An extensive look at the history of the Henry Beissner House in Galveston, Texas.

Henry Beissner House is one of the many historic houses of Galveston, Texas. However the history of Henry Beissner House has been overlooked. This news article will explain in-depth details pertaining to the Henry Beissner House.

The Henry Beissner House was built by lumber merchant Henry Beissner in 1891 out of cypress wood and embellished with lacy, gingerbread decor, wide porches, and floor-to-ceiling windows The home is raised on raised high brick arches faced with scored plaster. The majestic 3 story structure was built in the Eastlake style with ornate wood trim to resemble a Swiss chalet. Wood on the house was originally stained rather than painted. The chimney was made of fireproof concrete. This 2,288 square foot house sits on a 7,657 square foot lot and features 4 bathrooms. (Ref: Galveston Architecture Guidebook, 1996)

There is a 2 foot drop around the 1st floor base and foundation perimeter. There is a 4 foot drop in the center which leads to a basement. Height of the Henry Beissner House is 3 stories high including the basement. The architectural style of the Henry Beissner House was built in the Queen Anne style and formation. Hence the Victorian design and Victorian looking style. (Ref: https://historic.one/tx/galveston-county/national-register-listing/beissner-henry-house)

The Henry Beissner House is “one of the most unusual houses of its period in Galveston. It was out of the ordinary to build such a substantial house in a neighborhood that was, in this block, respectable but not fashionable. The character of the exterior detail, especially the Japanese-like gridded band in the broad front gable, is not repeated on any surviving Galveston houses. What also makes this band, and the rest of the elaborate wooden detail on the exterior surface of the Beissner House unusual is that it was originally stained rather than painted.” (Ref: https://www.galvestonhistory.org/preservation/heritage-at-risk-list)

The Henry Beissner House was originally a business and point of commerce during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Henry Beissner operated his lumber business out this house for many years. He revoted and made additions to the house several times. Henry Beissner was an affluent German who owned a wholesale grocery store, a lumberyard, and various pieces of real state. (Ref: https://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/tx/galveston/state.html)


Interestingly enough the Henry Beissner House was once known locally as "Noah's Ark" due to being used as a sanctuary during the 1900 storm and hurricane despite being located in a "rough" neighborhood. This house held close to 300 people. The Henry Beissner House became a sanctuary after the storm also. (Ref: https://exquisitelyboredinnacogdoches.blogspot.com/2010/01/galveston-in-fog.html)

From 1914 to 1923, the Henry Beissner House served as a synagogue for the orthodox Jewish Community. The synagogue operated close to 10 years before relocating into a synagogue building. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/20189159/)


According to realtor.com, the Henry Beissner House was last renovated in 1949 and was renovated and converted into a conventional style home. Heating was provided by a floor furnace. (Ref: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2816-Ball-St_Galveston_TX_77550_M75731-63714)

The Henry Beissner House was sold then to Harry Franklin and maintained as low-income rental property until 1972. The house would no longer be used as rental property by 1973. Harry Franklin would start living in the house which ultimately became his home for a few years. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/20189159/)

Harry Franklin sold the Henry Beissner House to Galveston Historical Foundation in 1976. Galveston Historical Foundation purchased the Henry Beissner House from Harry Franklin in 1976 to save it from demolition. Galveston Daily News announced the news of Galveston Historical Foundation purchasing the Henry Beissner House to save it from demolition in their newspaper. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16918621/)

“GHF is undertaking a comprehensive study with HUD 701 funds of how other areas can be encouraged to preserve and restore themselves. GHF has purchased the 1891 Beissner House, 2818 Ball, to save it from demolition.”

Galveston Historical Foundation sold the Henry Beissner House to Stan Harper on a deed of transfer and deed of sale in 1978. Stan Harper assumed full ownership of the Henry Beissner House and surrounding land properties by 1978. The Henry Beissner House was put on the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1978. The area of significance was the architectural style. (Ref: http://landmarkhunter.com/151511-henry-beissner-house/)

The Henry Beissner House was put on the City of Galveston's list of condemned structures in 1980 and was scheduled for demolition. The City of Galveston condemned the Henry Beissner House for numerous code violations. However the demolition was postponed in cooperation with the Galveston Historical Foundation's search to find an owner for the house. Steve Malkin and Gwen Marcus made an effort to find someone who will buy the house for a low price and restore it where it now stands. The Beissner House is structurally sound but needed a lot of renovation work done. The house needed plumbing, wiring and a new roof. What also needed to be restored was the exterior facade to the default original fashion. Galveston Historical Foundation was willing to work with new owner on the house's rehabilitation. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1281835/the-galveston-daily-news/)

A grant for $30,000 was given to Stan Harper for restoration of the Henry Beissner House on the date of March 8, 1978. Stan Harper was the owner of the Henry Beissner House at that time. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16731317/)


The Henry Beissner House got a facelift with several renovations made in 1982. Getty Oil donated $2,000 dollars towards the renovation of the Henry Beissner House. Galveston Historical Foundation Board of Advisors member Chris Haglund was instrumental in obtaining the funds. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, HOUSE GETS FACE-LIFT, 1982)

“The unusually ornate Victorian house at 2818 Ball will undergo some badly needed repairs in the next couple of months. Last month, the 1891 Beissner House was made watertight with a $7,660 new roof. Future plans include repairing the brick piers. The Beissner House, which is listed in the National Register, has been used for varied purposes over the years. It has been a synagogue, flop-house hotel and low-income rental property. Donations to save the Beissner House have graciously been contributed by Mrs. Meade W. Eastham, $5,000; Shell Oil, $2,500; Getty Oil, $2,000; First City National Bank of Houston, $500; Jack Currie, $500; and Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, $500. GHF Board of Advisors member Chris Haglund was instrumental in obtaining the funds. For more information about the Beissner House, call Gwen Marcus at 765-7834.”

