The Galveston Fire of ’85 Sheet Music

The Galveston Fire of 1885 began at the Vulcan factory on the corner of Strand and 16th on Friday, November 13, 1885. A north wind fanned the flames in a southwesterly direction, and before the flames could be extinguished, the fire had decimated 40 city blocks, destroyed 500+ buildings, and left 1500 people homeless. There were, however, no fatalities caused by the fire, but one man died afterward when, on the site of his burned-out house, the remains of his chimney fell on him. After the fire, slate roofs were required within the city limits to reduce the spread of flames from house to house. These slate roof tiles turned out to be fatal projectiles during the 1900 Storm and were later banned.

As with many disasters during this period, artistic license was taken to share the story through various media. In this case, this was done via published music from composer Jacob Day and lyricist Louis Gruetzmacher. Galveston-based piano seller Thomas Goggan and Brother commissioned and published this particular work. Goggan began their business in 1866 and had locations locally and in San Antonio.

HEAR THE MUSIC

Thanks to Elisabeth Ellison and the “Old Spanish Trail” Ensemble for recording this song.

The ensemble “Old Spanish Trail” of Houston, Texas, USA, is comprised of historically informed musicians. It seeks to illuminate Houston’s early decades by re-creating concerts and performances from pre-1900 Houston and its region. Learn more by clicking here!

VIEW THE MUSIC

The below PDF is a scanned copy of the original sheet music donated by Randy and Lin Parham of Fort Worth.

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ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last seventy years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, museum development, and heritage tourism. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life, and continues to lead on local, state, and national levels with research-driven programs that build awareness of preservation’s role in cultural identity and stewardship across generations.