Visit with Robert Zahn, Galveston-based Realtor.
We weren’t looking for a new home but the 1877 George Mann home appeared on the market in 2007. It was a good decision to buy it.
The block, the street, are an oasis for us, in the middle of the island. To be able to control the tenants in the building next door, we were able to purchase the fourplex which was separated from the original property in 1948.
We bought our house and restored the exterior, reconfigured and restored the kitchen immediately before hurricane Ike. Through the ravages of Ike and now during the pandemic, it is proving to be a calm sanctuary for us.
The porch and walk through windows, the large dining and living rooms gave us a great way to entertain. As many as 75 people could be on the porch at once. Now it’s a quiet shady retreat for a few of us.
We see neighbors walking dogs and often friends out walking or biking pull up on the sidewalk to chat. I work often at an enamel top table in the kitchen. It’s cozy and easy to blend working with baking. My laptop and tablet keep me connected to my clients and colleagues.
The lawn in front of the apartments next door has been the site of rousing socially distanced croquet and there’s a shaded table where the tenants and close neighbors will sit and chat after work.
Galveston. Quieter now than when tourism is in swing. Soft and comforting. Most of what we need isn’t more than a 20 minute walk away.
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