Galveston, TX

THE BIG HURT

By Bill Cherry, Realtor

I don't know who had chosen which records would be among the 100 on the Seeburg Selectomatic jukebox with the neon-style lights that added the only tinge of brightness in the teeny night club, but it didn't matter, really.

Because out of the 100 possibilities that were in the jukebox's record slots, five had inadvertently been found that the clientele would play over and over again, almost always ignoring the rest.

The favorite one was sung by a one-tune wonder named Toni Fisher. And even though it had come out in 1959, seven years later it remained Number 1 on the Metropole Club Hit Parade, six plays in succession for a quarter. Its title was "The Big Hurt." It went like this:

Now it begins, now that you've gone

Needles and pins, twilight till dawn
Watching that clock till you return
Lighting that torch and watching it burn

The Metropole Club in Galveston was no more than 15 feet wide by 50 feet long. There was a bar on the right with about 12 stools. Along the other wall, front to back, were leatherette overstuffed chairs and a couple of loveseats.

Next was the Seeburg jukebox.

At that point, an archway separated the front portion from the back where there was a small dance floor surrounded by a series of tables for two and a spinet piano.

Around the dance floor's walls were little wooden lockers where members of the Metropole kept their own individual bottles of liquor.

The club's owner, president, manager and bartender was Dorothy Graham, a holdover from the days of slot machines, and the all night debauchery that Galveston had been famous for as recently as ten years before.

Next door to the Metropole Club was the Busy Bee Cleaners, owned by Ed Wheeler, who was also Miss Dorothy's landlord.

Miss Dorothy would open the Metropole Club each morning just before noon, and she would try to abide by the law that required her to close no later than midnight.

But if the place was jumping and she was partying with the others, she would oft times run over into the wee hours of the morning.

The Liquor Control Board didn't seem to care enough to catch her.

A number of Miss Dorothy's regulars were doctors. Of those, two or three were on the staff at John Sealy Hospital, and the others, St. Mary's Infirmary.

Four of them would come in together about seven each evening, begin buying each other drinks, and then the one of them who was called "Dr. B" would make a bee-line to the spinet piano to play his theme song, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," with a banging segue and extreme rhythm change into "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Others customers came and went, but these four doctors usually stayed late, playing, singing and drinking.

One night when the four rang the doorbell, one of the regular customers did the peeking and admitting. Miss Dorothy was asleep on one of the loveseats.

That hadn't stopped the customers from making their own drinks, ringing up their purchases and listening to "The Big Hurt."

Someone said to the doctors that Miss Dorothy was not feeling well, and had been on the loveseat for at least several hours.

Dr. B felt her forehead and proclaimed she was OK, that she just had a bad cold. Miss Dorothy didn't move or open an eyelid.

Dr. B went to the spinet and started banging out his "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi"--"When the Saints Go Marching In" medley, drowning out Toni Fisher's "The Big Hurt."

The next night when the doctors arrived, again they were greeted by a customer when they rang the doorbell. Miss Dorothy was still asleep on the loveseat.

Since she had on the same clothes, it was fairly certain that she had been there since the previous night.

One of the doctors went behind the bar to fix the four their toddies. Dr. B. glanced at Miss Dorothy on his way to the piano. Miss Dorothy didn't open an eye. Toni Fisher was warbling. "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" began.

On the third night, everything was the same as before. And Miss Dorothy was still lying asleep on the loveseat.

But this time, Miss Edna, one of Miss Dorothy's friends and a customer said to the medical four, "I'm very worried about her. I've been waiting for you to come in. Could one of you examiner her and maybe give her a shot of penicillin? I think she should be in the hospital."

Dr. B and the boys walked over, stood above Miss Dorothy and proclaimed that she just had the bug that was going around.

"She'll be fine in a few days. She can take aspirin if she wants. It might make her feel a bit better," Dr. B said, now on his way to the piano.

Toni Fisher continued to sing.

