Residential District, Broadway looking West, Galveston, Texas
Curtis Postcard

.....James Brown built the Italianate Villa in 1858 and it was completed in 1859. He was a hardware merchant, and made his fortune in Galveston. The bricks, wood, and plaster for the construction were brought in from Philadelphia by boat. This was the first brick house built in Texas.

HABS/HAER Photo

.....Later, the building was sold to the El Mina Shriners and used as their Galveston temple. The Shriners outgrew the building in the late 1960's and offered it for sale for $200,000. The Galveston Historical Foundation offered $100,000, but instead, the Shriners began taking bids on demolition.

.....The GHF petitioned city council and an ordinance was passed that prohibited defacing and/or destruction of buildings over one-hundred years old. The Shriner's objected, but the city did not allow a demolition permit to be issued. Later, in 1971 the building was purchased by the city for $125,000 ($60,000 from the Moody Foundation, $50,000 from HUD, and $15,000 from the GHF). The GHF assumed managerial responsibility and today the building is open for tours.