On Saturday, April 12, an early morning fire occurred in the Silk Stocking Historic District, damaging the residences at 1401, 1405, and 1411 24th Street.
Built in 1857 by prominent Galveston businessman George Ball (1817–1884), this stately home originally stood at the northwest corner of 23rd and Sealy, its front porch facing 23rd Street. Constructed from sturdy pine timbers shipped all the way from Maine, the house reflected Ball’s wealth and the growing ambitions of mid-19th-century Galveston.
The Silk Stocking Historic District is one of the most significant collections of houses in Galveston. Any property loss is a heartbreaking one, not only to our architectural history but even more so for those who call these houses their home. The George Ball House, pictured here, was one of three houses involved in an early morning blaze. This house, built in 1857, was relocated in the early 1900s to its location on 24th Street in Silk Stocking. Our sympathies are with the homeowners as they navigate the emotional and physical toll of this loss, and we extend our heartfelt wishes for their health and healing. – Galveston Historical Foundation
In 1901, the house changed hands when John Focke purchased it at auction. With plans underway for the construction of Galveston’s new Rosenberg Library, Focke relocated the home six blocks south to its current site on 24th Street in 1902. To accomplish the move, the house was cut in half. The rear section found a new life next door as a separate residence at 1401 24th Street, and by 1903, Focke had added a third house at 1411 24th. He used all three as rental properties—each now part of a remarkable architectural trio that has stood the test of time.
The George Ball House received official recognition as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962 and was a featured stop on Galveston Historical Foundation’s third annual Homes Tour in 1977.
Today, these three homes stand proudly within the Silk Stocking Historic District. Established in 1975 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, the district covers four full blocks and parts of twelve more. Once home to the Texas Cotton Press (established 1872), the area was transformed into a desirable residential neighborhood after the press shut down in 1898. The district’s elegant name reflects the affluence of its early residents—wealthy merchants whose wives could afford the fashionable luxury of silk stockings. Despite the rumors, it has nothing to do with Galveston’s red-light history.
Home to nearly 300 structures—208 of which are considered architecturally significant—the district showcases a striking range of styles, from Greek Revival and Queen Anne to Colonial Revival and early 20th-century bungalows.
ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency and stewardship of historic properties. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island from the 19th century to the present day.
