North Old Town’s Valuable Villagers

Never heard of North Old Town? Well, welcome to one of the oldest areas of Georgetown that’s now reviving the identity of a vibrant historic district! In the last few years, residents have come together to form a neighborhood association and press successfully to preserve the residential makeup of an often-overlooked area.

Shelley Bland’s family goes way back to the 1860s in North Old Town. Photo courtesy of the Williamson County Sun

Their neighborhood association is called the North Old Town Neighborhood Association, and their name makes clear that this area north of the San Gabriel River is also an old town. It was known as North Town or Northside back in the late 1800s when churches, schools, and businesses thrived just across the river from the areas radiating around the Square that we know as Old Town. 

This map is from when Northtown was finally annexed by the city in 1954. Andice Road heading to the northwest was the common name for Williams Drive.

Since many folks don’t know about this quiet slice of Georgetown, here’s where the heart of North Old Town is located. It’s a rough triangle bounded by north Austin Avenue; Morrow Street east of Austin, and Chamber Way linking Morrow back to Austin. This neighborhood of smaller homes and old majestic trees is where the 40-some single-family residences dominate, with a few small multifamily buildings.

One place to begin to absorb the history of North Old Town is to stand in front of Gatherings Antique Store at the corner of Austin Avenue and Valley Street, until recently the Pearl Snap Hall events venue. Take a close look at the store—does it look like a church? Indeed, this was once the Christian church for the neighborhood. In 1897, it was sold to the Methodist congregation and became the longtime Northside Methodist Church.

Now look across the street and up Austin at the McDonald’s. Picture a magnificent mansion built by Judge George Washington Glasscock, Jr., and his family.

Our town’s namesake, George Washington Glasscock, Sr.

Does the name Glasscock sound familiar? Many know of George Washington Glasscock, Sr. He’s the main founder and namesake of Georgetown. Close by—in the space now occupied by the former Albertson’s—was the elegant Logan house.

The Glasscock house; photo courtesy of Betty Pope

Now look south on Austin to see Maggie’s Hair Design. Owner Maggie Mendez Lopez is one of the many Hispanic families who’ve long lived in this neighborhood, along with the Miranda family and others. Learn more about Maggie here and the Miranda family here.

Now walk east on Valley and turn right on Main. When you get to Morrow Street, turn left and stop. Look toward the river and imagine a busy blacksmith operation begun by North Old Town pioneer families such as the Kimbro (at times spelled Kimbrough) family. The Kimbros go back to the family of pioneer businessowner Hayden Hunt, who settled on the North Gabriel and started a cotton gin, livery, store, and other businesses.

Shelley’s great-grandparents, Omie Mae Hunt Kimbro and Youell E. Kimbro, pose with some of their grandchildren in Northtown. Photo courtesy of Shelley Bland

Kimbro descendant Shelley Bland lives right next door to the site of the blacksmith, in a house at 206 E. Morrow long in her family. “My great-great grandpa John Kimbrough had a blacksmith shop,” she said recently in the Williamson County Sun. “This neighborhood was a great place for it because it was right where the bridge was to get into town. His son bought the property I’m on now.” Shelley is the secretary of the Old North Town Neighborhood Association.

Indeed, the bridge that we take on Austin Avenue to span the two branches of the San Gabriel River was predated by a bridge that crossed the Gabriel connecting Church Street on both sides. The bridge started out just for foot traffic, and folks would sometimes leave their horse and buggy at a livery on the north side and cross by foot. Then they’d hire a horse and buggy on the downtown side to do their business, writes Clara Scarbrough in a 1969 historical overview in the Williamson County Sun of what was known then as Northtown. Later the bridge accommodated horses and wagons.

The bridge on Austin built to replace the footbridge and buggy bridge that crossed the rivers at Church Street

The blacksmith shop is long gone, but Shelley sees proof of the thriving business in a huge and ancient live oak tree in her backyard. She points out a sturdy metal loop imbedded deep in the oak with a short chain section attached to it. “This is likely where they hung metalwork to cool down,” she says.

Like every home that remains for generations in a family, Shelley has plenty of warm memories of growing up spending lots of time here. She recalls visiting often with grandparents and great-grandparents who lived on the plot and having endless days of fun with cousins. Shelley lived in the Morrow street home as a young married woman in the 1990s. After living elsewhere, she returned to buy her grandmother’s home, where she has lived since 2014 with her teen daughters.

