George W. Carver Theatre | Teatro Rey | La Plaza Theatre

In Galveston, the Martini family is a household name. These days the Martini name can be found on 21st and Church Street on the old Martini theater and here, just west of Rosenberg Avenue on Market Street. At one point, the Martini family owned eight theaters, one of which was opened in Galveston‘s Black Business District. The George W. Carver theater opened in 1940. The Martini family opened this theater specifically for African-American audiences. The area north of Broadway and west of Rosenberg Avenue was Galveston‘s Black Business District during racial segregation. The George W. Carver theater operated for 19 years until 1959, when Mateo Vela bought it and converted it to Spanish-language films directed at Hispanic audiences. Mateo named the theatre Teatro Rey. In the 1970s, the theater changed hands and was briefly called the La Plaza theater until it closed in 1979. The shell of this theater today stands as a reminder of segregation, marginalization, and eventual racial integration—a stepping stone to a past that is not so far behind us.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
African American Historic Places in Galveston
Lost Restaurants of Galveston’s African American Community
Black Galveston
African-American History Resources: Reconstruction to the Present
La Plaza Theater
1947 Fire Map Showing Theatre

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Galveston's Historic Red Light District | Island of tolerated sin

Galveston isn’t known as the Sin City of the South just for gambling or Galveston’s prohibition of prohibition. Galveston has a long documented history of prostitution in the Red Light District. There’s no doubt that prostitution in Galveston dates back to before the city was founded, but the Red Light District as we know it today began during the Civil War when the union navy occupied the city of Galveston. Although the union only maintained control of Galveston for three months, post office Street and Market Street, within a few block radius of 25th St., then known as Bath Avenue, was transformed into an area where cash-rich union soldiers could find a lady to meet their needs. As most of Galveston’s residents evacuated during the union occupation, there were huge multi-room, unoccupied mansions that could be utilized as discreet places of business. After the Civil War, the practice of prostitution in this area did not stop. It officially became Galveston’s Red Light District. From the reconstruction era to the 1960s, there were quite a few houses of ill repute. Keep in mind the Port Of Galveston is only a few blocks away, and sailors from around the world may have just found themselves in this area looking for a companion for the evening. A few houses around what was called “the line” still stand today. Prostitution was a tolerated and accepted Port Of Galveston society… with a license, of course. The history of Galveston’s red light district brings to mind the socio-economic factors that allowed prostitution, gambling, and alcohol during prohibition and all other matters of sin to thrive not only in Galveston’s Red Light District but all over the island since European settlement.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
Galveston's Red Light District: A History of The Line | Kimber Fountain
Galveston in the Civil War
Sin City of the South
Free State of Galveston
1894  Arial view of this area | Water Works tower

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The Green Book in Galveston | Rosenberg Avenue between Market St. & Post Office St.

The Green book was created by a man named Victor Hugo Green, an African-American postal carrier from Harlem. The original Green book was published in 1936. During the era of racial segregation, the green book was a valuable publication offering resources, contacts, and addresses, providing African-American travelers safe passage across the country. The guide contained a list of businesses in US cities catering to African-American customers. Galveston was among the Texas cities which listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, entertainment venues, and other safe spaces for African-American travelers. In this location, there were three businesses, the imperial Barbershop and Mitchell’s restaurant in the Oleander hotel, all listed in the Green Book. Galveston had at least 12 locations listed in the Green Book. All of them are scattered around the greater east end of the island others include;

Gus Allen’s Hotel (2710 Church)
Miss G.H. Freeman’s Tourist Home (1414 29th)
*Mrs. J. Pope’s Tourist Home (2824 M)
Gulf View Tavern (28th & Seawall)
Beach Service Station (2901 R)
Manhattan Club (2802 R ½ )
Little Shamrock Motel (1207 31st)
*Ilma’s Beauty Parlor (4106 N)
Sunset Auto Garage (3928 H/Ball)

*original building still standing

Of those just listed, only a handful of buildings are still standing, but they stand strong is a reminder of Victor Hugo Green and the goal to keep African-American travelers safe, not just in Galveston but throughout the United States.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
Green Book in Galveston
The Negro Motorist Green Book | History
Victor Hugo Green
African American Travel Guide Survey Project

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Wooden Structures in the Downtown Business District | Fire Limits

