Time Travel to a Period of Kings and Queens in Downtown Houston
NoTsuOh was a historic, week-long festival in Downtown Houston that promoted Texas agriculture, commerce, & trade in the early 1900s. Local, prominent businesspeople were crowned for their contributions to Houston, and the whole town celebrated with festivals, crowded parades, decorated buildings, fanciful costumes, floats on Buffalo Bayou, and football games.
If you are wondering why the word NoTsuOh looks strangely familiar, that is because it is Houston spelled backward. Part of the NoTsuOh theme and tradition was to spell the names of titles backward. Each year, a King was revealed, and his duties were to rule over the Tekram of Saxet.
On Friday, May 7, Justice Ken Wise and Sara Wise were crowned as King Nottoc XX and Queen Ailongam IV at The Heritage Society’s NoTsuOh Coronation Gala held at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. Justice Wise, who sits on the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, is an avid Texas historian whose podcast “Wise About Texas” is heard in over 150 countries around the world. Sara Wise has worked in the nonprofit sector as a fundraiser for over 20 years and volunteers with the Salvation Army, the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, and their local church.
The year prior, Duke Ensell and C.C. Ensell were crowned as King Nottoc XIX and Queen Ailongam III. The Ensells serve on the Board of Directors at The Heritage Society and are two people who have generously and repeatedly given to the non-profits and performing arts institutions in Houston.
Mayors, who may not be royalty, but are certainly the most important leaders of today, danced in the second line parade twirling colorful napkins. Master of ceremonies, The Honorable Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston brought Texas spirit and cheer to the Downtown Houston event that once was compared to Mardi Gras back in the day. The Honorable Annise Parker, former Mayor of Houston, showed a regal yet playful side by picking up the second line parade to keep the flow going.
Kings from the early 1900s included prominent locals such as Augustus C. Allen, Presley K. Ewing, Jesse H. Jones, Charles K. Dunlap, John Henry Kirby, and William T. Carter. Queens included locals Miss Florence Carter and Miss Augusta Goodhue. A fancy carnival ball was held at The Rice Hotel’s ballroom to crown the king and queen of the city in a week-long event.
“The NoTsuOh festival and coronation ball was abandoned with the beginning of World War I; however, we revived the coronation ball in 2018 and made it our gala theme,” The Heritage Society’s executive director, Alison Bell said. “This year, was the best gala yet with all of our notable guests who were royally generous in supporting our museum and historic houses.”
Others attending the historic event were: Minnette and Peter Boesel, Jo and Jim Furr, Kirksey Gregg and Shay Calhoun, Shelley and Paul Homeyer, Harriet and Truett Latimer, Steve Lucchesi, Mister McKinney, Barry Moore, Cynthia Phillips and Devaron Yates, Joanne Zumbrun, Jane and Jim Wise, Jordyn Ensell, The Honorable Robert Gallegos, The Honorable Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard, Alison and Chris Bell, Robert Sakowitz and Joan Schnitzer Levy, Dean Gladden, Lara Bell and Brent Milam, David Gugino and Jeff Carey, Jordan Jopling, Miki and Ralph Norton, Tara and Dwight Thomas, Brandon Weinbrenner, Catherine Anspon, Nick Hellyar, Lisa Helper and Patrick Myatt, Evan Howell, Shannon and Pat Mizell, Justice Margaret Poissant, and Matt and Bess Wareing.
More about The Heritage Society: The Heritage Society, a 501 (c)(3) organization, tells the stories of the diverse history of Houston and Texas through collections, exhibits, educational programs, film, video, and online content. Founded in 1954 by a number of public-spirited Houstonians to rescue the 1847 Kellum-Noble House from demolition, The Heritage Society has since saved an additional nine historic buildings, moved them from various locations to join the Kellum-Noble House in Sam Houston Park, and restored them to reflect their respective eras. These 10 buildings, along with the museum gallery, serve as historic reference points and exhibition spaces for more than 23,000 artifacts that document life in Houston from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. To see a 2021 calendar of events, head here. For more information about our safer private tour and event options in 2021, please contact info@heritagesociety.org.
Cover Photo: NoTsuOh Coronation Gala 2021- Justice Ken Wise as King Nottoc XX and Sara Wise as Queen Ailongam IV. Duke Ensell as 2020 King Nottoc XIX and C. C. Ensell as 2020 Queen Ailongam IIIThe Heritage Society at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. Photo Credit: Priscilla Dickson.
Above: Photo 2: Duke Ensell as 2020 King Nottoc XIX and C. C. Ensell as 2020 Queen Ailongam III (left). Justice Ken Wise as 2021 King Nottoc XX and Sara Wise as 2021 Queen Ailongam IV (middle). The Heritage Society’s President Minnette Boesel. The Honorable Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston and attorney as our Master of Ceremonies (right). The Heritage Society at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. Photo Credit: Priscilla Dickson.
