Texas History: Galveston & the Alamo

I received the following note from Wanda Skidmore Benge (DHS '69) after I posted the videos of the 1900 Galveston Storm.

Chuck,

Your story about the infamous Galveston Hurricane reminded me of Ron's (Wanda's husband's) grandfather. Thaddeus Parsons, was a General Contractor on Galveston Island.

Thad hauled granite from the Texas Hill Country to build the Galveston Seawall. He invented a dump trailer to haul and dump the granite much easier, and he received a patent for this trailer. 

So, when you see that pink granite in the Galveston Seawall, it came from the Texas Hill Country. Thad was originally from Center Point, TX, in the Hill Country.

Of course, I think, he was a very handsome man. (See the first photo below.) And, I married one of his handsome grandsons. He had 14 children and 39 grandchildren.

Thad Parsons, bought (the home shown in the second photo) in March 1928 and owned it until 1967. It was one of the few homes that survived in infamous 1900 Hurricane. It sits behind Sacred Heart Catholic Church and they think the church protected this particular home. Hence, the reason Thad purchased this home for his large family of 14 children.

This home was designed by the premier architect of Galveston Island, when it was constructed in 1876. Nicholas Clayton built this home originally for the Lemuel Burr Family.

The current owners, the Floyd Pollock Family have completely restored this home to its originally glory. It is a historical home and sometimes it is on the Galveston Home Tour.

Every Mother's Day weekend and the weekend before, approximately 10 homes are on the Tour. A VERY fun tour to go on with your Mother, friend, etc

This home is considered one of the most beautiful homes in the entire Southern USA. It is a quite lovely old home. The Pollocks have outdone themselves with the restoration to this home.

It is now 140 years old. Still standing and people still living in it on a daily basis. It has survived many hurricanes as Ron's grandfather had hoped.

Wanda

Thad Parsons.

Former Parsons Home.

  

I read the following article about Adina de Zavala on the Texas General Land Office Web site. Her story is not well-know but should be. Click here to read the article.