Michel B. Menard House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Michel B. Menard House
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Michel B. Menard House in 2012
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 Michel B. Menard House
Location in Texas
Michel B. Menard House
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1605 33rd St., Galveston, Texas |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1838 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002031 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
The Menard House, also known as The Oaks, is a very old house in Galveston, Texas. It was built in 1838. This makes it the oldest building still standing in Galveston as of 2014. The house is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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History of the Menard House
The Menard House is named after its first owner, Michel Branamour Menard. He was born in Canada and became a successful trader and real estate investor. Michel Menard was also one of the people who helped start the city of Galveston.
Building the Oldest House
Michel Menard started building this house around 1837. It was meant for his second wife, Catherine Maxwell. Sadly, she passed away in the summer of 1838, the same year the house was finished.
The house was built in a very interesting way. It was made in parts in Maine, a state far away. Then, all the pieces were shipped by boat to Texas. This was a smart idea because there weren't many carpenters in Texas back then. Also, ships coming to Texas often had empty space, so bringing house parts was cheap.
Early Owners and Family Life
After Michel Menard's second wife died, John Kirby Allen bought the property in 1838. He was one of the people who helped start the city of Houston. However, John Kirby Allen also died shortly after buying the house.
By 1843, the house was given to Michel Menard's third wife, Mary Jane. She lived there until she passed away in December 1843. Later, Michel Menard married Rebecca Mary Bass. He adopted her two children. In 1850, they had their own child, a son named Doswell Menard.
Around this time, Michel Menard added two new sections, called wings, to the house. These new parts became famous in 1853. They hosted Galveston's very first Mardi Gras ball, which was a big party.
Later Years of the House
Michel Menard died in 1856. Four years later, his wife Rebecca married Colonel J.S. Thrasher. He used to be an important United States official in Havana, Cuba.
In 1880, the Ketchum family bought the house from the Menard family. The Ketchum family took good care of the house for many years, until 1977.
Restoring the Menard House
The Menard House started to get old and needed repairs. In June 1992, two groups, the Galveston Historical Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, bought the house.
In 1994, Pat and Fred Burns from Houston bought the house. It was in bad shape, but they worked hard to fix it up. They finished restoring the house in 1995.
After its restoration, the Menard House opened for the 1995 Historic Homes Tour. A huge number of people, about 6,500 visitors, came to see the beautiful old house.
Even during Hurricane Ike, a very strong storm, the Menard House did not get seriously damaged. It stood strong, showing how well it was built and cared for over the years.
