Powhatan House

in
260abd40330a88939d0a24c34fbc1345.jpg

The 1847 Powhatan House became the property of the Galveston Garden Club, its current owners, in 1965. Over time, the garden club restored the house to its 1893 appearance, including Victorian furnishings and a garden planted in oleanders.

The house, located at 3427 Ave O, is one of the oldest homes on the island and was among the first of a series of successful restorations in Galveston. These restorations became the focus of an active tourist industry, replacing the city’s waning trading activity. The Galveston Garden Club uses the house and grounds for its monthly meetings, for periodic fundraising sales and events and educational programs. It opens the house for use by civic organizations and private events rentals.

2017_0107winter2016-20170032.jpg

History of the House
The Powhatan House was built as the home of Col. John S. Sydnor, a prominent cotton merchant, early mayor of Galveston and financier. The Powhatan House is an unusually sophisticated example of Greek Revival architecture in Texas. The construction of the Powhatan House and its change in use over many years of occupancy mirrors the history of Galveston’s development and eventual decline as Texas’ leading mercantile and cultural center.

Sydnor named the 24-room house after the Indian tribes in his native Virginia. The original Powhatan House had a six-column portico, a characteristically Galvestonian raised basement or ground floor and five acres of gardens planted with oleanders which were to become a feature of the island's gardens.

The house itself was largely the result of Sydnor’s trading ventures. It was built of lumber, windows, sectional columns, hardware and well-crafted cyma recta mouldings shipped from Maine in the otherwise empty holds of cotton vessels returning from the northern ports. The fabrication of houses for Texans, in the seaports of Maine, was one of the dominant elements of trade balance between Galveston and the North. Two other houses still standing in Galveston, the Menard House and the Williams-Tucker House (see National Register submission “Samuel May Williams House” July 14, 1971) were also built of parts fabricated in Maine.

In 1866, Sydney sold the house to a Mr. Bolton, who attempted to operate schools and a military academy in the house’s spacious rooms. All of his efforts proved unsuccessful, however, and he converted the Powhatan to use as his private home.

In 1881 the house was purchased by the City of Galveston to use as the island’s first orphanage. In 1893, a new orphanage was built ,and the Powhatan House became the property of Carolyn Willis Ladd, who had the house moved from its original location between 21st and 22nd Streets and M and N Avenues, to its present location.

Under the supervision of the architect W.H. Tyndall, the house was divided into three sections and remodeled into three separate houses on contiguous lots. Each house was elevated on a 10-foot-high brick basement containing a kitchen and servants’ quarters.. The central portion continued to be known as the Powhatan House or the “Main House.” Tyndall extensively modified the interiors, replacing original mantels with Victorian pressed-brick facings, new staircases and a variety of diamond pane and two over two light windows.

In 1903 Charles Vedder, a prominent Galveston cotton merchant, purchased the main house, which had been only slightly damaged by the disastrous flood and hurricane of 1900. The Vedder family occupied the house at the time of the 1907 grade-raising. The Vedders lost their basement kitchen and breakfast room to the inundation of sand pumped from Galveston Bay. The Vedders added a wing to the east of the house to replace the buried rooms.

Vedder was appointed by Theodore Roosevelt as United States Cotton Commissioner and was a member of the Galveston Cotton Exchange, which, together with the Wharf Commission, virtually controlled all of Galveston’s trading activity. Vedder’s wife, Florence, was the granddaughter of General George Heath Flood, who had been U.S. Minister to the Republic of Texas in 1839.

In 1927, the British government leased the house for use as its consulate. In 1935 the Vedders sold the house to J.W. Oschman, who occupied it until 1960 when the Forrest Dyer family purchased it.

Five years later, the Powhatan House became the property of the Galveston Garden Club.


The Dolphins

in

In 1975, The Dolphins, created by Galveston sculptor David W. Moore, was installed downtown in the center of the pedestrian corridor on Postoffice Street - that once ran between 21st and 24th Streets. Standing six feet tall, the solid bronze sculpture, is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

galveston-tx-sculptures-tours-island-guide6-660x879.jpg

The Dolphins was created in conjunction with the Al Shakis Art Foundry in Houston. The Dolphins were donated to the city and citizens of Galveston by the collective efforts of a private donor and Galveston Foundation, Inc.

When the Postoffice Street corridor was re-opened to vehicular traffic, the Galveston Commission for the Arts made the necessary efforts to relocate the statue to its current location at Fort Crockett Seawall Park, located on Seawall Boulevard at 45th Street.

About the Sculptor
Born Feb. 16, 1921, David Moore grew up in a large home in Galveston, located at 31st and Avenue O, where the Galveston Artillery Club now stands.

Moore worked for the Moore Lumber Company, a family firm and the second-oldest lumber company in Texas, and for Moore-Climatic, Inc. He was a trustee of the Rosenberg Library and helped form the Galveston Cultural Arts Council. Moore died in 2001, at the age of 80.

Other sculptures created by Moore can be found in Galveston. They include The Heron, on display at Galveston's Ashton Villa; Young Girl with Turtle, at the Rosenberg Library, and Boy with Seagulls, displayed at the Texas Seaport Museumt. The 1900 Storm Memorial, which Moore was planning long before he was commissioned to do such a work, was unveiled in September 2000.

Lucas Apartments

in
Unknown.jpeg

In 1887, Thomas Lucas, a bricklayer from Nottingham, England, designed and constructed a row of six attached houses on the corner of Broadway Boulevard and 6th street. Sadly, these houses - known as Lucas Row - were destroyed in the Great Storm of 1900. The destruction of such a substantial structure was so significant, the City of Galveston held a remembrance ceremony on the one-year anniversary of the storm at the site of Lucas Row.

aae17d_3bbb4d54deb346a0913c359ee03650d4.jpg

After the storm, Lucas picked up the bricks from the rubble and moved them to Broadway and 14th street, where his own modest wood-frame home had miraculously survived.

