In Houston Texas by Gordon Edge

My father Gordon Edge started the Confederate House Restaurant at 3941 San Felipe Rd after he lost a lawsuit to establish The Richmond Grill in Bellaire. The Grill was to be located on lots 20, 21, and 22 in Block 2 of the city of Bellaire. The City of Bellaire placed the lots in a residential zone even though a café was opened on the lots in May 1942. My father bought the café January 28, 1946. He added an addition to the café which caused 37 neighbors to get Bellaire to file a zoning lawsuit. The building permit was revoked by the city and my father sued. Harris County District Court Judge Ben F. Wilson ruled in the city’s favor. My father always said the best thing that ever happened to him was going broke in Bellaire.
My father continued working at my grandfather’s restaurant, Kay’s Bar & Grill and the Town House Motel. He met and married my mother Edna Fae Ball the daughter of the owner of Kay’s Bar & Grill (William Duncan Ball). She would be the one who would organize the Confederate House Restaurant and plan the menu.
The Confederate House Founding and Building
The Lee Brothers Oil Company owned the Town House Restaurant where my father worked. There offices were located behind the Motel on Allen Parkway. Their attorney was future judge Lewis Dickson. These relationships would be critical in starting the Confederate House Restaurant.
The future Confederate House Building also has a place in Houston’s history. The building was a two story flower shop located on West Gray. The building was wood with building blocks used for the foundation. It was owned by Besty Ball who was the daughter of Colonel Ball (no relation to My grandfather). Colonel Ball sold club memberships and shares of stock for the new River Oaks subdivision.
The original location of the Confederate House was 3941 SanFelipe. It was on a vacant lot owned by jimmy Britton. My father entered into a 25 year lease with Mr. Britton in 1948. The lease allowed him to operate a private club which would sell alcohol.
The flower shop was moved from West Gray to 3941 San Felipe in 1948. The building was one story glass walled in the front. This served as the dining room. We had booths against the right and left walls with two rows of tables between the booths. The kitchen and ladies bathroom room were to the right. There was an entry to the left where the men’s bathroom room was located. The bar was located in back of the left side entry. There were stairs outside the building in the back which went up to two rooms and a bathroom. The rooms were on each side with the bathroom in the middle. The first few months of my life I slept upstairs over the restaurant. After that I lived my grandparents for the next 6 years. I slept in a crib under the bar counter at Kay’s bar and Grill but that is another story.
Legal structure and early investors
The money to start the Confederate House was raised by selling common stock to Milo Abercrombie, J. A. Elkins Jr, Wallace Lee Edge, W. J. Goldston, C. P. Simpson, Edna B. Edge, and Gordon Edge. Each of the common stock certificates was valued at $6,000.00. Attorney Lewis Dickson Jr prepared and filed all the necessary legal documents. Judge Dickson never asked for any money and he was never charged for meals during his lifetime.
At this time in Texas restaurants and bars could only sell beer to their customers. However private membership clubs could sell and serve mixed drinks to their guests. There were many private clubs at this time skirting the law by having inexpensive memberships. The problem was that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission would routinely catch them selling drinks to an agent and close the club. Attorney Lewis Dickson Jr came up with the brilliant idea that all food & bar tickets would be billed monthly to clients. Unknown guest could pay their food bill but never the alcohol bill. Gordon would tear up all bar tickets for unknown guests. This may have cost the club a few dollars but we were never closed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Virtually every other similar club in Houston was closed for a few days every once in awhile by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The Confederate Club was never closed by the Texas Beverage Commission.
The final piece of the puzzle was the Lee Brothers. Howard was married to Gene Tierney and Hedy Lamarr. Ronald, W Howard, and Donald Lee guaranteed the credit for Gordon in his early purchases. Pappas Refrigeration now more famous for restaurants told me of the Lee’s calling and saying to give credit to Gordon. They would guarantee he would pay them.
Early History
The restaurant opened in 1948 to 4 customers. It quickly caught on and became a favorite of River Oaks neighbors and Texas Aggies. My father lettered at Texas Am in basketball and delighted in talking Aggie football. The Confederate House closed on Tuesdays to allow for Aggie club meetings. It opened on Monday night because River Oaks country Club was closed on Monday nights. We opened on Sundays y night because my father was scared some customers might go another restaurant because we were closed and like it.