Shelley’s grandmother and her brothers: (L-R) : Charlie Kimbro, Johnnie Kimbro, Y. W. Kimbro, Ola Mae Kimbro Fletcher, Aubry Kimbro, and Clyde Kimbro; photo courtesy of Shelley Bland

She’s happy to be in the place where she spent time with her beloved and strong grandmother, who after being widowed early on raised her family here. Shelley loved being in a spot that is “so connected to my family roots.” She wants to keep the neighborhood the family home haven of her childhood, and advocates for that outcome as secretary of the North Old Town Neighborhood Association.

Her daughter Katelyn is working to document her family’s history by interviewing her grandparents and other relatives. Katelyn also plans to interview other North Old Town residents to document the neighborhood’s history.

A Growing Village

The oldest print report of North Old Town, in 1888, was very enthusiastic about “a suburb of Georgetown”—and indeed of all Georgetown, reported Clara Scarbrough in her 1969 article. County Superintendent D. H. LeSueur extolled the school built in what he called North Georgetown to educate children who couldn’t go the schools on the other side of the river branches. “When those railroads come through, the street cars get to running, and the Gabriels are bridged, this will no doubt build up and become an important part of the city,” he wrote.

Street cars never did come to Georgetown, but a railroad track spur did once come up to near where the low-water crossing remains in San Gabriel Park, now a pedestrian-only bridge linking Morrow Street and North College.

Railroad workers once lived in North Old Town and crossed over the bridge that what was known as the Granger crossing, since the road would continue northeast to Granger in what later became known as Weir Road. Employees shopped at a railroad company store that once stood on Morrow Street.

Bridges came, of course, but what Clara called in 1969 “a great little rivertown” was already booming in the late 1800s. Northtown School had 70s pupils by 1892. Jessie Box, a son of the pioneer Northtown landowner Noah Box, was the teacher in 1902, recalled Mrs. John Green, the former Nancy Kimbro.

Among the children at the school then was the progeny of the Little, Redford, Needham, Thrift, Kimbro, Whitfield, Ratliff, and Butler families. Curious about what schoolkids were doing when they were showing off their best work? Take a look above at the Northtown School contest winners from 1901.

Northside Methodist Church from a 1977 Sun church roundup

Families flocked to Northtown and a second school was built. In 1908, the Sun posted a notice from the School District No. 1 Trustees that the two schools known as the Philadelphia and Northtown school houses would be sold and another school built.

Northtowners could come to the Primitive Baptist Church or the North Methodist Church. Periodically over the many years, the North Methodist Church would invite townspeople to a potluck or community sing-along.

Businesses blossomed in North Old Town in the later 1800s. North Gabriel landowner Hayden Hunt built a gin. Blacksmiths John and Jerry Kimbro came in 1876 and started the blacksmith shop. John Kimbro used his metalworking skills to create inventions, such as the Star Planter for planting cotton, corn, beans, and other seeds.

A grocery store was built at the site of what Georgetown oldtimers may remember as Thomas Brothers nursery on Austin Avenue. There was a meat market, and farther up Austin Avenue, George W. Glasscock, Jr., operated the Glasscock Lime Kiln and a brick factory that employed many in the old Northtown.

And for fun, the trees and fields of what’s now San Gabriel Park was right in the neighborhood’s backyard. The cool woods and water drew members of the Old Settlers Association of Williamson County for annual gatherings. As Clara writes, the week-long series of programs, entertainment, and contests provided “an annual vacation for people from all over the county as well as people outside Williamson County.”

Boating on the San Gabriel back in the day

Memories given to Clara by Mrs. Y. E. Kimbro evoke huge crowds pitching tents and camping at the gatherings and contests such as the one Alton Bowen won for having the most children at the reunion. The park area was much more wooded then, and parts were fenced to provide pasture for hogs and steers.

Northtown kids and grownups, like in every other Georgetown neighborhood, organized to play games in friendly competition. Y.W. “Fat” Kimbro recalled being in the North Town League, and would play other leagues such as the South Georgetown League and the Rock House League, as he recounted for the oral history books compiled by SU history professor Martha Mitten Allen (read them here under “Georgetown’s Yesteryears”).

