The Island City Woodworking Co. building was completed in 1907, with the woodworking operations commencing on January 1st. 1908. Built by M. C. Bowden, a local building contractor, the style of construction is unique in that the walls were formed up and poured 12” thick of reinforced “tabby” concrete, a type of concrete that utilized oyster shell as an aggregate. Heavy 12”x12” long leaf pine posts and beams support the second floor, over which 4”x12” joists and a 2” thick tongue and groove flooring were laid. The construction was specified to be extra heavy, partly because the second floor was used to store the building materials used in Mr. Bowden’s contracting business, and because the memory of the devastation of the 1900 storm was still fresh in the minds of the builders. The manually operated elevator is sill in place in the north-west corner of the structure, and is functional. The mill shop originally was operated by steam power, and the single cylinder steam engine built by the Ames Iron Works, is in place and would run if steam pressure were made available. The boiler was removed in the 1920’s, the steam power plant being replaced with a safer and more reliable twenty horsepower electric motor, which was used up until the late 1980’s to run the line shaft drive system. All of the original shop equipment, which was purchased second-hand in 1907 from the Craven’s planing mill, another local lumber mill that sat on the corner of 18th and Strand, is in the possession of the present owner, and is available for sale separately. Many of the original, hand written account ledgers and business records dating from January 1st. 1908 still exist, and go a long way toward chronicling not only the history of the Island City Woodworking Co. , but of the construction and renovation of much of the city of Galveston as well. It is the intention of the owner to donate this collection of material to the Rosenberg Library archives so that it may be preserved and made available for reference by future generations. The building is a unique piece of Galveston’s history, and would be well suited for a variety of creative uses.
Side of building which faces 18th street.
Anitique doors would make a great addition of any renovation project, there are many similar doors, they need work but well worth restoring!
Back of building.
Front of building looking south west down Mechanic Street. The big white building is the building.
The Island City Woodworking Co. building was completed in 1907, with the woodworking operations commencing on January 1st. 1908. Built by M. C. Bowden, a local building contractor, the style of construction is unique in that the walls were formed up and poured 12” thick of reinforced “tabby” concrete, a type of concrete that utilized oyster shell as an aggregate. Heavy 12”x12” long leaf pine posts and beams support the second floor, over which 4”x12” joists and a 2” thick tongue and groove flooring were laid. The construction was specified to be extra heavy, partly because the second floor was used to store the building materials used in Mr. Bowden’s contracting business, and because the memory of the devastation of the 1900 storm was still fresh in the minds of the builders. The manually operated elevator is sill in place in the north-west corner of the structure, and is functional. The mill shop originally was operated by steam power, and the single cylinder steam engine built by the Ames Iron Works, is in place and would run if steam pressure were made available. The boiler was removed in the 1920’s, the steam power plant being replaced with a safer and more reliable twenty horsepower electric motor, which was used up until the late 1980’s to run the line shaft drive system. All of the original shop equipment, which was purchased second-hand in 1907 from the Craven’s planing mill, another local lumber mill that sat on the corner of 18th and Strand, is in the possession of the present owner, and is available for sale separately. Many of the original, hand written account ledgers and business records dating from January 1st. 1908 still exist, and go a long way toward chronicling not only the history of the Island City Woodworking Co. , but of the construction and renovation of much of the city of Galveston as well. It is the intention of the owner to donate this collection of material to the Rosenberg Library archives so that it may be preserved and made available for reference by future generations. The building is a unique piece of Galveston’s history, and would be well suited for a variety of creative uses.
Side of building which faces 18th street.
Anitique doors would make a great addition of any renovation project, there are many similar doors, they need work but well worth restoring!
Back of building.
Front of building looking south west down Mechanic Street. The big white building is the building.
Side view looking west, next picture gives a better view of the front of the building and helps give an idea of the actual land square footage available.
Views looking South and South East, this area is steeped with historical buildings!
Upstairs of building
Stairs going up to 2nd floor
