Hilshire Village is the smallest of the six "Memorial Villages" in the Spring Branch/Memorial Area along I-10 West (Katy Freeway) in Houston. Each village is a city, with its own mayor and city council. All are served by the Villages Fire Department. Spring Valley Village and Hilshire Village are served by the Spring Valley Village Police Department. The other four villages (Bunker Hill, Hedwig, Hunter's Creek and Piney Point. Below is a short history of Hilshire Village, which was incorporated in 1955.

The Archer Development Company platted 47.12 acres into 74 lots know as Ridgeley Place subdivision on October 10, 1949. The land originally belonged to Fritz Hillendahl, who sold it to the Archer Development Company for $650 per acre. Hilshire Manor and Telge Place subdivisions were begun about a year later. They were developed by Frank Bruess and George Telge. Frank Bruess' mother, Anna Bruess, owned 19 acres, which became subdivided and was originally going to be named "Tall Pines Addition". Frank decided that "Hilshire Manor" was a more stately name, thus the origin of the name Hilshire. All subdivisions opened only off Neuthard Road, which was later renamed Westview when it was extended to Post Oak. The first lots on Ridgeley and Archley sold for about $1,100, with 2% ($22) down and 2% per month payments, no interest! Many of the new residents' friends thought that the new residents were crazy for buying "so far" from town.

In 1950, all the streets were dirt. Ridgeley and Archley were the main streets and Bromley, Burkhart and Mallie Ct. were side streets on block long. Residents of the new area drove through a pig farm owned by Mr. Mansville of Neuthard and Ridgeley, to get to their new houses in Ridgeley Place. When the wind was from the north, the odor was unbearable! The residents also had their own water wells and septic tanks. Additionally, every morning a flock of 22 guineas, belonging to the Burkharts, would pass through the village creating quite a noise. Their path later became Guinea Street. The streets were first surfaced in 1951. Bridle Spur got its name because of all the bridle paths for the horses which were once there. Pine Chase was an extension of the Houston street to the north. Anadell was named after the Bruess' mother, Anna, and Frank's sister, Adell. Hickory Shadows was a sign the owner of the house had at the end of his driveway near the railroad tracks.

One interesting ordinance (No. 19) dated /April 15, 1959, required all males between the ages of 21 and 45 to work on the streets, or furnish $1 per day to hire a substitute, up to a maximum of 5 days. The only exceptions were "ministers of the Gospel actually engaged in the discharge of their duties". It seemed that many men became 20 or 46 years old after that ordinance passed!

The only grocery store around was Weingarten's on Yale and 20th St. until Gerland's opened at Long Point and Silber. Our low speed limits are a heritage from back when Ridgeley used to dead-end at 1101 Ridgeley, i.e., it did not go through to Wirt Road, and Marshall Eddie Cone would not tolerate anyone driving over 15 miles per hour.

In April 1955, Hilshire Village incorporated. Hilshire had 546 residents at this time, but the vote for incorporation had 119 voters voting 61 for incorporation, 51 against incorporation, and 3 were mismarked. There was quite a bit of controversy over the question of incorporation. On May 3, 1955, 69 people petitioned to abolish incorporation but this move failed.

Burkhart Plaza, developed in 1957 on 25 acres of Burkhart acreage (which the Burkharts had bought in 1940 from Mr. Telge to relocate from the Old Katy Rd. to 1109 Wirt), was the first Village subdivision developed after incorporation. The Burkhart nursery donated enough land to extend Ridgeley to Wirt.

The First City Council meeting was held on August 11, 1955 with Mayor Bill L. English presiding. In March, 1956 zoning laws were passed and in April, 1961 the Civic Club was organized. Hilshire Village had a rural atmosphere. In fact, during 1957, Hilshire Village passed a zoning ordinance limiting owners to no more than two horses per lot.

It was not until 1967 that Hilshire Village escrowed enough money to build a water and sewer system. Thus many properties have old wells on the premises.

Hilshire Village has always had a history of citizens who cherished the sanctity and beauty of the area, and these citizens generously contributed their time, money and energy to maintain the beauty and charm of this lovely place.