Go see restored Bell House
Published June 13, 2012
The restoration of the historic Bell House is like a movie script: It’s a story with heroes, a happy ending and perfect timing.
The house, 117 S. Bell Drive, in Texas City is something for all of Galveston County to be proud of. It’s part of The 1867 Settlement, an area settled by African-American cowboys who bought homesteads from their earnings in the big cattle drives.
It’s an unusual story, and the landmarks now are preserved in a nationally recognized historic district.
The problem was the Bell House needed repair.
The corporate hero of this story is DSW Homes, a company that moved to Galveston to be part of the effort to rebuild after Hurricane Ike. Whatever else you can say about the company, it’s worked overtime to be a visible part of the community.
The company initially committed to restoring the exterior. But, once it got involved, its partners, Steve Mataro and Jim Schumer, decided to do inside and out.
When Sam Collins III, a member of the board of advisers for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a member of the Texas Historical Commission’s state board of review, expressed concerns about the historical accuracy of the work, the company addressed them.
Collins advocated for the property. The company stepped up and went beyond the call.
The timing is perfect because of the Juneteenth celebrations this weekend.
The house is one of two sites on a bus tour from Old Central Cultural Center in Galveston to the mainland Saturday. The good news is that interest was so high the bus tour is sold out. But you can visit the Bell House and Stringfellow Orchards for a single $10 entry fee on Saturday, although you’ll need to provide your own transportation.
The Bell House, an important part of Galveston County’s story, is restored and is ready for public tours.
The house, 117 S. Bell Drive, in Texas City is something for all of Galveston County to be proud of. It’s part of The 1867 Settlement, an area settled by African-American cowboys who bought homesteads from their earnings in the big cattle drives.
It’s an unusual story, and the landmarks now are preserved in a nationally recognized historic district.
The problem was the Bell House needed repair.
The corporate hero of this story is DSW Homes, a company that moved to Galveston to be part of the effort to rebuild after Hurricane Ike. Whatever else you can say about the company, it’s worked overtime to be a visible part of the community.
The company initially committed to restoring the exterior. But, once it got involved, its partners, Steve Mataro and Jim Schumer, decided to do inside and out.
When Sam Collins III, a member of the board of advisers for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a member of the Texas Historical Commission’s state board of review, expressed concerns about the historical accuracy of the work, the company addressed them.
Collins advocated for the property. The company stepped up and went beyond the call.
The timing is perfect because of the Juneteenth celebrations this weekend.
The house is one of two sites on a bus tour from Old Central Cultural Center in Galveston to the mainland Saturday. The good news is that interest was so high the bus tour is sold out. But you can visit the Bell House and Stringfellow Orchards for a single $10 entry fee on Saturday, although you’ll need to provide your own transportation.
The Bell House, an important part of Galveston County’s story, is restored and is ready for public tours.
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