Wooden structures such as this are scarce around the downtown area as most buildings in the downtown business district were required to be fortified against fire throughout the 1800s. While most of Galveston’s downtown district buildings are made of brick and cast iron, very few remain that remind us of an old west town. When Galveston was founded in 1839, many buildings and homes would’ve been crude one or two-room structures. Almost all of them would’ve been made from imported wood, as Galveston was barren at the time. As Galveston’s economy boomed through the mid-1800s, structures such as this would’ve been a typical sight until fire prevention in the city became a priority. Fires became a real problem in the central business district as they could decimate multiple blocks and severely impact the economy. In 1855 city and business leaders decided that only fireproof buildings would be built in the central business district between 25th St. and 19th St. and from the Port to Avenue C, or mechanic Street. These were the initial fire limits for fireproof buildings. This meant that wood and other flammable materials could not be used when building commercial structures in the downtown area. Some buildings were grandfathered in, and others had to update their buildings in order to meet the code. Brick, steel, and iron were the new common materials used to build in the downtown and Port area. Galveston Fire limits expanded every few years until 1932. This may explain, in part, why Galveston no longer resembles an old wild west town in the downtown area. However, keep an eye out; there are a few wooden buildings remaining.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
Great Fire of 1885
Galveston Burning | James Anderson
Fire insurance maps showing fire limits of downtown Galveston
Drawing of 1885 fire destruction

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Maceo Spice & Import Company | Maceo family legacy

The Maceo family has a well-established name in Galveston history. Sam and Rosario Maceo arrived in Galveston from New Orleans in the early 1900s. Founders of the turf club and the famous Balinese Room, the Maceo family built a business empire in Galveston. One of those enterprises began in 1944, Maceo spice & Import Company. In the early days, Maceo's was strictly a commercial enterprise designed for wholesale to chefs and restaurants. The building that Maceo's is in today was initially purchased as a warehouse by Rosario Maceo. The warehouse eventually evolved into a retail location. Maceo had another store front of Rosenberg Avenue. After hurricane Ike, Maceo spice and import Company moved back to the location on 27th and Market Street. Today, Maceo is a vibrant restaurant and storefront for exotic spices, meats, and cheeses from all over the World. Many of the menu items are secret family recipes, some of them over 100 years old. Others could be recipes from the famous Balinese room. So go ahead, step inside, look around, find some delicious spices, order a Muffuletta, and experience a Galveston staple: Maceo Spice and Import Company.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
The influence of the Maceo Family in Galveston
History of Maceo Spice
Maceo Spice & Import Company
Balinese Room History

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Supporters: The Galveston County Museum

Star State Fire Company No. 3 | First Integrated Fire Department in Galveston

The official formation and date of Star State Fire Company No. 3 is unknown due to records lost to a fire in 1869. However, it is known that the fire company was founded before the Civil War. Most likely in 1859. The fire company was founded as a volunteer department due to the need for additional fire protection in Galveston as the city experienced the population boom around the port's success. The original location of this fire company was 2512 Church Street. The volunteer Fire Department was absorbed into the paid fire department in 1885. The engine House on Church Street was destroyed in the 1900 storm, and this one completed construction in 1903. Star State Fire Company No. 3 became the first integrated fire department in the city of Galveston. In 1957 Lucius Pope, Leroy Small, and Genoice Walker joined Star State Fire Company No. 3. And became the first Black firefighters in the city of Galveston. However, the first few years after the men joined, they had segregated cooking and sleeping accommodations as well as a separate fireman's pole. In the 1960s, the station eventually adopted communal living areas, and by 1967 Star State Fire Company was closed by the city. The firefighters dispersed around to other departments, and this building became offices in storage. It is noted by the city of Galveston that Star State Fire Company No. 3 played a vital role in integration and opportunity for all Galveston citizens, a sentiment that extends far beyond Star State Fire Company No. 3.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
Galveston Historical Foundation
Historic Marker
Galveston Burning | James Anderson

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St. Vincent's House | A staple in our island community

At age 25, Fred Walter Sutton of Saint Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church arrived in Galveston. The year was 1953. By 1954, Fred Walter Sutton had been consecrated as a priest. He made it his new mission to begin looking for an area of most need in order to establish his ministry through Saint Augustine. Fred found out quickly if the area north of Broadway and west of Rosenberg Avenue was the area that he was being called to serve. The need for health and general assistance to the community north of Broadway had been neglected by social progress for decades. He initially invited groups of the underserved and neglected to his home until his mission and generosity outgrew his own walls. The importance of the work he was doing was acknowledged by the three Episcopal congregations on the island; Saint Augustine of Hippo, Grace Church, and Trinity Church. In 1958 these three congregations pulled their resources and chartered St. Vincent‘s House. Over the past six decades, St. Vincent‘s House has provided services such as a food pantry, shower and laundry services, comprehensive case management, family services, assistance in self-sustainability, financial literacy, speech, as well as occupational and physical therapy, general medicine and provides availability to multiple specialty clinics—all of these services available to those in need. The University of Texas Medical Branch has played a key role over the past 40 years, providing support, personnel, and medical services. St. Vincent‘s House has played a key role in serving and providing to the north Broadway community for over six decades.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
St. Vincent's House
Trinity Church Galveston
Saint Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Saint Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church | GHF
Grace Church
St. Vincent's Student Run Clinic

