A few months back, the flowing hemline of a famous, ankle-length black trench coat rustled against the Strand’s historic brick pavers for the last time. Its wearer left much more quietly than he arrived almost 25 years ago, but the impact his business made on the island is calculable and by all estimations, as eternal as the spirits it celebrated.
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The tears that involuntarily erupt as his mentee speaks of his incredible artwork, an emotion so powerful that it overtakes his son, and the kind and reverent words of his former wife—these are not the complete sum of what local artist and icon Jack Morris left behind when he succumbed to COPD last year, but they do paint a picture that perhaps not even Jack could have captured.
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The women’s suffrage movement is often distilled to one date—August 18, 1920, the day the United States Congress ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. But this monumental day was the culmination of nearly fifty years of activism, protests, campaigns, letter-writing, parades, and any other demonstration women could muster to make their voices heard. And counted.
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In a city such as Galveston where both the written history and historical architecture exude the cultural influences of the Victorian Era, a certain portraiture of women from this time emerges - demure, obedient, perfectly coifed, and frilled from neck to wrist and ankle. However, the efforts of the Women’s Health Protective Association (WHPA, 1900-1924) paint an entirely different picture. Although these women were undoubtedly immaculate in appearance, their modest wardrobes of floorlength day dresses belie a willingness to cohort in unseemly places and take on tasks that would make any person cautious or queasy.
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Most little boys dream of adventure - being a policeman, a star athlete, racing motorcycles, being a fireman or a hero. One immigrant found all of this excitement and more in Galveston in the 1900s.
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If you think some of the names we hear today are unusual, you might be surprised to learn it is nothing new. Imagine going through life with the given name of “Quarantine.” A member of one of Galveston’s most well-known families in the late 1800s did, preferring to be addressed by his full first name rather than shortened versions or nicknames.
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In any language, there is a short list of specific words that are reserved for the direst situations. They’re as powerful and as frightening as weapons. The words “Fire!” and “Snake!” will trigger instant panic and clear a room or an area in an instant. During the Civil War, no phrase inspired as much fear as “The Yankees are coming!” The word “hurricane” still sends everyone packing. In 1867, that list of words reserved for the scariest of circumstances included another terrifying phrase at the very top: “Yellow Jack.”
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If you own or rent property, have a vehicle or boat, are a builder or have lived on Galveston Island for any period of time, you undoubtedly know the name Henry Freudenburg. For more than five decades, the man behind the Henry Freudenburg Insurance Agency, Inc. has been helping his community weather the ups and downs of life, helping to provide a safety net, and build for the future through a genuine dedication to serve and a firm commitment to competitive and fair rates.
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Galveston author Kimber Fountain’s genuine love for the island is as strong as the 10-mile long seawall that protects the city from nature’s wrath. The Texas Gulf Coast native has expressed the bond she feels with the island and its storied past in the pages of two books that pay homage to the area: Galveston Seawall Chronicles (2017), and Galveston’s Red Light District: A History of the Line (2018).
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Founded by John Egert, Sr., the firm was responsible for elevating numerous residences and public buildings on the island during the post-1900 Storm grade raising project. These items were acquired through the estate of Eva Fritiofson, a descendent of the Egert Family.
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Most Galvestonians are familiar with the story of Dr. Isaac Cline, the meteorologist who headed the Island’s weather office during the 1900 Storm. As famous as that chapter of this life was, few know what became of him afterward.
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