Residents of The Plaza at The Buckingham senior living community recently were given a personal tour of the renovated Hotel Icon in downtown Houston. For many residents, it was like taking a step back in time, as many remember the original building, built in 1911, which housed the Union National Bank. Some of the residents banked at the Union National Bank, and remember the different businesses the building housed over the years, including Neuhaus & Co., Jesse H. Jones Investment Banking, prominent architect John Staub and international construction giant Brown and Root. Many residents grew up in the area that is now downtown Houston, back when it was small neighborhoods full of families. Resident Johnny Ackerman was able to relive the days when he was an employee of the local phone company and wired the original Union National Bank for phone services.
“It was so fun and interesting to hear the residents relive their memories of the building,” said Deborah Mahrt, lifestyles director for The Buckingham. “The building is beautiful and it’s hard to believe that this boutique hotel was once a bank!”
Submitted by The Plaza at The Buckingham
