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November 1, 2010
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Galveston Fire Department Awarded $12,500 by Fireman's Fund Heritage Program at National Trust for Historic Preservation's Annual Meeting in Austin

Galveston Fire Department’s Efforts Rewarded with Grant

The Galveston Fire Department received a grant for $12,500 from the Fireman's Fund Heritage Program Wednesday, October 27, at the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Annual Meeting in Austin. Paul LaVardera, program director for National Trust Insurance Services, LLC, presented the award. It was given in recognition of the work the fire department had done to save the historic Schmidt House at 1524 Avenue K in February, 2008. Galveston Historical Foundation made the winning nomination to Fireman's Fund on behalf of the Galveston Fire Department.

Double-click on the photo for press resolution.

After the fire, Galveston Historical Foundation purchased the cottage through its Revolving Fund, stabilized it, restored the exterior, placed protective covenants on the house, and recently sold it to a new owner who is completing the home's interior restoration. The house was granted Landmark Designation status by the Galveston City Council in January as a result of efforts by GHF.

"In my work I help people insure their historic homes and properties," said LaVardera. "It’s a privilege for me to help protect local landmarks that mean so much to homeowners and communities. And, now I’m lucky to be able to make a contribution that recognizes historic homes and helps keep our community safer."

The grant, given to the Galveston Fire Department in honor of their efforts to save a historic building from complete destruction, will fund the purchase of new fire hoses and nozzles for the GFD, LaVardera said.

When the Galveston Fire Department responded to the fire at the Schmidt House in 2008, the house was dilapidated and barely visible from the street because its landscaping was so overgrown. It may have looked like an unimportant building in the state it was in, but the house is one of the most historic residences in Galveston, built in 1868.

Its Greek Revival architecture was the prevailing style of the Galveston Island post-Civil War building boom. When the home was built, it was located in a small farming community, before the area became a residential neighborhood. The home’s major style characteristic is its symmetry.

"Thanks to the firefighters and Galveston Historical Foundation, the building is now a beautifully restored cottage," said LaVardera. "The home today is barely recognizable as the one that existed before and immediately following the fire."

In anticipation of the National Preservation Conference National Trust Insurance Services, LLC, invited historic preservation agencies across Texas to nominate fire departments for grants.

"Although we heard some compelling stories and it was difficult to choose, we felt Galveston Historical Foundation’s story in support of the Galveston Fire Department was the most compelling," said LaVardera.

Galveston Historical Foundation is the second-largest local historic preservation organization in the U.S. Its mission is to preserve and revitalize the architectural, cultural and maritime heritage of Galveston Island for the education and enrichment of all. GHF’s Revolving Fund program has saved scores of historic buildings on the island since it was established in the 1970s— many of them modest but historically significant houses like the Schmidt House.