonyaust Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 4:38pm  
Call Danny Sullivan at Sullivans Automotive on 494. He has a written history and is recognized as the "Mayor" of Black Cat Ridge. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
kingwooddiscgolf Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 4:49pm  
Call Danny Sullivan at Sullivans Automotive on 494. He has a written history and is recognized as the "Mayor" of Black Cat Ridge.
 
@tonyaust: I agree.....
4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Mrb1 Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 6:34pm  
I suggest you try inquiring about the ridge at the Humble Museum. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Grimmie Active Indicator LED Icon 3
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 8:04pm  
Emily, I would love to hear what you find out. I remember my parents and grandparents talking about Black Cat Ridge. I'm not sure, but I think the reason the old bridge was abandoned, is from the 1994 flood. Maybe it was cheaper to build a new bridge, then to repair the old one? 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
msuz Active Indicator LED Icon 6
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 8:35pm  
The old bridge was only 2 lanes and narrow. It was originally to be taken down, but then was savedas a "fishing bridge"? 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Retired_Engineer Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 8:49pm  
From what I recall from reading, Black Cat Ridge was not differentiated by rich/poor but by respectable/not so respectable.  Black Cat Ridge had many lounges and alcohol was big business there.  It was also a very rough area and innocent people and children were warned not to go there.  Like many towns, the good people didn't want lounges and bars scattered all over town, so those businesses tended to gather together in an area and that often became the "bad" part of town or as some call it, on the 'other' side of the tracks. In this case, it was the other side of the river from Humble.  The townspeople didn't want to totally shut those businesses down because many of the "upstanding" citizens who railed about such places in public by day were often their best customers at night.  They just wanted to separate the "bad" businesses from the "good" businesses and "good" people.Good luck with your paper! 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
ProblemAgain Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Feb 20, '15 11:03pm  
From what I recall from reading, Black Cat Ridge was not differentiated by rich/poor but by respectable/not so respectable.  Black Cat Ridge had many lounges and alcohol was big business there.  It was also a very rough area and innocent people and children were warned not to go there.  Like many towns, the good people didn't want lounges and bars scattered all over town, so those businesses tended to gather together in an area and that often became the "bad" part of town or as some call it, on the 'other' side of the tracks. In this case, it was the other side of the river from Humble.  The townspeople didn't want to totally shut those businesses down because many of the "upstanding" citizens who railed about such places in public by day were often their best customers at night.  They just wanted to separate the "bad" businesses from the "good" businesses and "good" people.Good luck with your paper!
 
@Retired_Engineer: funny ....i just said this on another thread..."sometimes it seems that the only thing that keeps some people 'moral' is lack of opportunity(and some of those folks get aggressively righteous and indignant about others being immoral)"
4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Txbutterfly Active Indicator LED Icon 12
~ 9 years ago   Feb 24, '15 4:07pm  
There was a business in Black Cat Ridge when I was a kid that sold lumber, windows and tin for building.  I do not recall bars, but I was very young and my granfather would not have taken me there Emoticon I do remember the old boat docks and fishing places under the bridge.I dont remember it being rich man / poor man area.  Alot of the people that moved into Kingwood area originally were better off than some of the surrounding area folks, Porter, Humble, etc.Good luck on your history search. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Camelot Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 9 years ago   Feb 24, '15 7:00pm  
Txbutterfly, that was the Hassel Lumber Yard.  It was owned by an old man named appropriately Mr Hassel;  in 1978, I would buy wood.  He was a grouchy old man & if I could make him laugh or even smile, I considered my trip to e successful!Forest Cove was built before Kingwood over 50 years ago. New Caney & Porter were the suburbs to the area.I would definitely go by the Humble Museum for more info. You might also contact the Humble Chamber. Maybe some of the former mayors might be of help.Good Luck on your paper! 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
Odin Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Feb 24, '15 11:44pm  
I'm writing a paper for a competition called the Mayborn Young Spurs Literary Nonfiction Conference, which is a writing contest held by the University of North Texas in Dallas.
 
