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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🎧Market Mile with Spotify! | West of Rosenberg Ave & North Broadway

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Local 851 & Galveston's segregated waterfront

Longshoremen are the workers who handle cargo operations on ships that called the busy port of Galveston! Galveston‘s longshoremen have a rocky history in terms of racial segregation, and rights to work on the waterfront. Like many ports in the late 1800s to mid 1900s, the longshore unions at the port of Galveston separated by race.  Although the unions were racially divided, it was common to have longshoremen from separate unions loading or unloaded the same cargo on the same vessel.  Although it was very uncommon for them to be paid the same wages. In 1913, After multiple labor disputes stemming from unfair labor hiring practices, local 851 was born as an all black longshore union.  Local 851 was formed from a long-standing labor organization on the Galveston waterfront. Formerly known as the Lone Star Cotton Jammers and Longshoremen’s Association of Texas. After decades of unfair hiring practices, uneven wages, and racial tension on the waterfront, In 1920, there was a Longshoremen strike that shook up the state of Texas. Local 851 joined a few other unions during this strike. The Texas Rangers and National Guard were dispatched to Galveston by Governor William P. Hobby. Local 851 was at this location until 1983.  The federal District Judge, Norman W. Black, ordered Local 851, Local 307, Local 329, and Local 1576 to merge into Local 20. One of the same Unions that operates on the Galveston Waterfront today.

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
Local 851 - Case Law
Galveston Longshoremen in Jim Crow Texas
Galveston Longshoremen Strike of 1920
Biracial Unions on Galveston's Waterfront, 1865-1925: Book

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🎧Market Mile with Spotify! | West of Rosenberg Ave & North Broadway

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The Oleander City | The Betty Head Oleander Garden & The international Oleander Society

Did you know Galveston is known as the Oleander city? Galveston’s first oleander arrived from Jamaica in 1841 as a gift from Joseph Osterman, a prominent merchant to his wife. Since then we have seen Galveston become home to the most expansive diversity of Oleander. The Galveston Climate and soil is perfect for Oleanders. It thrives throughout the year all over the island. Galveston’s international Oleander society maintains the Betty Head Oleander Garden The International Oleander Society was established in 1967 to promote Galveston as the Oleander City by cultivating and preserving oleanders for the beautification of Galveston Island. Be sure to mark your calendars for the International Oleander Festival that happens here every spring! Oleanders are beautiful, but deadly! So do not let your pet or child chew on the flowers leaves or stems! Oleander is actually used in a variety of poisons.  But that’s no reason not to enjoy the beauty of oleanders all over the island! On a nice sunny day, take a walk around the Betty Head Oleander Garden, who knows, some of those oleanders may stem back to 1841!

Interested in information covered in this episode? Reference links below:
The Oleander City | A history
International Oleander Society
Oleander Toxicity

📱Social Media and other ways to explore history
📍Visit Galveston history audio tour map!
🎧Market Mile with Spotify! | West of Rosenberg Ave & North Broadway

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Historic resources for everything we discuss in the episode: https://www.galvestonunscripted.com/lou-macbeth

Lou Graves Macbeth is a co-founder of the Laffite Society and has conducted decades of research into early Galveston history. She initiated her research following her genealogy to 1830s Galveston and a community called Saccrappa on the East End of Galveston. Lou has been an asset to researchers and authors across the island and Texas due to her experience and willingness to share her Knowledge and story. 

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📱Social and other ways to explore Texas History

Full conversation on Spotify

Historic resources for everything we discuss in the episode: https://www.galvestonunscripted.com/beach-patrol-peter-davis-interview

Chief Peter Davis is the President of the United States Lifeguarding Association, the Secretary General of Aquatics International, and Chief of Galveston Island Beach Patrol. He has been involved in Beach Safety, Surf Rescue, and development of water safety programs for over 30 years. Peter and I sat down and discussed the history of Galveston Beach Patrol, Beach Culture in Galveston, and general beach safety over the past century.

Tour with Spotify:
👂Listen: Beach culture & Beach Patrol with President of the USLA: Chief Peter Davis | Evolving from a rag tag rescue boat to protecting 7+ Million Galveston beachgoers every year.

👂Listen: The Great Fire of 1885
👂Listen: East End Historical District
👂Listen: Silk Stocking District
👂Listen: Port of Galveston
👂Listen: The Hendley Building
👂Listen: Lost Bayou Historic District
👂Listen: Texas Heroes Monument

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Enjoy this content? Buy me a book! 📚

📱Social and other ways to explore Texas History

Historic resources for everything we discuss in the episode: https://www.galvestonunscripted.com/paula-summerly-bubonic-plague

Dr. Paula Summerly is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Her primary appointment is manager of the Old Red Medical Museum, McGovern Academy, Office of the President (UTMB). Prior to holding these positions, she completed scholarships and fellowships at the Institute for Health Humanities (UTMB) the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and the Dittrick Medical History Center, Case Western Reserve University. She curated a permanent medical exhibition for the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, Scotland (2005) and has served as a curatorial consultant both nationally and internationally including Visual Pathology, Galveston Arts Center (2018), the Wellcome Collection’s Forensics: Anatomy of Crime (2015), Dirt: The Filthy Reality of Everyday Life (2011), exhibited at the Wellcome Building, London, UK. Dr. Summerly is working as part of a team to establish a new medical museum in Old Red (the 1890 Ashbel Smith Building) at the heart of the UTMB Galveston campus.

