Early Photos of Venetian Estates

A friend who lives in Venetian Estates (but didn't grow up in old Sugar Land) asked if I had any early photographs of Venetian Estates.  I'm happy to say that I do.  In fact, the Sugar Land Heritage Society has numerous pictures, maps, and drawings of the subdivision's early years.

Here are a few photos from my personal collection.  The first was taken between 1949 and 1952.  (The Palms Theater appears in the picture, but the shopping center does not.)  The area that would become Venetian Estates is at the top.  It was swampy pasture land at the time and a favorite bird-hunting spot for local sportsmen (and women).
  

The photo below was taken in 1957 from the top of the Char House.  Not much has changed.  Standing water indicates the low, swampy nature of the land.

  

 

This next photo was taken in 1959.  You can see the man-made lakes and streets in the front section near Highway-90A.

  

 
My best guess is the following aerial was taken in 1960.  I can see two houses; one is on Piedmont near the middle of the subdivision (middle right of the photo).  You can see another house near the exact center of the photo.  It was Virgil Mott's home.  He was a home builder who constructed many of the early homes in Venetian Estates.

  

  

The final photo was taken sometime between 1961 and '63, I think.  Houses are going up fast.