@EmilyRH: I'd be interested in reading this when you are done.  Please share with the board.  
4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
fcabanski Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 9 years ago   Feb 25, '15 12:18pm  
You answered your own question.  It's telling that the go to places in the have not area were bars and liquor stores.  In have areas, the go to places are places of employment and homes. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
cgm10sne1 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Feb 25, '15 12:49pm  
Love when people ask for info or help and never bother thanking others for the time spent helping with their project. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
blueyes Active Indicator LED Icon 3
~ 9 years ago   Feb 25, '15 12:54pm  
Check in with Black Cat Junction on Loop 494.  There has to be a reason behind the name chosen. 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
Message Menu
zacpizzy Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 5 years ago   Jul 6, '18 5:05pm  
I read online the ridge possibly got its name from a black house cat that would jump on passing trains from Humble to explore the ridge, but more likely there were native panthers along the river banks in the old days. My friend up the river near 242 says there's a wild panther still around her woods. I always loved the name and think of Thackery Binx in Hocus Pocus and adore black cats. I have a sweet one named Boo and used to have a special one named Quincy. When I pass Black Cat Junction, I always imagine it being called Black Cat Junction Resale Boo-tique, esp when it starts getting cold around Halloween 👻 Kingwood always has a weird haunting vibe to me, especially the older west side where many of the trees were not cut down in Kingwood's early days. Many of the trees are twisted and spiral toward the sky and are not straight. We often have very severe wicked weather here and may be form that. It's also a lil spooky, especially after Hurricane Ike, and the woods were as black as night without power for 2-3 weeks 🕸🕷🌲🌳🌙 with only the moon to light the darkened area. My old village of Woodland Hills reminded me so much as Salem, Massachusetts growing up, and Forest Cove was mysterious, the most along Hamblen Road where our many floods have left the area all but abandoned. The woods to the south on the Humble side have a haunting history too when they moved a cemetery to build 1960, and I think there was a terrible train crash in the early 1900s there too. Up the river toward The Woodlands is Sleepy Hollow too I just found out, and that really got me wondering why they called it that haha 🎃 As you can see I love Halloween and haunted history and feel Kingwood has some of it too. I imagine what life was like in the ancient days when only the 494 bridge crossed the river. Kingwood was so thick with forests I imagine one couldn't see through those woods and not know what creatures lived in the livable forest before, such as panthers, coyotes, alligators, etc. it sounds very Jurassic World to me lol rawwr 💙❤️💚 4951
* Reactions disabled on political threads.
This discussion has been locked.
« Back to Main Page
Views: 530
# Replies: 14

MacFarlane & Associates, P.C.




Prime Lawn Patio & Landscape Logo Darst Funeral Home Logo PWR House Generators Logo McNamara Law Office, PLLC Logo Ann's Teahouse Logo Forest Tree Service Inc Logo Anytime Pest Elimination  Logo Fox Family Pools Logo The Framestead Group Logo The Grounds Guys Logo HTX Soccer Logo Tachus Fiber Internet Logo Sigma Auto Care Logo Zero Gravity Jump Zone Logo Kingwood Farmers Market Logo Rosati's Pizza Logo JMP Wines Logo Weight Loss Now - Kingwood  Logo Hotworx Kingwood Logo Houston Custom Carpets Flooring & Remodeling Logo Heartstrings In-Home Euthanasia Services Logo Katy.com Logo Modern Heart and Vascular Institute  Logo The Bridge at Lake Houston Logo Massage Heights Body + Face Kingwood Logo Di Maria Mexican Cuisine Logo Kingwood Mulch & Stone - Supplier / Wholesaler Logo Ashworth Design & Remodeling, LLC. Logo CoCo Crepes Waffles & Coffee Logo Decker's Carpet Cleaning Logo Mammoth Cleaning Services Logo Kingwood Pressure Washing, LLC  Logo
Sponsor an ad Sponsor an Ad »