2204 Decatur

In 1888 Louis Kolbe bought 2 lots on the NW corner of Decatur and Hemphill, and in 1888 or 1889 he built a house at 2202 Decatur on the corner lot (lot 6).  He lived there until 1913.  Louis Kolbe's parents were German immigrants who were among the earliest settlers in a large German farming community in what is now Spring Branch, and in the 1880 census Louis is 22 and is living with his parents on the farm.  In 1886 he married Miss Mary Frey.  In 1880 she was living with her parents and 4 siblings in Ashland Co., Ohio.  Her parents were German immigrants, and her father was a stone mason.  In about 1890 they moved to Houston.  Her father George Frey, Sr. bought lot 5 from his son-in-law and in about 1891 built the vernacular Folk Victorian with an inset porch now at 2204 Decatur (for many years the address was 2208).

George Frey died in 1901, and his widow sold lot 5 in 1912.

In 1925 Paul Colletti, an Italian immigrant and shoemaker, bought 2204 Decatur.  He lived for many years at 2112 Lubbock and owned several houses in the Sixth Ward which he maintained as rental property.  2204 Decatur was sold by Colletti descendants in 1982.

In 2015 Karine Semple and Carl Hollimon received a Good Brick award from Preservation Houston "for the restoration of their 1894 home at 2204 Decatur in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District".

For additional historical details click here.