{"id":140,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:32:47","latitude":29.76313329999999979236235958524048328399658203125,"longitude":-95.36182710000002771266736090183258056640625,"title":"The Kennedy Bakery","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/f696e15635775b040a0adc2d095605dc.jpg","address":"813 Congress\r\nHouston, Texas 77002","all_locations":[],"zoom":8,"creator":["David Buie"],"description":"The building located at 813 Congress has at various times housed a trading post, stage stop, coffeehouse, slave market, and bakery.  It currently is home to the La Carafe Bar.  It was built in 1860 after a fire destroyed the original 1847 wooden structure.  The Kennedy Bakery has the distinction of being the oldest commercial building in Houston.  It is also the only building adjoining the newly rededicated Market Square Park, which marks the location of Houston&#039;s first commercial district during the latter half of the 19th century.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nSoon after the founding of Houston in 1836, John Kennedy traveled to the new city with his wife, Mathilda, and his children, John Jr. and Daniel. According to the 1860 census, Kennedy became a successful businessman who owned a significant amount of rural land as well as commercial real estate in downtown Houston.  Among his diverse business holdings was a grist mill, a retail and wholesale grocery business, and even a ferry on the San Jacinto River. During the Civil War, Kennedy obtained a lucrative contract to produce hardtack for the Confederate Army and to lease property to the Ordinance Office. Though these contracts were not the financial boons that Kennedy had hoped, he remained well situated after the end of the Civil War. He continued as one of the leading citizens of Houston until his death in 1878.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nAfter Kennedy’s death, the building and his other business holdings passed to his oldest son, John Jr, who continued his father’s businesses. Though Kennedy’s  business dealings do not extend to the modern day he has left a legacy in the building that still bears his name.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["\"City Council Chamber - City Hall 2nd Floor - Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 2:00pm,\" City of Houston, page 39-49, http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/backup/2008/031108.pdf.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n\"Around the State: Houston,\" Texas Monthly, September 1976, page 168, https://books.google.com/books?id=vywEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=slave+market+in+Houston+tx&source=bl&ots=4M11nZ7R-q&sig=4g0YRER-UqaXMcXO-KUcmXWHEQM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dlkIVaLGDce2ogTi8YL4BA&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=true.<br />\r\n<br />\r\nCrewdson, John.  \"Houston:  The Golden Vital Buckle on the Sunbelt,\" Chicago Tribune, December 26, 1982, page 12, https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19821226&id=QgQhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a3UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3647,5349357&hl=en%20http://www.city-.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n\"Market Square Historic District in Houston,\" City-Data.com, http://www.city-data.com/articles/Market-Square-Historic-District-in.html."],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/f696e15635775b040a0adc2d095605dc.jpg":{"id":1357,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"The Kennedy Bakery Building","description":"Built in 1860 after a fire destroyed the original building, the Kennedy Bakery building served as a bakery throughout the Civil War and has since served as home to many diverse businesses. It currently houses the La Carafe Bar. | &quot;City Council Chamber - City Hall 2nd Floor - Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 2:00pm,&quot; City of Houston, page 39-49, http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/backup/2008/031108.pdf.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/f696e15635775b040a0adc2d095605dc.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/ae0f77ec5267990dcb95e1a0290624db.jpg":{"id":1358,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"The Kennedy Building Historical Marker","description":"John Kennedy came to Houston in 1842 and became a leading businessman in Houston. One of the oldest structures in the city on its original site, the building remained in the Kennedy family until 1970. | Historical Marker","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/ae0f77ec5267990dcb95e1a0290624db.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/11093d6b3fa2b94b2b20e9d46bdd1dff.jpg":{"id":1359,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Location of the Kennedy Bakery shown on 1837 map","description":"This 1837 map of Houston shows the location that John Kennedy would build the original wooden structure. After a fire destroyed the original building, Kennedy rebuilt on the same spot the new brick building that is visible today. | David Buie","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/11093d6b3fa2b94b2b20e9d46bdd1dff.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/5614a1a18a18ef99b3d2b2be9f8424c7.jpg":{"id":1360,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Brick and Plaster Wall","description":"This picture shows the brick and plaster construction that was required of bakeries in Houston after a rash of fires in the summer of 1859 that resulted in stiffer building codes. | &quot;City Council Chamber - City Hall 2nd Floor - Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 2:00pm,&quot; City of Houston, page 39-49, http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/backup/2008/031108.pdf.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/5614a1a18a18ef99b3d2b2be9f8424c7.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/d0629641d4649585c931102198a03aee.jpg":{"id":1361,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"A View of the Bottom Floor","description":"This picture taken from the staircase that goes to the upstairs room gives a real sense of history that is present in this building. | &quot;Houston&#039;s Best Dive Bars,&quot; Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/entertainment/slideshow/Houston-s-Best-Dive-Bars-20972/photo-1324627.php","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/d0629641d4649585c931102198a03aee.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/28f6fa7196b066d9b00ddcf8069e9bd7.jpg":{"id":1362,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Brass Cash Register","description":"The cash register pictured is still in use today to ring up sales much as it was done by merchants at the turn of the century. Cash registers were invented in 1878, the same year that John Kennedy passed away. | David Buie","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/28f6fa7196b066d9b00ddcf8069e9bd7.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/bf71e8d97052de81b25c683635f57bc4.jpg":{"id":1363,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Old Market Square Historical Market","description":"Platted 1836 by surveyors Gail Borden, Jr. and Moses Lapham as &quot;Congress Square&quot;. It was intention of the city fathers Augustus C. and John K. Allen to have permanent capital of Republic of Texas located here. However, this was never realized and almost immediately, it became center of commerce for the flourishing city. | Historical Marker","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/bf71e8d97052de81b25c683635f57bc4.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/36497c7457a33378c83e6ec46ca3ccbe.jpg":{"id":1364,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"1837-1860 Composite Plan of Houston","description":"Shows the city as it was during the time that the Kennedy Bakery was operating. While it does not show the Kennedy Bakery, it does show the Kennedy Trading Post that was next door on the corner of Travis and Congress. | &quot;St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery,&quot; Historic Houston, http://historichouston1836.com/st-vincent-de-paul-cemetery/.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/36497c7457a33378c83e6ec46ca3ccbe.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/original/0b82f82ad39ba3e7a63ba4e942da0dba.mp3":{"id":1366,"mime-type":"audio/mpeg","title":"A Brief History of the La Carafe Bar","description":"A short narrative history of the Kennedy Baker, currently the La Carafe Bar. | &quot;A Short History of La Carafe,&quot; Youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMKv0-OmW24."}}}