Shell Oil donated $2,500 dollars towards renovating the Henry Beissner House. Mrs. Meade W. Eastham donated the most amount of money towards renovating the Henry Beissner House by donating $5,000 dollars. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14238936/)


Galveston Daily News announced that the Beissner Home is owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation and that the Henry Beissner House was dilapidated and boarded up in 1992. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16809985/)

“Homes such as the Letitia Rosenberg Home for Women at 1804 25th St. and the Henry Beissner Home at 2818 Ball St. were not on the city's auction list. But both homes are dilapidated and boarded up. The Rosenberg Home is owned by the Resolution Trust Corp., the agency charged with overseeing failed savings and loans, which is trying to find a buyer. The Beissner Home is owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation, which also is seeking a buyer.”


Stan Harper sold the Henry Beissner House to NAACP attorney Anthony Griffin in 1994. Anthony Griffin would operate his law business called Anthony Griffin Inc. out of the Henry Beissner House starting in the year of 1994. Eco Place offered to help restore Henry Beissner Home in 1994 with help from Anthony Griffin Inc. and Anthony Griffin. Another move to improve the area was ECO Place's restoration of the Henry Beissner House, 2818 Ball St. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14524519/)

“The main goal of Eco Place, Economic and Cultural Offerings, is to develop the Henry Beissner Home, which was bought recently by noted civil rights attorney Anthony Griffin, and the surrounding area, which is mostly public housing.”

The Eco Place board planned to create a corridor of commerce centered around the Henry Beissner House on  July 10, 1994. ECO Place's restoration pals were to improve the area around the surrounding land properties and the neighborhood. However those plans never came to fruition. The exact reason(s) as to why these plans never came to fruition are and remain unknown. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14497254/)

[The Eco Place board plans to create a corridor of commerce centered around the Beissner House at 2818 Ball Ave. The Beissner House is a graceful, historic home that bespeaks Galveston — but "she" is ill at this time. One of the stated goals of the board is to begin a litter program designed to clean and monitor the area.]

Attorney Anthony Griffin had planned to use his own money to restore and revitalize the area around the Henry Beissner House at 2818 Ball Avenue by June 1996. However those plans never came to fruition event though City Manager Doug Matthews recommended the city move to help The Henry Beissner House. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1281872/the-galveston-daily-news/)

Investors had shown interest in renovating the Henry Beissner House in 1998 as the house had fallen into pitiful disrepair. However they were reluctant to pump money into the project because of the neighborhood and location which the house was in. So nothing happened. Anthony Griffin had been owning the house for years by that point during the 90s decade. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16955631/)

In 1999, the Galveston Daily News reported that there was asbestos inside of the Henry Beissner House discovered from an abatement performance during a renovation. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16955721/)

ABATEMENT OF IDENTIFIED ASBESTOS MATERIALS FROM DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES LOCATED AT: 827 University Blvd. 2816 Avenue H 2701 Avenue F 802 37th Street 3113 Avenue L 2806 Avenue M 1/2 (rear) 701 28th Street.


Anthony P Griffin and some renovators began putting plywood on the historic house in early 2021. However the fresh plywood covering the historic house has caused controversy with Galveston. News article from The Galveston Daily News website reported that the plywood on the historic house caused a stir in Galveston. Restoration is imminent. (Ref: https://www.galvnews.com/business/buzz/article_fb021880-f6bf-5a4b-8d24-0fa78144cd61.html)

As of 2021, former NAACP lawyer Anthony P Griffin of Anthony P Griffin Inc. currently owns the Henry Beissner House. The Henry Beissner House is now boarded up all around with plywood. Renovation has begun on the house. (Ref: https://blockshopper.com/tx/galveston-county/galveston/property/3525-0000-0001-000/2816-ball)

Redfin has estimated the home's value to be $216,094 dollars. Interestingly enough Redfin lists the house as being built in 1945. (Ref: https://www.redfin.com/TX/Galveston/2816-Avenue-H-77550/home/110808335)

Movoto's Comparative Market Estimated Value for Henry Beissner House is $441,763 with a value per square foot of $141 dollars. 2818 Ball Street is located in the Downtown Galveston neighborhood. The median days on the market for properties in this area is 45 days with a median list price of $385,000 and median cost per square foot of $215 dollars. This property is currently off-market. (Ref: https://www.movoto.com/galveston-tx/2818-ball-st-galveston-tx-77550/pid_cu0we3h1nh/)

The Henry Beissner House is located at 2816 Avenue H, Galveston, Texas, US 77550 and 2818 Avenue H, Galveston, Texas, US 77550.


Addresses for Henry Beissner House were/are as follows:

2816 Avenue H, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2818 Avenue H, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2816 Ave H, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2818 Ave H, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2816 Ball Street, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2818 Ball Street, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2816 Ball, Galveston, Texas, US 77550
2818 Ball, Galveston, Texas, US 77550