Oh, each time you go
I try to pretend
It's over at last
This time the big hurt will end

The next morning Mr. Ed, Miss Dorothy's landlord, noticed that her little Mercury was in the same parking spot where it had been for the past four days. It was three hours before the time she usually arrived. He decided to investigate.

The Metropole Club's door unlocked, so he went in. Miss Dorothy was stretched out on the loveseat. Mr. Ed was shocked. He called for an ambulance. Later that day Miss Dorothy died.

That evening the doctors moved their activities to a neighborhood bar that was nearer to John Sealy and St. Mary's. Toni Fisher and "The Big Hurt" and the memory of Miss Dorothy stayed behind at the Metropole Club.

Copyright 2009 - William S. Cherry

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563

ON THE WEB

Harvest Moon Regatta in Galveston Texas

Today was the annual "Harvest Moon Regatta"

in Galveston

Every year sailboats begin a race that takes them from Galveston Island, Texas to Port Aransas, Texas along the Gulf Coast, approximately 150 miles.

It was a beautiful sight as always!

I am lucky enough to live right on the seawall and I get some amazing photos from my balcony.

I also had to go down to the beach and out onto the end of a jetty along with all the other photographers to try to get some really good shots.

It's wonderful to see the beautiful sails of all the different colors as they go across the waves.

Today the water had it's "green and blue stripes" as I call them...makes the water look even more gorgeous in photos.

Next time you visit Galveston Island, Texas...be sure to remember the Harvest Moon Regatta, or "sail boat races" as we call them. Every October 1st.

Galveston Texas and Investing

So, you want to invest in Galveston, Texas. Great idea!

There are many options. Galveston has beach front homes, condos, canal homes, bay front homes, and also multi-family residential and historic, just to name a few.

A large portion of our investors purchase beach homes and use them as vacation rental income investment. A beach home close to the beach can earn an income of 30-60K per year in vacation rental income. Many owners of beach homes such as these also use them on occasion themselves, and the income generated through vacation rental helps offset the cost of ownership.

Another option is condo investing. Many condos in Galveston can be purchased between 80-200K and on up, depending on location, size and development. Vacation rental income on a condo in Galveston can range from $5-50K, depending on the condo.

A lot of people balk at "H.O.A" fee's in condos and also in housing developments.

Don't be scared by "Home Owner's Association Fee's!"

Remember that in a condo development, the home owner's association fee's pay for building insurance, which saves quite a bit of expense. Many condo developments also include water, cable, etc...

If choosing to invest in Galveston there are many options available to owners of vacation rental property to assist in cleaning, booking of rentals, linens and laundry, etc... Galveston has many companies ready to help you get the best results from your vacation rental property.

Whether a condo or home, there are a multitude of properties in Galveston that can provide you with a great place to vacation for you and your family, as well as providing a sound real estate investment.

Contact me anytime with questions; I'll be happy to help!

In 1900 Galveston boasted being the "third richest city in the United States in proportion to population" and efforts were being made to increase its sea port value.

All major railroads served Galveston and 60% of the state's cotton crop was exported through its port. At one time, Galveston, Texas was considered the Wall Street of the south.

Galveston had the first electric power in Texas to residences, and telephone pole's before the 1900 storm.

The hurricane that destroyed Galveston on September 8, 1900, is the nations's deadliest natural disaster.

Although its death toll will never be known precisely, the 1900 Storm claimed upwards of 8,000 lives on Galveston Island and several thousand more on the mainland. In Galveston, it destroyed 2, 636 houses and left thousands more damaged. The city's property losses were estimated at $28-30 million.

After the 1900 Storm, Galveston questioned; " How should the city be protected from future hurricanes?"

The first step was the building of the seawall.

On September 7, 1901, the Texas State Legislature approved an act providing for the construction of a seawall for Galveston, and the raising of the city's elevation.

