The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 11

GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS East End THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1997 I Texas City in i JV.M JOB Continued from Page Al custom fence at the corner of 15th and Church streets for John L. Darragh, who was president of the Galveston Wharf Co. Each six-foot section offence has more than 50 individual pieces that have been welded together. The large posts are adorned with flowers that were pounded by hand out of the iron. Portions of the fence are cast iron and portions are wrought iron.

Some parts of the fence were hand-made and others were mass-produced. "This fence is unusual and certainly worth preserving," said Sandy Rushing, also an East End resident and fence committee member. The project to restore the fence and build the park is expected to cost more than $50,000, "which is a lot for a little organization like ours, "all volunteers," said Carlos Guerguin, a fence committee member. One individual donated more than $20,000, and many other East-End residents have contributed the rest of the money. The association created the Fabulous Fifties Families, which was supposed to be 50 families each pledging $400 over a four- year period to cover the costs of the property and restoration project.

About.30 families have signed up, but other residents have contributed to the purchase of lamps, benches or general landscaping. Before the association bought the property, it sat vacant with the fence near ruin. "It was a disgrace," said Donald Peak, editor of the East End Historical District Association newsletter and a member of the fence committee. Portions of it, along with the gates, had even been stolen. And the neighborhood story is that an anonymous source called a resident saying a portion of the fence had been found and was for sale.

The'association negoti- (Photo by David Doemland) apart of Galveston Island's history GALVESTON 7- John his wife, Laura, bought the property at 15th ami Church streets around 1883. They hired'Alfred Muller to redesign the house on the property. Darragh arrived in Galveeton in 1839, before Galveston had docks or wharves. Within a year after coining to Galveston from Philadelphia, he was elected justice of the peace, and later was elected alderman. In 1865, he became president of the Galveston Wharf Co.

and led efforts to de-. velop Galveston's harbor facilities. The house remained the Darragh residence until 1905, when it became a boarding house. It was sold in 1921 and was used as apartments for several years and even a fraternity house for the University of Texas Medical Branch, In house burned and the roof was destroyed. The Galveston Historical Foundation Residential Revolving Fund bought it in 1986.

Private owners later bought the house and began restoration of it. During their restoration efforts, the house burned again. But the owners The Ettt End Historic District Association wHI have Its monthly summer block party at the Darragh park at 6 p.m. today. Those attending should bring a covered dtoh and a chair If you want to sit Drinks and utansMs are provided.

If you would like to help with the restoration of the Darragh fence or the neighborhood park, send tax-deductible contributions to the East End Historic District Association, Darragh Park Fund, P.O. Box 2424, Galveston, TX, 77553. continued their plans for restoring the old house. A fire on Nov. 8,1990, however, left the house severely damaged.

The historical foundation re. purchased the house, demolished it in 1991 and used the insurance money to continue the residential revolving fund. lirfuii niaUon provided by the Galveston HIs- toricaJ Foundation conWbuted to this report. Continued from Page Al basic rate is $15.04 per month. The city has authority over basic cable TV rates, and the Federal Communications Commission has authority over rates for expanded-basic service.

If two or more people complain about the expanded-basic rates, the city can file a complaint with the FCC. At a public.hearing at Wednesday's commission meeting, no one spoke for or against TCFs latest proposed rate schedule. Subsequent to TCI's filing its rate request on March 3, the Denver-based cable company has amended the request three tunes. The initial request and the amendments were reviewed by Isle park board C2 Consulting Services Inc. of Dallas on behalf of Texas City, La Marque and League City.

The consulting firm's recommendation was that the monthly charge for basic service be lowered to $9.50 based on FCC rules and instructions. The ordinance approved Wednesday by the commission also orders TCI to give refunds to subscribers if actual charges have exceeded the permitted rate. Park board executive director candidates The 1st of caMMdates lor executive director of ins Pant Hoard of Trustees Is down to seven inaflsts. iney are below witti ciMTonc or last Job utlo and city of reeUencec Keith Alert: Superintendent, Houston Pate and Recreation Department, Houston. Forrest Boyd: Owiier, Time Ray, Mark Hansen: Director, Brazoria County Parks Commission, Angleton.

Dennis Harris: director, Galveston County Beaches and Parks Department, League City. Carl Martin: vice president of sales," Corporate and Convention Services, Houston. Louis Mutter associate director of operations, Galveston Park Board of Trustees, Galveston. George Van Etten: director, 1870 Strand Seabrook, ated and now has the original piece back. No shrubs big enough for someone to hide behind will be planted in the park, and much of the area will be payed with-'." bricks.

The entire project will contribute to the neighborhood's property values, as well as provide a place for people to gather, socialize and just relax," Evans "We're really proud of it," Peak said. Continued from Page Al aged the Hotel Galvez for years. He lost that job about a year after the hotel was bought by developer George Mitchell, when Mitchell brought in a new management company. Van Etten, like all but one of the seven finalists, lives off the island and would have to move to Galveston to meet a residency requirement recently passed by the board. The search began when current Executive Director Wendy Dehnert resigned to be near her husband, an U.S.

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