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Humble Texas Had Pleasant Smith Humble chosen a spot
further up the San Jacinto to operate his ferry his namesake city might
have had a very different history. But he didn�t. Humble too
often finds itself ignored, lumped in with a dozen or two other Texas
towns that skirt the great Houston metropolis but unlike most, Humble is a
city in its own right with many things to offer. It remained a relatively quiet stop on the way to Houston down U.S. 59 until 1969 when the Houston Intercontinental Airport, now called George Bush Intercontinental Airport, opened next door. The airport drew Houston north and opened up a massive window of prosperity for Humble even as it changed its status to that of a suburb.
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Humble�s location drew business and enterprise to it
like a magnet. It became one of the finest
residential refuges from Houston proper with every convenience one could
ask for.Deerbrook Mall and the hundreds of shops and
restaurants along FM 1960 and U.S. 59 provide everything anybody could
want. Folks from �up north� in the Piney Woods often stop in Humble
and say they�ve gone �shopping in Houston!� Not good for name
recognition but great for business. Humble isn�t just sidewalks and store-fronts, however. It�s almost ten square miles of Texas turf and home to 15,000 Texans. Citizens of Humble certainly take pride in Humble�s heritage but they also enjoy the gifts of proximity: access to state of the art medical services, high quality schools, recreation opportunities and more, either within the city or very close by. Humble isn�t just a good place to shop or eat. |
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Humble boasts an exceptional civic center and arena
complex where something is going on all the time from concerts to cat
shows, trade days to circus performances. The Humble Museum on
Main Street keeps residents in tune with Humble�s humble beginnings.
One very unique property owned and presented by the
Humble Museum is a little medical clinic on North Avenue C, the McKay
Clinic Medical Museum. Shown by appointment to small groups, this
museum gives a peak into how different the medical profession was less
than a lifetime ago. |
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That place is the
Mercer Arboretum and
Botanical Gardens, located on FM 1960 just north of the airport.
It�s there that a �whole other side of Humble can be found! Operated by
the Mercer Society, Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens began as a 14.5
acre refuge for horticulturalist Thelma Mercer and her husband Charles.
Thelma planted and maintained both native and imported species of plants and trees. She relied upon her husband�s skills to develop a true nature conservatory. The Mercers sold the land to Harris County to keep it out of the hands of developers. Since then, due to the efforts of local gardeners, Thelma�s little woodland paradise has grown to a 325 acre tribute to nature. Mercer Arboretum is on the west side of Aldine Westfield Road, a street that separates the complex into two parts. |
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On that side are walking trails, a picnic area, and public facilities. East of Aldine Westfield lays the main parts of the complex, the Botanic Gardens and Visitor Center. The east side is also has classrooms, a library, a greenhouse/nursery, and other buildings. But one doesn�t visit the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens to find buildings. It�s the thirty magnificent garden displays that draw nature lovers from all over to the facility. There�s hardly room to describe even a portion of what is on display, gardens of herbs, bamboo, tropical plants and native species, all wrapped up in a very nice, leafy package for all to enjoy. One can get lost on the meandering trails of the Mercer legacy but all who calls Humble home will find themselves living within short distances of an incredible array of other things to do, too. |
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True Texas primitive, the Big
Thicket, is barely an hour away to the northeast. Sand, surf and Sun
is about the same distance south. Of course the Metro area provides
countless alternatives. The City of Humble is a prominent member of the Lake Houston Chamber of Commerce, an organization representing half a dozen communities near Lake Houston , an area considered one of the fastest growing in Texas. Although the lake itself does not lie within the city of Humble the Lake Houston Area plays an important part in growth and development of the city. |
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And besides, being only five minutes
away the lake is an excellent place to have a little fun! Just north of
Lake Houston is Lake Houston Wilderness Park. The park is maintained
by Houston Parks and Recreation. It offers all the kinds of
outdoorsy stuff Texans love to do like fishing, boating, canoeing,
picnicking, or even camping. There�s a nature center and group
lodges available there too. |
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Humble Resources
Official Humble Website Old McDonalds Farm - 15 acre children's paradise with petting zoo, pony rides, train ride and swimming pool. |
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Content copyright George L. Hosek. The articles, photographs and videos on this site are for viewing on your computer only, absolutely, no commercial or personal reproduction without written consent from George Hosek. |