In January 1902, the Board issued its report, calling for the construction of a seawall that ran from the south jetty near 8th street to Avenue D and 6th Street, and westward to 39th Street along the Gulf of Mexico. The initial segment of the Seawall was completed July 29, 1904.

This portion, made of concrete, was 3.3 miles long, 16 feet at its base, and 5 feet wide on top, and 17 feet high. The outer face of the Seawall was curved to carry waves upwards. Riprap was placed along the base facing the Gulf of Mexico to break up wave action. The initial segment was completed at a cost of almost $1.6 million.

It proved its worth first during the hurricane of September 21, 1909. Its critical test came with the hurricane of August 16, 1915.

The seawall dramatically lowered the loss of life and destruction.

A second segment was built between December 1904 and October 1905 to protect Fort Crockett. It received Congressional funding. This portion ran 4,935 feet from 39th to 53rd streets. The Seawall was extended westward to 61st Street in 1927 and 99th Street in 1963.

After the Seawall was completed, Galveston undertook the raising of the grade.

(before and after)

(before)

(after)

The original elevation of that portion of Galveston Island probably averaged around five or six feet above mean low tide.

Afterwards, the elevation varied from eight feet along the Bay side or waterfront, to about twenty-two feet at the Seawall or Gulf side.

The expense was borne by the taxpayers and the individual property owners.

In order to complete the project, it was necessary to dredge a canal through the heart of the city.

Residences within the limits of this canal were moved to each side and the material dredged from the canal was pumped toward the seawall where the heaviest filling was required. Hopper dredges then filled themselves with sand from between the jetties, steamed up the canal and discharged their load through a network of pipe lines.

People continued to live in their raised houses during the time the filling process was going on, travelling to and from on boardwalks fastened to the top of fences.

When the filling was complete the canal was dammed at intervals and refilled. The houses that had been removed from the area of the canal were then moved back to the original site, all of the filled land was sodded, streets graded and paved, and street railway tracks relaid.

The last area filled was completed in 1928.

After Hurricane Ike of 2008, Galveston suffered some of the same damage and destruction.

Thanks to the hard work and efforts of our ancestors in construction of the Seawall and of the grade raising; Galveston has not only survived, but after our efforts... is thriving one year later.

This year we have enjoyed one of the most busy summer's on Galveston Island. Our real estate in Galveston is booming, and our beaches, businesses and homes are better than ever.

*Historical photos of Galveston courtesy of Galveston Rosenberg Library. Please visit and read more about the facinating history of Galveston Island.

This week I went bungalow shopping with some clients new to the Galveston, Texas area. Craftsman details, hardwood floors and vintage tile had all of us excited and eager to see the next one. Then, the downpour started.

Average rainfall here is about 48" per year, but it is never distributed evenly. This precipitation seemed more like the 4" per hour kind. . . Cats and dogs, with some chickens and hogs thrown in.

We finished examining the details of the house and decided to make a run for the car. But, aye-eeee! The rain was ice cold so we huddled instead on the generous covered porch waiting for it to stop. It did not stop! It rained and poured and rained some more. So we examined the lot as best we could, watching its drainage in action.

Decided to make another run for the car. The gutters were full, more than ankle deep - oh dear! While stepping through the water it pulled our flip flops right off! Mine were lightweight foam and starting floating down the raging gutter heading for the storm drain. Run girl run! I grabbed them and ran to the car as my clients were doing the same. We were all drenched.

"Good thing we're waterproof", we laughed.

We viewed all of the listings, talked a little about what comes next in the bungalow-buying-boogie, and then parted ways. My clients went back to cruise the streets around their favorites more closely.

I was chuckling on my drive home about different things that have happened when looking at homes with buyers. It is best to go with the flow, in particular when the flow is a heavy, teeth-chattering downpour!

©2009 Sara Goss All rights reserved

SARA GOSS
REALTOR®, ASP
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate
Search Area Listings: www.har.com/saragoss

Helping home buyers find the bungalow of their dreams in the greater Galveston/Houston area of Texas.