Williams Borden Neighborhood Assoc

WBNA Historic Homes On-Line Database:
The Williams-Borden Neighborhood lies in the heart of Galveston Island, between Avenues M & S, from 35th to 39th Streets. Our mission is to encourage preservation, revitalization, and neighborhood livability efforts within our boundaries, the surrounding community, and Galveston Island. WBNA serves not only as a community organization but also as an advocate for residents, property owners, and business.

The goal of the WBNA HOMES DATABASE project is to document the current status of homes in the WB Neighborhood. ALL homes, regardless of age, are welcome to enter their information into the database. We hope this catalog of homes will provide useful information as we look back on the past, as well as plan for the future.

NOTE: Former WBNA resident, Nancy Budde, put together a very comprehensive look at our historic neighborhood. She highlighted a number of homes, businesses and so much more. The WBNA Historic Homes Database is an extension of her work.

Instructions: Click on the RED link below. Complete the on-line form and upload a photo of your home.

CLICK HERE to submit information on your home.

Looking for historic information on your property? Check out the Rosenberg Library's HISTORY CENTER.

Homes of the Willams-Borden Neighborhood

Address: 3815 Avenue P

Year Built: 1928

Original Owner: William and Marie Helmbrecht

Brief History:
The William and Marie Helmbrecht home has a well documented history. The Helmbrechts commissioned the nationally recognized architect, John Staub, to design their home and outbuildings. In the style of a French manor house, it is one of the smallest homes Staub designed.Typical of Staub designs, the Helmbrecht home is quite symmetrical and perfectly plain. At the direction of Marie, Staub used marble tiles removed from the second Tremont Hotel in the foyer and dining room. The home and property are currently land marked by the city of Galveston.

Address: 2012 36th St.

Year Built: 1901

Original Owner: Edmond Fish

Brief History:
The home was built in 1901 - shortly after the1900 hurricane. It is what's frequently referred to as a Commissary House or Shotgun. There are several of these style homes still standing across the island. They were specifically built for workers helping to rebuild the Island after the Great Storm. It has approximately 680 sq'. of living space. Indoor plumbing was added sometime in the early 1900's. There is also the remnants of an old chimney in the kitchen, used for a wood burning stove.The earliest known owner was the Fish family. Last purchased in 2008.

Address: 3528 Avenue M

Year Built: 1874

Original Owner: Amos & Kate Tuller

Typical of Staub designs, the Helmbrecht home is quite symmetrical and perfectly plain. At the direction of Marie, Staub used marble tiles removed from the second Tremont Hotel in the foyer and dining room .

The home and property are currently land marked by the city of Galveston.

Address: 3515 Ave P 1/2

Year Built: 1926

Original Owner: JN & Lutie Childress

Brief History:
The property lies within the historic Williams-Borden area, a neighborhood associated with two important figures in early Galveston history: Samuel May Williams, an associate of Stephen F. Austin who helped develop Galveston’s early banking and business community, and Gail Borden Jr., inventor of condensed milk and an early leader in the Galveston. After Samuel Williams’ era, the land eventually became connected to prominent Galveston businessman and Civil War veteran Captain Henry Martyn Trueheart, who was a county tax assessor, real estate agent, school trustee, and longtime civic leader. Following Trueheart’s death, his widow Annie V. Trueheart sold Lot 4 of Block 86, the property that became 3515 Avenue P ½ to Lutie S. Childress, wife of J.N. Childress, for $700 on June 13, 1921.

In 1926, Lutie Selkirk Childress contracted to have a two-bedroom, one-bath house built on the lot, with construction reportedly completed in only 60 days. After her death in 1932, the property passed to her son William. Over the decades, the original home was expanded substantially, with additions to the rear of the house and the detached garage eventually creating a four-bedroom, four-bath residence.

Other Historic Homes in our Neighborhood:

Samuel May Williams House / Williams-Tucker House

3601 Avenue P

1838

One of Galveston’s oldest surviving structures. Samuel May Williams was Stephen F. Austin’s secretary and translator and helped finance the Texas Revolution. The house was placed on the National Register in 1971.

Thomas H. Borden Home

3827 Avenue P, southeast corner of 39th & P

1874, possibly incorporating an earlier structure

Home of Texas pioneer Thomas H. Borden. The property may contain portions of an earlier house; surviving construction includes cypress beams, mortise-and-tenon joints and brick piers.

Ida Baden House

Williams-Borden neighborhood

1899

Designed by celebrated Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton. An excellent Queen Anne residence with wraparound veranda, bow windows, fish-scale shingles and elaborate architectural detailing. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1989.

Kruger Tenant House

Williams-Borden neighborhood

Late 1800s

A Folk Victorian tenant cottage designed by Nicholas Clayton for Adolf Kruger. It has a surviving neighboring twin and is sometimes described as a “little Clayton.”

William C. & Marie Helmbrecht House

3815 Avenue P / Bernardo de Galvez

1928

Designed by noted architect John F. Staub, later famous for Houston’s Bayou Bend and River Oaks residences. Staub reportedly considered this modest French-manorial-style residence one of his favorite small houses. It remains about 95% original.

Dr. Frederick K. & Lucy Adelaide Fisher House

3503 Avenue P

1888

Victorian-era Stick Style house associated with Galveston quarantine officer Dr. Frederick Fisher. The Fishers later adopted a nephew orphaned during the 1900 Storm. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1992 and a Galveston City Landmark since 2021.

Powhatan House

3427 Avenue O

1847

Built for early Galveston mayor and cotton merchant John Seabrook Sydnor. One of Galveston’s oldest buildings, with Greek Revival architecture and columns shipped from Maine. It was moved to its present location in 1893. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register.

John T. Gilbert House

3608 Avenue O

1913

Late Victorian residence built by Santa Fe Railroad engineer John T. Gilbert. Saved from demolition and restored in 2017; its rehabilitation was featured by Michael and Ashley Cordray on the pilot that became associated with Saving Galveston. It is now a Galveston City Landmark.

Homes within the Williams-Borden Neighborhood that have appeared on the

Galveston Historical Foundation’s Annual Historic Homes Tour

Austin-Garrett Residence 3517 Avenue M 1975

Robert G. Garnett House 3518 Avenue M 1975, 2003

Thomas & Lillie League House 3528 Avenue P 1975, 2018

John & Artie Gilbert House 3608 Avenue O 2018

Dr. Frederick & Adelaide Fisher House 3503 Avenue P 2021

Henry Hildebrand House / “The Fairmont” 3624 Avenue R ½ 2016; also featured again in later GHF tour activity

Stubbs-Garrigan Bungalow 3727 Avenue P 2022

Samuel May & Sarah Scott Williams House 3601 Avenue P 2024

Edward & Katherine Randall House 3502 Avenue P 2024

James & Pauline Foster House 3523 Avenue P 2025