We took the Cool Tours East End Historic Tour. There were only 4 of us on the tour. How lucky we are to be there in the off season.
Our tour guide was a delightful 75 year old lady named Sue who had been born on the island and knew all the history and characters on the island. First a couple funny stories of Sue's history and her friends.
We heard all about the gambling and bootlegging history of Galveston that continued up until the 1950's. Sue's father was a bootlegger and her job as a child was to cut off the top & hollow out the loaves of bread that her mother baked to put the liquor in then to replace the top of the bread so that it could be delivered all over the city as tasty homemade bread. Casinos offering illegal gambling and drinking were the largest tourist draws on the island. The casinos were frequented by famous people such as Frank Sinatra, Phil Harris and Howard Hughes that usually came in through a back door to avoid being seen. Sue's father was one who provided transportation for them to slip in quietly.
One of Sue's childhood friends is the innkeeper of this splendid Victorian Bed and Breakfast. When they were children her friend constantly said that when she grew up she was leaving the island and heading to Hollywood to be a star. And she did.................went to Hollywood and then straight to Hugh Hefner's house and became a Playboy bunny. But, like many born on the island she returned to Galveston. Sue says that her bunny tail is more like a dust mop these days.
This giant horn was made for the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans. They held an auction for some of the items that were displayed in a brochure. A businessman, one of Sue's friends, bid on this thinking it would make a nice display in his den at home. Sue said he had probably had too much to drink not realizing how huge it was so it ended up hanging outside his business in the historic district.
This majestic old home originally had a 3rd wrought iron enclosed balcony. The first level is now underground.
During the horrendous 1900 hurricane the family in this home tied themselves to ropes from the 3rd story iron posts and plucked people from the raging waters as they floated past saving many lives.
Mardi Gras is in full swing and many of the homes were lavishly decorated. Sue told us a great story about her husband and last years Mardi Gras party and how her husband can't look at one of her friends now without a vivid memory. Won't relate it here but if anyone wants to know more ask me about it sometime.
The pirate Lafitte around 1817 settled onto Galveston Island. He developed the island into a smuggling base basically with U.S permission as long as he agreed to not attack any U.S. ships. In 1821 that agreement was disregarded and Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight. But, he had every building in the settlement burned to the ground before he left. The foundation above is the only remnant remaining from his time there.
Galveston has been hit by several major hurricanes. The most devastating was the 1900 storm that killed over 6000 people and left the island in shreds. Others were Carla in 1961 and Ike in 2008. The ability of the residents to recover and rebuild is amazing and shows their love for their island.
One of the first undertakings after the horrible 1900 storm was to create a seawall that would protect them in the future.
And what they did to save their homes is astonishing. The streets became canals through which barges could travel bringing in fill and using jacks about 2000 buildings were raised and the fill was pumped under them to elevate the homes, businesses, and churches in hopes they could withstand future storms.
In addition to structures, utility lines, sewers, water and gas lines, streetcar tracks, fire hydrants and telephone and telegraph poles – had to be lifted. Fences, sidewalks and outbuildings also had to be repositioned. I can't imagine what a monumental undertaking this was.
Each house that was raised has that diamond shape plaque beside it's front door. Many houses have other plaques that show participation in Christmas tours, home tours and the like.
In 2008 Hurricane Ike covered most of Galveston Island in a tidal surge. The damaging combination of powerful winds and waves immediately uprooted many of the city's trees that formed wonderful canopies over the streets and led to the death of thousands others because of being under salt water. The palm trees survived because they love the salt water.
Where many saw dead trees and waste after the storm true to the Galveston spirit a group of homeowners saw a chance to change the signs of destruction into signs of rejuvenation.
A new life has been brought to something Mother Nature had tried to destroy.
Tree sculptures have replaced the majestic oaks that once lined the neighborhood streets and shaded homes.
The tree sculptures have been created by various area artists.
Each one of the sculptures have a special meaning for the homeowner.
This lab was to remember a much loved family pet.
The Tin Man and Toto was done at the house where one of the directors of the "Wizard of Oz" was born.
This was done as a monument to Galveston's trees.
Only a portion of this Japanese Ewe tree was dead.
The homeowner had the dead portion of the tree sculpted into hibiscus flowers, sea shells and sand dollars.
The beauty, strength and resilience of Galveston shows how high they have risen despite being beaten down by Mother Nature.
The spirit lives on as there is much evidence of more renovations. The memory of Galveston will be a special one for me.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”
―Bob Marley