The Henderson Home

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Built in 1916 at Grant and Pearl Street by pioneer Drug store Owner and Postmaster W.T. Henderson, Sr. (1886-1960) and his wife Burman Adele Lambert (1887-1964). In 1925 the house was moved to this address in the first neighborhood developed North of the original town site, constructed of salvaged lumber. The two bedroom Frame House exemplifies American bungalow style. The solid wood walls, pine floors, nine foot ceilings and columned porch are typical of the era. A large living room held Burman"s piano where family and friends gathered to dance. Until 1992 four generations of the Henderson family resided here at different times, including W.T. Jr. and he wife Dorothy Louise Hines, avid civic supporters and owners of Odessa Camera Center. No. 47 - 2002

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View of home before the Dedication ceremony shows chairs awaiting the guests.

Your webmaster knew  W. T. Henderson Jr. and wife Louise in the late 1930's. Bill worked in the Henderson Drug on Second and Grant Ave and years later opened up The Camera Shop on West 8th Street. The Photo below depicts Henderson Drug owned by Jack Collins and Bill Henderson

by E. B. Ribble one of Odessa's pioneers.

Rear door opened to Post Office, W. T. Henderson Postmaster.

Stairway leads to Doctors offices above the Drug Store, a common practice during that era.

Mr. Ribble was elderly when he created the illustration and his memory not so good. The real address was S. E. corner on N. Grant Ave. and East Second Street. Highway 80 going West  turned at this intersection and crossed the Railroad track before turning West again.

 Your Webmaster in 1936 picked up mail at the General Delivery Window until a box was available. My father was employed as a cable tool driller in the Penwell Oil field.  Many oil field hands used the window to pick up their mail and the line could get long at certain hours of the day. The oil fields were booming and activity was high in the county. Odessa had a weekly paper and most readers read the Fort Worth Star Telegram with morning house to house delivery. Cost those days were .90 cents a month for home delivery. What are you paying for that service today?

updated: 09/01/2007