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Galveston Historic Homes Tour
May 1, 2, 8 & 9, 2010
Going Green: What’s Old is New Again
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) has been at the heart of an extraordinary preservation movement on the island for more than 50 years. Since its inception in 1954, GHF has saved hundreds of Galveston’s most important treasures – from humble shotgun houses to Craftsman-style bungalows to nationally significant mansions, sacred landmarks, commercial buildings and maritime artifacts. Every year, in order to showcase the continuing success of the city’s revitalization efforts, GHF opens a diverse collection of restored homes and other buildings to the public during the first two weekends in May.
GHF begins a new era in its nationally renowned preservation efforts with the 36th Annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour. Among 10 houses that will be opened to the public during the annual historic homes tour is the “Green Revival House,” an 1890s shotgun-style house being restored by GHF in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The house is one of the first in the nation planned to give the public a vivid look at how energy-saving and “sustainable” building and landscaping features are becoming essential and affordable parts of all restoration blueprints.
The tour also emphasizes “historic green architecture,” the building methods developed to make homes more comfortable before the luxuries of electricity, municipal water systems and natural gas were widespread. Before they had electric fans, owners of many of Galveston’s oldest homes relied on floor-to-ceiling windows that could be thrown open to catch every available breeze. Spacious hallways and staircases helped air circulation. Cisterns caught rainwater for drinking, cooking, bathing and irrigation.
This year’s homes tour sets the tone for GHF’s future restoration programs—to help the public find affordable old homes for restoration while keeping them informed of the best ways to preserve historic green features and incorporate modern green features.
Advance tickets are $20, or $15 for Galveston Historical Foundation members. (Member tickets are sold only at GHF Headquarters, 502 20th Street.) Beginning May 1, 2010, the first day of the tour, tickets are $25. Special rates are available for group tours. For more information on advanced ticket sales call 409 765 7834.
Separately ticketed special events will augment the 2010 tour, including “First Impression: An Evening Preview” on April 30 and the annual Linen and Lace Mother’s Day Brunch on May 9. Additional information on the special events will be announced as details are finalized.
2010 Homes on Tour:
Archibald and Alice Campbell House, c. 1871
1515 Broadway
A grand Italianate mansion never opened to the public before and still owned by Campbell family descendants.
Edwin Anonsen House, 1946
1317 Broadway
This eclectic modern house, built by engineer Edwin Anonsen, features porthole windows with radiating muntins suggestive of a ship’s wheel.
Fernand Lobit Tenant House, 1909
1310 Sealy
This high-raised Victorian townhouse retains original stained glass panels, fireplaces, woodwork and working transoms, which allow ventilation and air flow.
Benjamin Doherty Cottage, 1905
2928 Avenue P
This raised Gulf Coast cottage was restored using historic materials acquired at the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Architectural Salvage Warehouse. The current owners have reclaimed the space below the home and use it as a working office.
James and Ella Davis House, 1899
1315 24th Street
Built in 1899 for Galveston Daily News reporter James ‘Nat’ Davis, this house was designed by renowned German architect Charles Bulger. Bulger is second only to architect Nicholas Clayton in importance to Galveston’s architectural history.
Conness-Arnold House, 1899
1417 24th Street
This Queen Anne style house features rounded double galleries, rimmed with lintels and replete with radiating ball spindles. Tall windows and wrap around porches on the east and south side of the home face the prevailing Gulf breezes.
John and Agnes Roemer Cottage, 1888
2415 Avenue L
This five-bay gable fronted cottage was built for Agnes Moser Roemer and her husband, John. The $1,350 purchase price included wallpaper in every room, weatherboard siding, slate roof, heart pine floors, eight doors, 18 windows and 13 sets of window blinds.
James and Jessie Fendley Cottage, 1885
1403 Tremont
The current owners of this high-raised Victorian cottage recently completed a renovation and restoration using many materials recycled and repurposed which they purchased from architectural salvage warehouses in Galveston and Houston.
Ernest Stavenhagen House, 1915
1527 Postoffice
This Neo-Classical house, with its commanding presence, boldly stands out from its Victorian neighbors. The most prominent feature is the front gabled entry portico. The paired boxed columns of the double-galleried portico are the modern interpretation of a classical colonnade.
Restoration in Progress- Green Revival House
3101 Avenue Q (formerly 2119 Avenue M ½ )
This tiny Ike-damaged cottage was recently moved 17 blocks, from the 2100 block of Avenue M, where it has been since its construction in 1891. The house will be open to the public to showcase Galveston’s signature interpretation of the new nationwide green historic preservation movement.
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