Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Moody Mansion and Bishop's Palace


Narcissa Willis was a wealthy Galveston socialite in the late 1800's. 
Her niece moved in to a fabulous new home on Broadway, the place to live in Galveston then and now. The home was very impressive and Narcissa couldn't stand being upstaged like that. She demanded that her husband, merchant Richard Short Willis, build her a home even grander than the niece had. Richard was not swayed. They had a fine home and he saw no need to move. Narcissa bided her time. When she became a widow she contacted an architect and began building in 1893. The home was completed in 1895, and Narcissa hired the interior decorator who had recently done work on the White House. 




Narcissa finally had what she'd wanted for so long, but it cost her the entire estate left by her husband. There was no inheritance left for her children.She lived alone in the huge home until her death in 1899, when the remaining family put the house up for sale. Finally William Moody Jr put in a bid for the house. He offered $20,000 but only if the furniture would be included. It was a ridiculously low offer but on September 8th 1900 a hurricane destroyed most of Galveston Island. No other offers came in and William Moody got the house.
The building sustained little damage and many neighbors were sheltered here after the storm.





William Moody Jr was in the cotton business, not as a grower but a processor, and Galveston was the port that shipped most of the cotton in Texas. He amassed a fortune in banking and insurance, dying in 1955 with a worth of  $400 million. He was an unassuming man and lived a low key life.




He and his wife,Libby, had four children. Libby was a hands on mother and raised the children with no nannies. The family ate together every night, unheard of at that time when children had their own dining room in the back of the house. The oldest daughter Mary had her coming out party in the house and the dress she wore is on display.


The home is a museum run by the Moody Foundation. 
Remember the Moody Gardens?
Same family.

The porte-cochere and driveway coming toward the carriage house.


And Joe dipping Barb!



Now we go down the street to the Bishop's Palace.



This house was built in 1893 for the family of Walter Gresham, a politician, lawyer and railroad magnate. At that time it was the largest home in Texas. Gresham reportedly drove the builders crazy, dropping in several times a day to offer advice. The monogram "G" is worked in to the building in several places such as fireplace mantles. Unlike the Moody Mansion this home has few furnishings, but the woodwork is just as amazing. This house also had little damage in the Great Storm of 1900 and sheltered many survivors.

In 1923 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston bought the house. It was situated across the street from the Sacred Heart Church, and it became the residence for Bishop Byrne. His bedroom was on the second floor to the left with the small balcony. There are some remarkable stained glass windows in the home, and a small chapel. After church offices were moved to Houston the diocese opened the home for tours in 1963


The Sacred Heart Church across from the Bishop's Palace

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