Page 32 - Galveston Monthly March 2019
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islaNd hisTOrY | GALVESTON REPuRPOSEd
The 1879
leon &
h. bluM here are thousands of cities across the united
States that are shadows of their former selves
- left to wilt and decay in the aftermath of an
buildinG Teconomic downturn or a natural disaster from
which they have never recovered. This could have been
the fate of Galveston, which was celebrated in the mid-
19th century when it emerged as an international city
with immigration and trade from throughout the world.
in 1839, Tremont house, a posh two-story hotel -
designed by the firm of Mckinney & Williams (Thomas
Mckinney, Samuel May Williams) - opened at the corner
of Postoffice and Tremont Streets. heralded as one of the
finest establishments in the Republic of Texas, it was the
site of magnificent balls, countless society soirees, and
hosted Texas hero Sam houston, who delivered his last
public speech on the premises.
By 1860, Galveston was the largest city in Texas, the
major seaport for the state, and boasted the state’s first
customs house, private bank, post office, and gaslights. it
was a boomtown.
When talk of secession from the united States began,
Galvestonians resisted, but with the election of Abraham
Lincoln as president the tide turned, and in a statewide
vote on secession in february 1861, the city’s residents
voted to break with the union.
The Tremont house survived much of the Civil War and
was used by both the Confederate and union troops. But
in June 1865, fire broke out in the Strand District, and the
inferno gutted entire city blocks, including the Tremont
house.
for more than five years, the charred remains of the
By Donna Gable Hatch hotel lay in ruins until 1872, when it rose from the ashes,
and was rebuilt even more glorious than the original.
“Designed by renowned architect Nicholas Clayton, the
This month Galveston Monthly continues our new Tremont was located on 23rd Street between Church
new series: Galveston Repurposed, which and Postoffice, on the west side of the street,” said Jami
explores Galveston’s uncanny ability to reinvent Durham, property research and cultural history historian,
itself with a specific focus on its 20 century Galveston historical foundation.
th
Clayton’s design caught the eye of Galveston notables,
evolution. Just like the stoic Strand whose and a flood of commissions came his way, including Saint
victorian masterpieces have been saved, Mary’s Church (now Saint Mary’s Cathedral), Ashbel Smith
salvaged, and repurposed for modern times, an Building, and the Walter Gresham house (known today as
array of other historic buildings have met with Bishop’s Palace).
the same entrepreneurial creativity. Repurposed Like Galveston itself, Clayton’s Tremont house and the
highlights these reclamations - where old architect enjoyed high times. in 1890, Congress approved
money to make it a deepwater port, outshining its
becomes new once again. rival, houston, and Galveston experienced unparalleled
popularity.
The magnificent architecture and grand manses that
32 | GALVESTON MONTHLY | MARCH 2019
