Page 28 - Galveston Monthly Apr2019

islaNd hisTOrY | GALVESTON REPuRPOSEd

fine arts building and gymnasium were built, and satellite in the welding, industrial systems, heating, ventilation, air
parking was added adjacent to the main campus due to conditioning and refrigeration, and electrical and electronics
record enrollments. technology areas.
But 108 years and three days after the Great Storm of Galveston College also offers programs in culinary arts,
1900 destroyed 3,600 buildings and caused an estimated cosmetology, medical administration, and more. And since
$20 million in damages - more than $560 million today - the 2015, Galveston College has consistently been ranked the
island was again in Mother Nature’s crosshairs. No. 1 community college in Texas.
On September 13, 2008, hurricane ike struck Galveston Through a series of generous financial gifts - including a
island with maximum sustained winds reaching 110 mph $200,000 grant from the National Science foundation, and
and extending outward nearly 120 miles from the eye. The $3 million from the Moody foundation - Galveston College
Category 2 storm packed a Category 5 storm surge. Due continues to grow, with its eye on the future and its roots in
to the massive damage and number of deaths, the World the past.
Meteorological Organization retired the name ike in April Like the Great Storm of 1900 and hurricane ike, Mother
2009. Nature has launched heavy assaults on the island, but
it was the costliest storm in u.S. history with property Galveston has guardian angels on its side.
damage estimated to be $29 billion, including more than $1 Dwayne Jones, executive director and CEO of the Galveston
million in damage to the Galveston College campus. historical foundation, says the college’s link to the past
The effects of the catastrophic storm left homes, is a fitting tribute to the nuns who devoted their lives to
businesses and lives in tatters - but true to the spirit of nurturing youth.
this resilient community, Galvestonians came together to “The reuse of historic buildings like this one are strong
rebuild. commitments to local history and give us a connection to
Less than a month later, classes at Galveston College the past,” Jones says.
resumed on an adapted schedule. “St. Mary’s orphanage played an important part in
in 2009, a generous donation from The Seibel foundation Galveston’s story by providing a home for orphans on the
enabled the expansion of the Cheney Student Center by island from the 19th century through the 20th. While there
developing the Abe and Annie Seibel Wing, at no cost to the were orphanages all over Texas, this one stands out for its
local taxpayer. mission on Galveston island and as the longest orphanage in
The following year, the college purchased a 4.3-acre operation in our community. The building continues to tell Photo by John Hall
site on the island for the Charlie Thomas family Applied that story better than any other similar buildings as a place
Technology Center where students could pursue education of higher learning with Galveston College.” GM

28 | GALVESTON MONTHLY | APRIL 2019