The Henderson mansion on West 11th Place

Way out Main Street in the 1920s, near Rice Institute, impressive homes were built for many of Houston’s movers and shakers.  One such neighborhood consisted of six houses on a cul-de-sac christened West 11^th Place.  By 1926, it was home to Ross Stewart of Stewart & Stevenson fame, Rice Civics professor J.W. Slaughter, oilman William V. Bowles, lumberman Thomas W. Blake, oil engineer Willard C. Averill Jr. and cotton baron Robert Wilson Henderson.

Photos by Joe Lucia

Henderson was a native Texan from Navarro County who married Loise Jackson in 1916.  They lived on Hathaway Street for a few years until their home was built.  Robert was president of Henderson Cotton Company, which was located at 2800 Roanoke Street in the Fifth Ward.  They joined a local Methodist church and were active for decades, eventually donating their hunting lodge property in Montgomery County to be used as a retreat center. 

He and Loise had one daughter, a cook, a chauffeur, and a nurse who lived on the premises.  We couldn’t locate a photo of Robert or Loise, but here is the obituary of their daughter (also named Loise) who probably grew up in this house. 

And such a lovely place it is!  Henderson’s two-story traditional home was built at #5 West 11^th in 1920.  It has more than 4,000 square feet with four bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, a two-car detached garage with quarters, two staircases and a wood-burning fireplace.  It is valued at $2.2 million and is currently on the market with plans to subdivide the lot.

Please leave a comment if you know anything further about this family or the Henderson Cotton Company.  Thanks.