Historical Homes
Jacob and Sallie Sonnenthiel house is located at the corner of 19th Street and Sealy and is one of the city’s premier landmark buildings.
“The exuberant design of the Victorian era house exhibits influences from Eastlake, Gothic, and Italianate architecture styles,” says GHF. And the story behind the Galveston home is equally fascinating.
The Sonnenthiel House Rose From The Ashes And Is A Galveston Treasure
According to GHF, “After the Sonnenthiel home was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1885 that decimated over 40 city blocks, Sonnenthiel bought the lot on the northeast corner of 19th Street and Sealy and from the ashes of the great fire, had this magnificent residence built.“
“The house was noted by architect and author Howard Barnstone in his book, The Galveston That Was, and described as having been “planned from the inside out,” meaning the interior spaces were planned prior to the exterior design.“
“Although that architect has never been identified, and the plans for the house were not signed, some sources attribute the design to Nicholas Clayton based on certain stylistic elements common in Clayton’s work, yet no definitive proof to link the house to Clayton has ever been found. The house was completed by January 1, 1888, when local newspapers reported the cost to be $14,000.“
