< Previous50 COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 FEATURE More than a century later, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas has grown to more than 7,000 members in 106 chapters. The island chapter, named for Texas Revolution Gen. Sidney Sherman of Galveston, and a statewide Cradle Committee remain dedicated to keeping the historic landmark maintained and raising awareness of it around the state. The building, like so many others in Galveston, weathered many storms and even multiple locations following the 1900 Storm. Bryan, who gave The Cradle its name, eventually found the building on a nearby block of Avenue N, in a state of disrepair after many years as a rental. She had it moved to Menard Park where it resided for 15 years before being returned to its original site in the 1970s by the DRT. Bryan died in 1955. (From top) The interior of The Cradle has been refurbished with period window dressings and antique rugs and furniture; Gwen Lejsal, a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, leans on an antique sideboard, above which hang portraits of DRT founders Betty Ballinger and Hally Bryan. COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 51 p HOTO: COU r TESY The Cradle has enjoyed the loving hands of caregivers and commit- tee members Jimmie Bennett and Gwen Lejsal for the past six years. Along with others, Bennett and Lejsal have painstakingly refurbished the interior, weatherproofing it against Galveston humidity and heat, installing a security system and restoring it to its Victorian splendor with period window dressings, antique rugs and furniture, some piec- es donated by Bryan and others by DRT headquarters in Austin. Portraits of Bryan and Ballinger hang above an antique sideboard on The Cradle’s long central wall. Sun streams through meticulously refinished cypress shutters on the building’s enormous bay window, comprising its entire east side. “We bring people from all over Texas to visit The Cradle, to see (From top) The Cradle originally was the law library of William Pitt Ballinger, the father of co-founder Betty Ballinger; Jimmie Bennett, a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, along with Gwen Lejsal have worked to keep the historic landmark maintained.52 COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 FEATURE it,” Bennett said. “And they make donations to help us maintain it.” Outside, a yucca plant in the garden was a gift of the DRT chapter from El Paso. “They wanted to put a little piece of themselves here,” Lejsal said. Bennett brought her skill as an interior decorator to the project, and Lejsal, who said she has been preparing for the job of Cradle chair her whole life, contributed her skill as an artist. She has painted The Cradle and sells prints of the painting and another of Bryan to raise funds for maintenance. Both women, and so many other Daughters, share a love of history that shapes their daily lives. Denise Jones of Pearland is a new DRT member and serves as registrar for the Sidney Sherman chapter. That means she helps others re- search their family histories to find proof of lineage to satisfy membership requirements. Growing up, she had no living grandparents and longed to know her own family history, leading her to ancestry.com and, eventually, discovering that her forebears were part of the Old 300, original colonists of the Republic. “For me, it was about find- ing out who I am,” Jones said. On a quiet Galveston side street, these women and oth- ers keep the cradle rocking. (From top) The front gate at The Cradle was modeled after a gate at the state capitol; a bas relief plaque by noted German-American sculptor Elisabet Ney hangs in The Cradle. Ney’s works include sculptures and busts of many historical figures, including Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston.54 COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 Gerald and Betty Beathard built a beautiful home in Evia, a neighborhood in Galveston’s West End. Surrounded by lakes, the home features extensive porch space to enjoy scenic views. COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 55 HOMEPORT ‘IT’S JUST PERFECT’ Spacious porches are the stars at this West End island home story by BARBARA CANETTI | photos by STUART VILLANUEVA G erald and Betty Beathard enjoy many things about their large, lovely home in Evia, a neighborhood in Galveston’s West End. There’s plenty of room for family and friends and it’s a comfortable place to live, they agree. But the porches are the real attraction. The large, open areas surrounding two sides of their home have views of the lakes, neighborhood and walking trails. “We sit out there a lot,” Betty said. “Coffee in the morning, wine in the afternoon. It’s just perfect.” When the Beathards bought the land four years ago, the previous owners already had house plans designed. With the help of builder Christopher