Everything must go

Sale of the century: Top items in Houston Club auction include pieces of cityhistory

A pair of Mid-Century palm frond chandeliers will be sold at the auction.
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
One of a pair of leather club chairs
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
An antique Adams Quarry (Massachusetts) marble mantle and fireplace surroundfrom early 20th century
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
A pair of mahogany telephone booth doors — Dave Lewis says that the wallpaneling can be taken, too, with some crowbar action.
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
Two Kohler & Campbell grand pianos are among the auction items.
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
Framed photos of the early days of Houston
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
A carved Victorian console table
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
Bronze bust of Ben Love, Houston banker and civic leader who flew for the U.S.Army Air Corps during WW II.
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.
An elaborately-carved antique German Hattenheimer/Rheingau “Faces” wine barrelis one of the hottest auction items.
Photo courtesy of Lewis & Maese Auction Co.

"Houston has never held onto its history," lamented Dave Lewis, co-owner of Lewis & Maese Auction Co., which will sell off the effects of The Houston Club on Saturday.

Lewis referred to the 120,000-square-foot club's contents as "pieces of history," things like a 20th-century Adams Quarry marble mantle and fireplace, framed photos of the Bayou City's early days and bronze busts of local notables like Ben Love. All will be sold in the no-reserves, everything-must-go sale leading up to the demolition of its home for 50 years.

"The Houston Club is an icon as a social club and as Houston powerhouse," said Lewis, who rattled off a list of VIPs that have dined, met or spoken at the club (former presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter are among them).

Auction previews over the past few days have drawn more former visitors and event attendees, said Lewis, than actual club members. Their numbers have dwindled from 3,500 card-carrying members in the club's heyday to around 1,000 when it joined with the Plaza Club on Jan. 1 of this year.

Notable past members have included M.D. Anderson and Ben Taub, and George H.W. Bush and James Baker continue to claim membership.

Lewis estimates that a map of the United States from 1861 will be a high-dollar sell, as will a rare, elaborately-carved antique German wine barrel (which currently has the most hits in the online preview). Kitchen equipment and a stereo system are also likely to receive high bids.

As for a rare David Adickes tapestry featuring his trademark harlequin figures? That'll fetch a high dollar, too.

"I wouldn't be surprised at all if David Adickes himself bought it back," said Lewis.

The Houston Club auction will begin on Saturday at 11 a.m. Find more information here.

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Classic Houston steakhouse ranks No. 2 in America and more top stories

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Taste of Texas took the No. 2 spot on the list.

Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, starting with two steakhouses finding the national spotlight. Plus, a Midtown bar announces last call and a crawfish favorite expands. Read on for our five most popular stories, then head here to plan your weekend.

1. Classic Houston steakhouse ranks No. 2 in America on Yelp top 100. When it comes to Yelp's top restaurants, people have the power. The online reviews platform has compiled user opinions to find out which restaurants across the country have the best reputations. Seven Houston-area restaurants made the top 100, with a classic steakhouse coming in second overall.

2. Houston steakhouse makes 2026 list of America's most romantic restaurants. Locals might want to make their Valentine's Day reservations early. Houston's iconic Pappas Bros. Steakhouse at the Galleria has been spotlighted in OpenTable's 2026 list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in America.

3. Midtown bar with creative cocktails and craft taps will close in February. A staple Midtown cocktail bar will soon serve its last drink. Wooster’s Garden will close on February 12, co-owner Jeff Barati announced.

Last call for Wooster's Garden. Photo courtesy of Wooster's Garden

4. Essential Houston crawfish joint heads to Beaumont for new location. One of Houston’s favorite destinations for crawfish is heading east. BB’s Tex-Orleans will open its 12th location this spring.

5. Texas fave Blue Bell previews new high-protein frozen dessert. Blue Bell is flexing a new product line, and this time it's not a new flavor, but a new nutritional wonder: a "high-protein frozen dairy dessert."