Ashton Villa - June 25th, 2014
Visit the 1859 Ashton Villa built by Colonel James Moreau Brown
Walk around the front to the Visitor Center in the rear
The Ashton Villa carriage house serves as the Galveston Island Visitors Center
Erin practices her "Arghhh!" with a pirate inside
The ballroom next door is the only other assessible room of Ashton Villa today
Erin poses on the closed off curving walkway
Big fireplace keeps the ballroom warm in winter
Original fountain between the carriage house & ballroom
3-story Victorian Italianate home w/deep eaves & long windows
Named after ancestor who fought in US revolutionary war
Home survived the 1900 storm as well as all the rest
Owned by the El Mina Shrine masonic order 1927-1970
The balcony above from where Juneteenth originated on June 19, 1865
Galveston Historical Foundation prevented Ashton Villas demolition in 1970
Head back toward the carriage house and parking lot
General Gordan Granger issued General Order No. 3 from the balcony
Nice garden behind General Gordon Granger's statue
Back to through carriage house to the rear parking lot
Visit Ashton Villa a year later for the 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth
Where Union General Gordon Granger read aloud General Order #3
On the 2nd floor balcony exactly 150 years ago today
The Confederate HQ and briefly Union HQ in 1862 gets a new plaque
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere
General Granger & 2,000 federal troops would enforce the proclamation
The proclamation reading was made earlier at 8:30am behind Ashton Villa
To a large crowded enjoying cooler temperatures than now!
The pavillion was named for the Sealy's whose house is across 24th St.
And on the median near the Ashton Villa are the 10 Commandments