The Carnes Home - AKA The Coppersmith Inn - 1914 Avenue M Galveston, Texas

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Tour with Spotify:

👂Listen: The Great Fire of 1885
👂Listen: Lost Bayou Historic District
👂Listen: Texas Heroes Monument
👂Listen: Quick History of Galveston
👂Listen: Port of Galveston
👂Listen: Kuhn's Wharf
👂Listen: The Hendley Building

Interested in information covered in this episode? Dive deeper into the links below! :
Coppersmith Inn: https://coppersmithinn.com/
Morgan Steamship Line: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/morgan-lines

Transcript:
This wonderful home completed construction in 1887. The lot was purchased by Howard and Minnie Carnes shortly after the Great Fire of 1885. The Carnes Homes was one of the first homes constructed on this street, as it was on the edge of Hitchcock's Bayou. Throughout 1885, Hitchcock's Bayou was eventually filled in with dredge mud in order to elevate and expand livable lots on the island. The historic district in which the bayou was filled is now known as the Lost Bayou district. The Carne's family home was designed by famed Galveston architect, Alfred Muller, and constructed at a cost of $5,000. Evidently, Howard Carnes made a good salary as he worked for the Morgan Line, a steam packet shipping line which ran cargo between Galveston, New Orleans and New York. Carnes was transferred to Mexico by the Morgan Line in 1894 and the house was sold to Paul and Bridget Shean, Paul was an irish immigrant and coppersmith. The Shean's moved to Galveston from New Orleans in 1872 and quickly developed his coppersmith business into a multi faceted mill and plumbing manufacturing business. This business was one of the first businesses to have a telephone in the state. The home survived the 1900 storm with little lasting damage. Avenue M within a few blocks of 19th street actually held up very well during this disaster. The material from the destroyed homes between the beach and Avenue M piled up to create a wall that protected the homes on Avenue M from being battered by the hurricane waves. When Paul Shean died in 1915, the home was left to his wife who lived in the home until 1935. The home changed hands a few times and was acquired by the current owners in 2019. The home now operates as a luxurious venue and Bed and Breakfast, known as the Coppersmith Inn. As you are roaming around the Lost Bayou District, make sure to stop by the Carnes Home and admire this gorgeous 1880's Alfred Muller designed home which retains most of its original detailing. Next time you are looking to stay overnight on the island, be sure to check out the charming Coppersmith Inn.