History
Lakewood Area History
In 1946, E. V. “Gene” Mueller, C. V. Kelly and James V. Barnett announced proposed development of property which fronted on Market St. and extended toward “Slap-Out Gully” on Decker Drive. (1) Gene Mueller, president of Lakewood Development Company, helped organize the Lakewood Civic Association and donated land for a little league park.
By November 1961, Lakewood was regarded as an ideal place to live. There were approximately 600 homes. A shopping center adjacent to Lakewood featured a “modern new supermarket, drugstore, dress shop and dry cleaning firm.” John H. Scott, M.D. had just completed his offices and the Baytown Little Theater had just been established. Memberships in the Lakewood Pool Club were available. The Lakewood Civic Association operated a clubhouse and playground, as well as boat launching facilities for those not living on the water. (2)
Burnet Bay, and subsequently Burnett Drive, was named for David G. Burnet, who in 1831 purchased seventeen acres of land from Nathaniel Lynch and built a home along the San Jacinto River. In 1843, Burnet bought an additional 279 acres from Lynch’s heirs. Burnet, his wife Hannah, and their children lived at their home, Oakland, which was located near Spring Bayou (“Slap-Out Gully”) on the north side of Burnet Bay. (3) The site of the home is marked in a park reached via Lynchburg. Hannah died in 1858 and is buried somewhere in the area. No one knows the exact location of her grave, but in 1936, the State of Texas erected a marker in her memory. The epitaph reads:
Hannah Kate Burnet
Born in Morristown, N.J.
Died in 1858
Wife of David G. Burnet
President ad interim of Texas
March 16 to October 22, 1836
Most of Lakewood is part of the original league of land (4,428 acres) given to Nathaniel Lynch in 1824. Lynch, one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old 300 Colonists, operated a ferry across the San Jacinto River.(4)
(1) Baytown Sun, September 5, 1946 (2) Baytown Sun, November 12, 1961 (3) The History of Baytown by Margaret Henson (4) David G.Burnet by Mary Clarke
(Contributed by Doris Ashcraft)