Between 1901 and 1906, Lucas built the East Building of what is now known as the Lucas Apartments, recognized as the first brick apartment building in Texas.

When the East Building was finished, Lucas moved his frame house to another lot on Broadway (since torn down) and began construction on the West Building. Between 1907 and 1908, he rapidly completed the West Building and connected the two structures with an open breezeway.  

Lucas worked without plans and, if you look closely, you can see he was not consistent in his work. Many of the windows have different treatments in the surrounding brick trim. The dimensions and elevations of the buildings are also slightly different.

The Galveston Historical Foundation views the Lucas Apartments as one of the most visible and important properties in the Victorian-era East End Historic District as it is the only structure that suggests the Art Nouveau style. This is clearly evident in the facade of the building which is decorated with large shell and coral patterned cast concrete. The structure was also constructed with load-bearing brick with large beams running the length of the building. This was a construction technique usually reserved for larger commercial buildings.

The Lucas Apartments, built by a pioneer artisan of Galveston, is a remarkable example of individual enterprise. Today, it is privately owned and operated as Casa Familia, a luxury rental option for families and groups.

It still stands at an important location on Broadway Boulevard - across from Bishop’s Palace and the Sacred Heart Church.

Sandcastles

in
Sandcastle_at_East_Coast_Park_Singapore_-_20080504-660x400.jpg

The American Institute of Architects SandCastle Competition is a fundraiser for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation, as well as one of the top five revenue generating events for the City of Galveston. Today’s event, the 33rd annual, featured over 60 teams, all vying to win the prestigious Golden Bucket Award.

Participating architectural firms began making plans for their entries months ago, putting in lots of hours generating ideas, developing designs and assigning duties.

Each year, the teams, stretched along the beach front, meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work nonstop for five hours. All the while, locals and visitors alike descend on East Beach, unload their cars and trucks, put up large sun-protecting tents and, ultimately, decorate them with beach chairs ice chests and an impressive assortment of their favorite foods and beverages. When all is ready, these fans of the competition will split their time walking the beach to see the massive creations come together and relaxing with friends and family in the shade of their temporary shelters.

The judging of the sculptures is rated on originality of concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving techniqu, and utilization of the site. In addition to the Golden Bucket, awards are given in several categories, including Best Traditional Castle, Best Architectural Icon, Kidtastic! – LEGO Edition, Best Science Fiction, Best Sports and Houston-centric, as well as best team t-shirt design, best team signage, best costume and public favorite.

At the end of the day, everyone goes home sandy, sunbaked and spent. And, to be sure, with lots of great memories of a truly unique experience.

The Daily News

in
IMG_3827 copy.jpg

Today was a really hot day in Galveston. I knew that even before I saw the headline in today’s edition of The Daily News. It is, after all, a typical August day on the island!

Still, I read the Page One story with interest. It was good to learn the high temperature we were “enjoying” had set the record for high minimum temperature. I couldn’t help but think, for a minute at least, “That’s cool.”

Of course, it wasn’t cool, but it was different. The heat in Galveston in August is nothing new or, until today, particularly newsworthy!

But, as a career journalist, I truly appreciate The Daily News. It’s a good newspaper! Its staff is excellent and, as a team, it does a terrific job of delivering the news we islanders care about most.

I also appreciate The Daily News for another reason - its history. It is as interesting and illustrious as it comes.

The first edition of The Daily News appeared April 11, 1842. No doubt its publisher, George French, never dreamed it would still be around today and recognized as the oldest continuously published newspaper in Texas.

The Daily News was located in this beautiful historic building in the 2100 block of Mechanic Street, for more than 80 years.

The Daily News was located in this beautiful historic building in the 2100 block of Mechanic Street, for more than 80 years.

At the time of the newspaper’s founding, Texas was an independent republic, and Sam Houston was finishing his last term as president.. Galveston was a fairly new village, just a few years old, with about 4,000 citizens. And, I’ve read, the newspaper was a force to be reckoned with, even back then.

During The Civil War, the newspaper was briefly published in Houston. Afterwards, from 1866-1884, The Daily News occupied three floors of an iron-fronted building in the 2200 block of Market Street in downtown Galveston. And, for more than 80 years, the newspaper occupied a brick structure in the 2100 block of Mechanic Street — the first building in the United States designed solely for a newspaper plant.

Ownership of The Daily News has changed many times over the years.The Moody family of Galveston owned the paper for a time and, in the 1960s, it was owned by Oveta Culp Hobby, who also owned The Houston Post during the same period.

The Daily News moved to its current location, at 8522 Teichman Road, in 1965.

The Daily News moved to its current location, at 8522 Teichman Road, in 1965.

In 1965, The Daily News moved to 8522 Teichman Road, where the newspaper's Galveston offices are still located today.

Galveston Newspapers Inc. acquired ownership of The Daily News in 1967, and the newspaper converted to morning delivery. It was renamed The Galveston County Daily News on November 1, 1993, when the newspaper started serving the entire county.

Two years later, on Christmas Day, 1995, The Daily News made its online debut, one of the first newspapers in Texas to provide both print and digital editions.

In November 2011, the paper dropped the "Galveston County" moniker and returned to its original name, The Daily News.  It is currently published by Galveston Newspapers Inc., and owned by the Carmage B. Walls family.

The Daily News has won many first place awards from the Associated Press and the Texas Press Association - for breaking news articles, editorial writing, headline writing and general excellence.