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The 1937 Galveston Federal Building | Art Deco & Federal power

This building is one of Galveston‘s courthouses, post office, and customs house. Built in 1937 and designed by architect Alfred C. Fin, this building replaced an earlier Federal building and post office on the same site. It has been home to a number of federal agencies and, at one point, housed the Galveston Bureau of the national weather service. Originally the building housed the post office on the first floor, the postal inspectors on the second floor, various government offices on the third floor, the customs department on the fourth floor, grand jury space on the fifth floor, judges, US attorneys, and US marshals in the ceremonial courtroom on the sixth floor, and finally on the seventh floor, cotton classifying rooms, the Bureau of Navigation, and the Bureau of Agriculture. The Art Deco style is distinctive in Galveston, as it stands out from most of Galveston‘s late 1800 buildings. It is noted that both the design and location of the building serve as symbols of the high power of the federal government. At the time of designing the building in the 1930s, it was a practice of the day that the art deco style used regional materials whenever possible. The stone on the outer edges of the building is porous fossiliferous limestone, a rock typically found in coastal areas. As a rendition of one of Galveston‘s federal buildings and customs house, the building still houses many federal agencies and continues to stand strong in Galveston’s skyline.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
The Living New Deal
Quick History of the 1937 Galveston Federal Building
1857 Federal Building

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Central Fire Station #1 | The Galveston Fire Department

Did you know that the Galveston Fire department was the first paid fire department in the state of Texas?

Galveston's first paid fire department began in 1885, but fire prevention on the island goes back to the city's founding in the late 1830s in early 1840s. In the early days, volunteer firefighters were the only thing that stood between a cooking fire gone awry or an out-of-control chimney fire. In some cases, early residents were required to keep buckets in every room of the house just in case they needed to put out a fire. Before 1885 volunteer firefighters of Galveston had a very difficult time doing that job. Response time was very slow as the roads were mostly sand which made responding with necessary equipment extremely difficult. As the city grew, firefighting evolved. In 1876, they moved from fire-watch towers to a telegraph system. The initial system utilized over 12 miles of wiring. One of Galveston's worst fires occurred in November 1885. A fire broke out at Vulcan ironworks at 16th and strand and destroyed over 40 city blocks as a north wind and dense wooden structures on the east end of Galveston fed the flames. Since the founding of the Galveston Fire Department, the training, equipment, and stations have become some of the most advanced in Texas. Central fire station #1 was built with the intention of matching the historical architecture of the downtown Galveston area and was built with hurricane preparedness and personnel comfort in mind. On the east side of central fire station #1, there is a memorial for firefighters who lost their lives protecting the city of Galveston. Be sure to take a moment and read the names.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
Central Fire Station #1
Galveston Burning | James Anderson
Drawing of 1885 fire destruction
Fire insurance maps showing fire limits of downtown Galveston

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The Moody Mansion | Magnificent & Immaculate

Commissioned in 1893 by Narcissa Willis, this 31-room Romanesque home was completed in 1895. The moody family purchased this mansion in 1900, shortly after Narcissa's death. In the year 1900, the home was valued at over $100,000. The Moody family was able to purchase this mansion for $20,000. William Moody Jr. and his family moved into this home shortly after the 1900 storm. The mansion was a Moody family residence until 1986, when it was turned into a historic museum to commemorate the Moody family and Galveston's economic prominence and opulence. The home has 31 rooms and five bathrooms. The architect William H. Tyndall incorporated many technological advances of the period, including a one-passenger elevator, a dumb waiter, speaking tubes in the pantry for communicating with the kitchen staff, heated drying racks in the laundry room, and lighting fixtures that use both gas and electricity. The house also has its own rainwater cistern. The home has no shortage of stained glass, rare hardwoods, silk and gold decorative elements, and unique rooms for entertaining. The Moody family made their name in fortune on shipping, cotton, and finance. Through Galveston's late 1800s economic heyday, the Moody name carried much weight in Galveston, the state of Texas, and the United States. The basement of the home is now a children's museum, and the rest of the home is available for Tours. Be sure to go check out the magnificence of the Moody mansion.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
The Moody Mansion
The Moody's and Their Mansion | Henry Wiencek
Tour the Moody Mansion

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