More on Dr. Summerly
https://www.utmb.edu/pathology/faculty/paula-summerly-msc-phd


Keywords: The Bubonic plague in Galveston, Texas
The Black Plague in Galveston, Texas
The bubonic plague in Galveston, Texas. Texas History, Pandemic

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📱Social and other ways to explore Texas History

Bonus episode:
James Anderson is the author of Galveston Burning: A History of the Fire Department and Major Conflagrations. During our soundcheck, I find out that James is a huge fan of Sam Houston. We discuss many aspects of his life after the battle of San Jacinto. Did you know that Sam Houston gave a speech from the balcony from the Tremont Hotel?
👂Listen to the full conversation with James on Spotify

Buy Galveston Burning: A history of the Fire Department and major conflagrations 
 
Join James on a tour of Galveston at Lantern light tours! https://lanternlightgalveston.com/

Sam Houston
Margaret Houston
Nancy Moffette Lea
David G. Burnet
Sam Houston against Confederacy
Sam Houston kicked out of office
Steamboat House
Yellow Fever in Texas


Tour with Spotify:
👂Listen: The Great Fire of 1885
👂Listen: East End Historical District
👂Listen: Silk Stocking District
👂Listen: Port of Galveston
👂Listen: The Hendley Building
👂Listen: Lost Bayou Historic District
👂Listen: Texas Heroes Monument

Support the show

Galveston Unscripted Digital Market

📍Visit our interactive map!

Enjoy this content? Buy me a book! 📚

📱Social and other ways to explore Texas History

Historic resources for everything we discuss in the episode: https://www.galvestonunscripted.com/lafitte-society-dale-dolson

Lafitte and/or Laffite are both accepted spelling

Dale Olson is the one of the founders of the Laffite Society, a technical music writer, if you have watched a Disney production anywhere from 1970-1990, you may have heard his trumpet playing somewhere in the movie or show!  Dale was recognized as "Distinguished Alumnus" of the University of North Texas in 2014 , and has given approximately 50 lectures related to early Galveston history and the Laffites. Dale and I discuss the founding of the Laffite Society, Laffite's role in the War of 1812, how Jean and Pierre Laffite ended up in Galveston, their privateering operations in Louisiana and Texas, and the eventual demise of some of the most contentious characters in Texas, and American history!

Tour with Spotify:
👂Listen: Jean Lafitte and his role in Galveston
👂Listen: The Great Fire of 1885
👂Listen: East End Historical District
👂Listen: Port of Galveston
👂Listen: The Hendley Building
👂Listen: Lost Bayou Historic District
👂Listen: Texas Heroes Monument

Key words: Jean Lafitte, Pierre Lafitte, New Orleans, war of 1812, Galveston, Texas, Mason Rouge, pirates, privateer, 

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Galveston Unscripted Digital Market

📍Visit our interactive map!

Enjoy this content? Buy me a book! 📚

📱Social and other ways to explore Texas History

Historic resources for everything we discuss in the episode: https://www.galvestonunscripted.com/beach-patrol-peter-davis-interview

Chief Peter Davis is the President of the United States Lifeguarding Association, the Secretary General of Aquatics International, and Chief of Galveston Island Beach Patrol. He has been involved in Beach Safety, Surf Rescue, and development of water safety programs for over 30 years. Peter and I sat down and discussed the history of Galveston Beach Patrol, Beach Culture in Galveston, and general beach safety over the past century. 

Tour with Spotify:
👂Listen: The Great Fire of 1885
👂Listen: East End Historical District
👂Listen: Silk Stocking District
👂Listen: Port of Galveston
👂Listen: The Hendley Building
👂Listen: Lost Bayou Historic District
👂Listen: Texas Heroes Monument

Support the show

Galveston Unscripted Digital Market

Buy Galveston Burning: A history of the Fire Department and major conflagrations 

📍Visit our interactive map!

Enjoy this content? Buy me a book! 📚

📱Social and other ways to explore Texas History

Historic resources for everything we discuss in the episode: https://www.galvestonunscripted.com/james-anderson-galveston-burning

James Anderson is an Author and student of history, and he joins Galveston Unscripted to discuss his new book, Galveston Burning! Inspired by ancestors who shared his lifelong passion for historical and genealogical research, James F. Anderson joined the Galveston Historical Foundation in 2009, becoming a House Chair of its Historic Homes Tour in 2013. James is currently an active member of the Texas State Historic Association and the Galveston Railroad Museum, as well as a certified tourism ambassador in Galveston.

Tour with Spotify:
👂Listen: The Great Fire of 1885
👂Listen: East End Historical District
👂Listen: Silk Stocking District
👂Listen: Port of Galveston
👂Listen: The Hendley Building
👂Listen: Lost Bayou Historic District
👂Listen: Texas Heroes Monument

Keywords: Fire Department, Galveston Burning, 1885 Fire, Beach Hotel, Bishop's palace,
Harmony Hall, Volunteer fire department, first paid fire department in Texas, Galveston History, Battle of Galveston, Texas History, Galveston History Podcast, synagogue, temple b'nai israel, causeway, 1900 storm, Unscripted, conversation, pirate, sandbar, United States of America, 

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Galveston Unscripted Digital Market