Ball Street is one of the streets located in Galveston’s Historic Homes District. Most of these homes date back to pre 1900. Before Hurricane Ike, streets in the Historic District were lined with 100 year old oak trees whose canopies covered the streets. Today, 90 percent of these trees are gone but a number of these trees stumps have been carved into beautiful tree sculptures, adding beauty and a reminder of once being a mighty Oak. In addition to the tree sculptures, residents on Galveston’s Ball Street filled the open spaces by planting a variety of colorful flowers. Some of the residents have Red White and Blue patriotic Streamers decorating their homes.

All of these Sculptures and flower beds were done without one penny of Government money.

The recovery from Hurricane IkeThe Flowers of Galveston’s Ball Street

PowerPoint byJack Cross

: God Bless USALee Greenwood

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Galveston’s Ball Street

Homeowners added tree

sculptures and planted colorful flowers where giant oak trees

grew

Prior to Hurricane Ike homes like this in the Historical Homes District relied on ferns and other low light plants

because of the shade provided by the big Oak trees

These homeowners and the artists who did the carving created a cost free tourist attraction for the city. The work of the Galveston Historic Foundation set the ground work to preserve these historic homes. Thousands of visitors come to see the homes and now even more are coming from all over the state to see these tree sculptures. Homeowners in the Historic District serves are an example of how giving back to a community is worthy, rewarding , enjoyable and just good shared responsibility. Today Government assistance is mainstream in our lives. Lost in the mixture is that people, not government is what creates a vibrant community.

Civic service in addition to giving back makes life worthwhile, it creates pride, generates responsibility and sets an example for the next generation. The people of Galveston's Historic District made Lemon Aid out of Lemons.

Galveston Historic Homes residents and especially those on Ball Street set and example of “Can Do” while creating “Civic Pride”