Ford, the Beathards tweaked the plans, adding the 56 COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 wrap-around porches, upstairs guest bedrooms and office. Most of the orig- inal downstairs plans were adapted for their needs and decorator Renee Herry helped organize the interiors for them. The main floor is a combination of the open kitchen, adjoining dining area and spacious living room. The primary bedroom suite is down the hall and more private. But the gener- ous “public” area is so open it never isolates anyone in the space because it’s one large room. The kitchen, bounded by a long Carrera quartz island, has more than ample storage, along with two pan- tries for bar supplies and small appli- ances. The backsplash of raised white tile reaches the ceiling in places and gives texture to the otherwise smooth surfaces. A wine cooler, stove and microwave are built into the island. The dining area, which can accom- modate eight people comfortably, is in addition to the seating for five along the island. Large high-back Windsor chairs pull up to the long wood table, which is HOMEPORT COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 57 set up along the back wall. White plan- tation shutters cover all the big windows and allow for natural light to stream into the room, giving it a light and bright feeling all day. Images of birds typical to the Gulf Coast hang on the walls and are credited to Gerald’s artistic eye and photography hobby. Although the couple is in Galveston only part-time — Gerald still works as a nephrologist in Houston — the house feels like home. “We used to have a beach house and that always felt like a temporary weekend place,” Betty said. “But this house has a sense of permanence for us. It feels welcoming and it always feels like home.” They have been in the house about two years. And as comfortable as the interi- ors are, it’s the house’s exterior and expansive porches that turn heads. First of all, it’s adjacent to two large lakes and the Beathards get to watch duck families waddling at the edge of the lakes along the water. They (From left) A tapestry from Peru hangs from the balusters of the staircase to the second floor; birds are a design element found throughout Gerald and Betty Beathard’s home. (Opposite, clockwise from top) The main floor features an open kitchen, dining area and spacious living room; the kitchen is bounded by a long Carrera quartz island; photographs of birds by Gerald Beathard hang on a wall behind the dining table that can accommodate eight people comfortably. 58 COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 HOMEPORT Wrap-around porches offer views of the surrounding lakes and the ducks, turtles and other critters that call the area home; a balcony on the second floor overlooks one of the lakes; Whether it’s with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening, Betty and Gerald Beathard enjoy spending time sitting on their porches. COASTMONTHLY.COM | ApriL 2023 59 G aido R eal e state G Roup Carolyn T. Gaido REALTOR® CLHMS, CRS, RSPS, SRS 713.851.3377 CarolynGaido@SandNSea.com CarolynGaido.com Sand `N Sea Properties, LLC Top Agent Since 1999 Michael J. Gaido, III REALTOR ® 409.457.4900 MichaelGaido.com Kimberly A. Gaido REALTOR ® , SRS 713.498.2020 sandnsea.com A trusted name with over 50 years of real estate experience 4116 AVENUE T $649,000 4203 PELICAN $719,000 21019 W. SUNSET BAY DR. $245,000 $1,225,000 12020A FM 3005 $399,000 3823 PERIWINKLE $1,229,000 can observe lake turtles and other critters frolicking on the banks and monitor the dark blue purple mar- tins as they arrive each spring and take residence in the special house on their property. Another benefit of their home is it’s near the neighborhood’s swim- ming pool and gazebo. So, they have easy access to a pool and party area but aren’t responsible for maintaining it. “It’s great when the family visits,” Betty said. “We sit out there a lot. Coffee in the morning, wine in the afternoon. It’s just perfect.” BETTY BEATHARD The porches are built with a manmade lumber product that requires almost no maintenance. They painted the ceiling light blue, which is a Southern tradition that reflects light so the space seems brighter, even during the twilight hours. A balcony on the second floor overlooks one of the lakes. Their yard is fenced, and with the help of Raegan Markey of Green Couture Co. in Galveston, the Beathards landscaped the pie-shaped plot with native plants, magnolia trees, foxtail ferns, blue plumbago, walls of jasmine and a gate arbor covered with pink Peggy Martin roses. Two metal long-legged cranes anchor one of the gardens and a variety of Mexican Talavera pottery lines the wide staircase with plants and succulents. “It is so peaceful out here,” Betty said. “There is always a breeze — more in the afternoon than in the morning. So, we move to the other side to take advantage of it.” Next >