Ashton Villa facts for kids
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Ashton Villa
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Ashton Villa in 2012
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 Ashton Villa
Location in Texas
Ashton Villa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2328 Broadway St., Galveston, Texas |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | James Moreau Brown |
| Architectural style | Victorian, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000204 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 28, 1969 |
Ashton Villa is a beautiful, historic house located in Galveston, Texas. It was built in 1859 and was one of the very first brick buildings in Texas. This grand home has seen a lot of history, from the American Civil War to the famous Juneteenth celebration. Today, it stands as a reminder of the past.
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Building a Historic Home
On January 7, 1859, a wealthy businessman named Colonel James Moreau Brown bought four pieces of land in Galveston. He wanted to build a special home for his family. Colonel Brown looked at popular architecture books of the time. He then used ideas from these books to design his future house.
Construction and Style
The house was built by enslaved people and skilled European workers. It became one of the first brick buildings in Texas. Ashton Villa is designed in the Victorian Italianate style. This means it has deep roof edges, tall windows, and fancy porches. These porches have decorative supports made of cast iron. The brick walls are very thick, about 13 inches. This helped protect the house from humidity and made it very strong.
Inside, the house has a central hallway with rooms branching off it. Colonel Brown's wife, Rebecca Ashton, named the home "Ashton Villa." She chose this name to honor her ancestor, Lt. Isaac Ashton. He was a hero in the American Revolutionary War.
Ashton Villa During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Ashton Villa became very important. It served as the main office for the Confederate Army in Galveston. This lasted for almost the entire war.
Changing Hands in Galveston
For a short time in late 1862, the Union Army took control of Galveston. They also used Ashton Villa as their headquarters. But the Union's stay was brief. The Confederates took Galveston back during the Battle of Galveston in January 1863. Ashton Villa then went back to being a Confederate headquarters.
The End of the War and Freedom
The Civil War officially ended on April 9, 1865. However, news traveled slowly to far-off states like Texas. More than a month after the main surrender, a battle was still fought in Texas. This was the Battle of Palmito Ranch, on May 12 and 13, 1865. It took about two more weeks for the Confederate forces in Texas to surrender.
On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston. He brought 2,000 federal troops with him. Their job was to take control of Texas and announce that all enslaved people were free. This announcement was called the Emancipation Proclamation.
General Order No. 3
General Granger's men marched through Galveston. They read General Order No. 3 in several places. This order told everyone in Texas that all enslaved people were now free. It also said that formerly enslaved people had the same personal rights as their former masters. The order advised them to stay in their homes and work for wages.
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.
While many stories say General Granger read this order from Ashton Villa, there is no proof of this. A special plaque was placed in 2014 where his headquarters actually stood. However, Ashton Villa is still a very important place for Juneteenth celebrations.
Juneteenth Celebrations
June 19 has become known as Juneteenth. This name combines "June" and "nineteenth." It is a day to celebrate freedom. Former enslaved people in Galveston celebrated with great joy. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the next year. In many parts of Texas, freed people bought land together. They used this land for large Juneteenth gatherings. Examples include Emancipation Park in Houston and Austin.
A statue of Al Edwards stands on the grounds of Ashton Villa. He was a state representative who helped make Juneteenth a paid Texas State holiday in 1979. His annual prayer breakfast and celebration still happen at Ashton Villa every Juneteenth. During this event, a local historian often acts as Major General Granger. He addresses the crowd from the home's balcony, reading the historic orders.
Surviving the Great Storm of 1900
Colonel Brown passed away in 1895. This was just five years before the terrible 1900 hurricane hit Galveston. This storm caused huge damage. But Ashton Villa, with its strong, thick brick walls, survived. It withstood the powerful winds and the massive storm surge. Colonel Brown's widow and children found shelter inside during the storm.
After the storm, the city of Galveston was raised to prevent future flooding. The basement of Ashton Villa was filled with sand. The ground around the house was also raised by two feet of soil.
Ashton Villa Today
In 1927, the house was sold to the El Mina Shrine. This group used the house as their offices and meeting hall. They made very few changes to the building. In 1970, the house was put up for sale again. It was in danger of being torn down.
The Galveston Historical Foundation stepped in to save it. They raised $125,000 to buy Ashton Villa. With more money from other groups and the government, they began to restore the historic house. They even found much of the original furniture and art. On July 25, 1974, the Galveston Historical Foundation opened Ashton Villa to the public. It became a museum, a visitor center, and a place for special events.
In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused more than 18 inches of water to flood the first floor. The house has since been restored again. Ashton Villa is no longer open for daily public tours. However, the first floor can be rented for private events.
Ashton Villa is recognized as a very important historic site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
See also