“We’d make our own mitts and gloves, just out of ducking,” he said. “Then we’d whittle ourselves a bois d’arc for a bat.” He remembers players as being stronger back then. “They’d hit one half a mile; we’d never find the ball. It’d be out in the cedar somewhere.”

Like other areas of Georgetown, families would often keep a milk cow or horse. Shelley Bland remembers stories from aunts and uncles about cows occasionally wandering the streets and horse pastures nearby. Here’s Shelley’s great-grandma Omie on a horse on Morrow Street where Shelley lives.

Growing up, Shelley enjoyed the nature and fun of the Northside. She remembers going to Dairy Hill—located where the Papa John’s is now—for a hamburger as a treat. “Eagle Field was just around the corner, and I remember going visiting my grandmother and then going to the football game,” she recalls.

The park was a mecca for everyday fun and for family reunions and gatherings—her parents had their wedding reception there. As a young mom, Shelley took her girls there, and everyone in the neighborhood was happy to see the city put a hike and bike trail along the river. Here’s Emmalee at 4 by the same springs that Shelley remembers as cold and clear —now Emmalee’s an accomplished actor in productions at the Palace Theater.

As in every other neighborhood of the city, Northside women headed up plenty of betterment projects, including the King’s Daughters organization that provided health care to the sick and aged. The Georgetown King’s Daughters opened Georgetown’s first hospital or sanitarium in 1918. The Northtown Charity Committee for the King’s Daughter was headed by Mrs. George Glasscock and Mrs. Koontz.

Judge George Glasscock and wife Jane Helen built what’s likely one of Northtown’s largest home, which dominated the hill where the McDonald’s now sits. Judge Glasscock was the son of Georgetown’s major founder and namesake, George Washington Glasscock, Sr. Elder Glasscock moved to Austin in 1853, where he had acquired many properties to add to the ones he had in Williamson County.

Judge Glasscock, Jr., who served as a Texas legislator as well

George Junior grew up in Austin, and returned there after serving with the Confederacy with the Texas cavalry. He was married to Jane Helen Boatner in 1865, and became a lawyer, establishing his practice in Georgetown. He was appointed county judge and served in the Texas Senate for many years.

The Glasscock house in Northtown was likely built before 1895. The two-story home was adorned in gingerbread trim popular at the time, and was originally painted white with bright red trim. The couple didn’t have children, and they enjoyed having young people around, noted G. A. Logan to Clara Scarbrough. They’d give room and board to Southwestern University students who would help tend their cows or do errands.

The Logan House

The Logan family, part of the Glasscock family, also had an elegant home near the Glasscock home. Betty Pope, who is part of the Logan and Glasscock and Williams (of Williams Drive) lineage, spent a bit of her childhood in the Logan house, the home of her grandparents. Here are the pair that built the house: J. D. and Mattie Logan. Betty remembers the house vividly, including a secret passageway to another room through a closet.

The wedding day of J. D. Logan and Mattie Ellyson; photo courtesy of Betty Pope

Check out Betty below as a girl on the left with her mother and sister Joan in front of the Logan house. Betty chuckles at the hair bow that her mother preferred her to wear. “I played with all my boy cousins and only did guns and trucks and cowboys and Indians,” she recalls. “I really didn’t like those bows, but my mother did.”

Betty in bow with mom LaVerne Hunt Logan and sis Joan in front of the Glasscock home; photo courtesy of Betty Pope

Betty went to work at Southwestern Bell after graduating from Georgetown High when it was located at the 1924-era building on University and College. She and husband Bobby Pope grew Pope Materials, Inc., which provides trucking and road building services. They’re still keeping the business going along with their son, Scott, and Marie, Scott’s business partner and wife.

The Whitfield family lived across the road from the Glasscock mansion in a home built around 1873. One son was named after the Judge: George Washington Glasscock Whitfield. The Whitfield family grew into a prominent Northtown family. Descendant Steve Whitfield remains in the North Old Town neighborhood in a family house built in 1920 on Myrtle Street.

