Bay Ridge / Morgan's Point

Duane's take

The way I tell it, I'm going on what the official marker says, so let's see where this peninsula takes us. Now, Galveston Bay has more than a few stories tucked along its shoreline, but this particular stretch of land, the one that juts out and catches every breeze rolling in off the Gulf, has carried the name Morgan's Point since the days of Colonel James Morgan, the early landowner the marker credits with giving the place its name. For a good while, that was about it out there on the peninsula.

A bluff, some breezes, spectacular views. But down in Houston, the summer heat and humidity were doing what they do, pressing down on the city's wealthiest families until somebody looked northeast toward the bay and had an idea. In 1893, twelve prominent Houston families got together and formed the Bay Ridge Park Association.

Together they acquired forty acres of land on that bluff, and they set about building something worth the drive. A resort community. A proper summer retreat.

Now here's the detail that tells you everything about how those twelve families operated. They didn't just divvy up the land by handshake or seniority or who had the most money. They platted the acreage into long, narrow lots so that every family could have beachfront property.

And then, to keep the peace, they drew for it. Ballots. You wanted the good lot, you'd better hope your name came up.

The first houses that went up were modest, as these things go. One- and two-story frame dwellings with verandas, most of them decorated in Eastlake and Queen Anne style. Comfortable, breezy, the kind of place where you could sit out on the porch and watch the bay go silver in the evening and feel like you'd made a good decision.

But as the calendar rolled into the early twentieth century, the ambitions out on that bluff grew considerably. Renowned architects came into the picture, and the homes they designed weren't shy about it. Mediterranean revival, colonial revival, prairie school.

You could walk the community and get a tour of architectural styles that most towns never see at all, let alone crowded onto one peninsula. And then there is the house that stops most people cold when they hear about it. One of the grand homes out at Morgan's Point was patterned after the White House.

Built for Texas Governor Ross Sterling and his wife Maude. The marker notes that Morgan's Point is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and calls it one of Texas' most significant seaside residential developments. Twelve families, forty acres, a ballot draw for beachfront lots, and one house that decided to look like the president's.

That bluff earned its reputation.

What the marker says

The peninsula on Galveston Bay known as Morgan's Point was named for early landowner Colonel James Morgan. Later the area became a favorite summer retreat for wealthy Houston residents who sought refuge from the oppressive heat and humidity of the city. The bluff attracted Gulf breezes and boasted spectacular views and recreational potential. In 1893 twelve prominent Houston families formed the Bay Ridge Park Association and acquired 40 acres of land on which they constructed a resort community for summer residency. to allow each family beach front property the land was platted into long narrow lots chosen by ballots. The first houses built were modest one-and two-story frame dwellings with verandas; most featured Eastlake and Queen Anne style detailing. Homes built in the early 20th century were designed by renowned architects and reflected various styles including Mediterranean revival, colonial revival, and prairie school. Among the many grand houses is one patterned after the White House built for Texas Governor Ross Sterling and his wife Maude. Listed on the National register of Historic Places, the area is one of Texas' most significant seaside residential developments. (1997) Incise on back: Morgan's Point Historic District & Bay Ridge Park Associations