There is one prominent example of J. C. League’s professional success. In the 1890s, J.C. bought farmland just a few miles from Galveston, designed a townsite, and donated part of that land for a school, a church, and a park. Today the robust lakeside town of League City is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas with a population over 115,000. Much of Mr. League’s personal life, however, was a mystery. But we at the League-Kempner house love solving mysteries. By studying the large collection of documents J.C.’s widow donated to the Rosenberg Library after his death, we are with great satisfaction learning that Mr. League was a fine, civic-minded man who used his business practicality and connections to serve the flourishing community of Galveston.
We knew that J.C. served on boards of the Rosenberg Library, the Island City Protestant Orphans Home (later the Galveston Orphans Home), the Letitia Rosenberg Women’s Home, the Texas Real Estate Association, and the Young Men’s Christian Association known today, of course, as the YMCA, but it was still fun to find receipts for his paid dues. What we didn’t know but weren’t surprised to find is that he held memberships with several social organizations, too, like the Galveston Artillery Company, and Garten Verein.
Garten Verein was a garden and social club built in Galveston in 1876 by a group of German businessmen for Germans though others could petition for membership. J. C. did, apparently, and was accepted because he paid bimonthly dues. Garten Verein must have been the center of Galveston social life. There was a clubhouse, walkways through gardens. There were playgrounds and bowling alleys, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, and a large dancing pavilion. Sadly, the 1900 storm took everything except the dance pavilion, which still stands beautifully on Avenue O.
The Island City Protestant Orphans Home was established in 1878 and would later become the Galveston Orphans Home. We have a receipt of Mrs. League's for $12.00 dated July 1, 1888, corrected to 1889. Of note, Mr. League’s GOH board participation was during the years that funds had been allocated to build a new, modern orphanage. So, in 1893, while Mr. League was supervising the construction of his own Nicholas Clayton designed Victorian mansion on Broadway, he was also involved in the planning and construction of the new Galveston Orphans Home, a spectacular Gothic Revival designed by architect Alfred Muller and completed in 1895.
Incidentally, League City, Texas was also founded in the 1890s, so J.C. League was a very busy man. Just five years later, the new orphan’s home was heavily damaged during Galveston’s devastating hurricane, though thankfully there was no loss of life. With the help of renowned publisher William Randolph Hearst, the Galveston Orphan’s Home was restored and today houses the Bryan Museum.
Galveston Orphans' Home Receipt for one year, $12.00. Likely an annual pledge amount
The Galveston Artillery Company was formed as a volunteer militia back in the 1840s when Galveston port was still small but significant. Members were mostly businessmen concerned with protecting the harbor amid tension between the Republic of Texas and Mexico. While occasionally called to service by the Texas government, by 1899 the group had become the Galveston Artillery Club, a prestigious organization known for professional networking, and elaborate galas. Believe it or not, the Galveston Artillery Club still exists today. It is said to be the oldest private club west of the Mississippi.
It's no surprise that Mr. League kept up with news and current events in part by reading the Galveston Daily News, which has its own interesting history. We have receipts for his subscriptions. It looks as though J.C. also provided a subscription for Hettie L. Wells in Baltimore, Maryland. A little digging reminded us that Hettie was J.C.’s sister, Esther. Apparently, Hettie wanted to keep up with Galveston news after she and her husband, Clinton Glencairn Wells, returned to Baltimore where both the League and Wells families were from.
One last fun fact. The following receipt was a curiosity. None of us had ever heard of The Opera Glass. We could see it was some sort of Galveston publication, but more detailed information eluded us.
Eventually, we discovered an advertisement on an undated page of the Galveston City Directory. Published every Saturday, The Opera Glass was regarded as ‘The Leading Society Paper of the Southwest’. This made perfect sense. In the latter half of the 1800s, Galveston thrived as a port city and trade center. The local economy prospered, drawing affluent merchants who constructed elaborate mansions, and industrious immigrants who infused culture and sophistication. With its lively commerce, Galveston became the second (or third, depending on whom you ask) wealthiest city in the U.S. per capita. It earned the monikers The New York of the Gulf and The Wall Street of the Southwest. Therefore, it's no surprise that Galveston society developed a Gilded Age-like hierarchy. As one of the wealthier local families, it was crucial for the League's to remain engaged in that scene as well. Hence, the subscription to The Opera Glass.
We would love to get our hands on an old copy of The Opera Glass. Back to the Rosenberg Library for this one!
Interesting and very well written. Thank you, Karen!