Sally and Pinckney Norton Whitfield, part of the original Whitfields who came to Texas; photo courtesy of Steve Whitfield

Steve has a flood of great memories from the neighborhood, spending time fishing and swimming with friends in San Gabriel park and going downtown to work in Cloud Grocery on the square along with his parents, Emmet “Wheat” McLaughlin Whitfield, Jr. and Erna Beckman Whitfield. Steve, a musician who played in Austin bands and continues in Georgetown gigs, liked watching and learning from his father, who played guitar. Here are Emmett and Erna as newlyweds.

Emmett and Erna Whitfield; photo courtesy of Steve Whitfield

He remembers family reunions at “Granny Whitfield’s” a few blocks away in Northtown, and spending time with his beloved grandmother Thelma Opal. “She was full of unconditional love, and she’d just drop these little nuggets of wisdom in conversations,” he recalls. He’d spend evenings hanging out with his aunt Bess Douthit, a community pillar who was also a funeral director.

Thelma Opal Davis Whitfield

The neighborhood doings generated plenty of items for the regular “News from Northside” column in the Williamson County Sun. One column from 1951 reports on a family reunion for the family of Willard and Armanda Green, families visiting and vacationing, a luncheon honoring a Northside Methodist Sunday School teacher, and a notice that the women of Northside Methodist were inviting all women of the neighborhood, regardless of denomination, to join in a community ladies’ club. Which did, indeed, happen.

The Northside area continued to bustle with businesses. There was the popular Dairy Hill Drive Inn on Austin Avenue—Steve liked to go there with friends and play rock n’ roll songs on the jukebox. Later it became Miller Barbecue, where Steve would get sent by his mom with a stern request to get lean meat. He recalls the Miller pit boss chuckling and reminding him that “the fat is where the flavor is!”

Unlike its Old Town counterpart downtown where many large restored old homes remain today, homes in North Old Town tend to be smaller and built in the mid or later 1900s. A handful of houses on Myrtle Street are known to date from the 1920s and 1930s. Most houses are smaller frame or brick homes.

And while North Old Town was just across the river from steadily modernizing Old Town, city services were slow to come. Some current residents wonder if the neighborhood’s makeup of blue-collar whites and Hispanic families contributed to the delay in getting attention from the city.

In the early 1950s, residents started pressing for water lines. They petitioned in 1953 for annexation by the city to get more services. Back then, homeowners had to buy water, and the waste disposal was in ditches or pits. City officials passed Northtown’s annexation in 1954 with a promise that they would start with supplying water and street lights to the 80 homes and approximately 250 residents.

Northtown was annexed in 1954. But by 1964, residents were complaining that the sewer structure had never materialized. A Sun editorial notes that the state health department would likely soon “turn thumbs down on the present system of sewage disposal, which may be a health hazard,” and “we would be better off taking action before we are forced into it, possibly improving the general health of the community.”

Improvement was still slow to come, and by 1972, the City Council proposed that the city seek federal urban redevelopment money for Northtown. The feds denied the request for low-interest loans to improve sanitation, streets, and housing for Northtown. The federal Housing and Urban Development agency did grant federal support for Georgetown’s San José and TRG neighborhoods that run along the river west of central and south Georgetown.

Northtown was considered for federal urban renewal funds in 1972.

In the decades since, businesses crept in the edges of the neighborhood. In a city planning document looking to 2030, the projected intended use shifted from residential to one open to mixed density housing and more businesses. In 2021, an apartment complex project was proposed for an empty lot on the northern North Old Town area. Neighbors started banding together in concern that their residential status was in danger.

That’s when the North Old Town Neighborhood Association was born in fall of 2021. Jen Bradac, a newer resident, started looking into housing history and noticed the longtime residential status of the neighborhood—including an average stay of homeowners of around 22 years. She and Shelley Bland began gathering input from neighbors about what they wanted, and they began meeting with city officials.

They got results. The proposed apartment project was scaled back. And even better, the city is now looking at keeping the single-family status for almost all of the neighborhood. The members of the neighborhood association also pressed the city for help with increased traffic along their narrow streets going to San Gabriel Park, especially when there are concerts and other events.

The neighbors also got some action on alleviating runoff problems caused by more impervious cover on the high side of the neighborhood as it slopes down to the river. And curbs and sidewalks are slated for the near future. “We feel heard,” says Shelley. “And that’s a good feeling.”