Winifred Gordy, the Selma, and a Vaudeville Act. (original) (raw)

While no one is keeping count, I have written a lot of pieces for Texasescapes.com about the people of Galveston; most of them from days gone by, but then a significant number about some of those who, today, comprise the living island�s rich fabric.

It�s common knowledge among islanders that Sarah Bernhardt, Anna Pavlova, the Great Houdini and Enrico Caruso played The Galveston�s Grand 1894 Opera House.

But the notoriety of one star-studded performance has, over time, fallen through the cracks.

In the November 26, 1904 edition of the Galveston Tribune readers learned that Theodora Howell was to star in a traveling vaudeville review that would open that night at the Grand.

Theodora Howell
Photo courtesy Winifred Gordy Family

She and her husband, Edwin, were well known in show business back then.

Theodora had a wonderful operatic voice.

And then as so often happens, Edwin and Theodora decided to get out of show business and to make Galvestonhome.

If you move time forward just shy of twenty years, Edwin is now a boat captain, and he and his crew, under governmental orders, are to sail one of the famous concrete ships, the Selma, on its last voyage.

It was to be brought to Galveston Bay from Tampico, Mexico, because it had a cracked hull, and no one could be certain that the subsequent repair would make the vessel adequately seaworthy.

Captain Howell�s specific orders were to sail it into Galveston Bay where it would be sunk in waters adjacent to Pelican Island.

Selma (the old ship)
Photo courtesy Rosenberg Library, Galveston

For almost 90 years it has been seen by millions of ferry riders, fished from by thousands, and was even the home of a hermit for a decade or two, beginning about 1946.

In case you�re ever asked, the hermit�s name was Clesmey N. LeBlanc, but everyone called him Frenchy. Christie �the Beachcomber� Mitchell couldn�t resist wagging, �Frenchy changed his shirt as often as he changed his tattoos.�

So while Capt. Howell was sailing ships, Theodora was teaching voice lessons and raising their daughter, Winnie, whose real name is Winifred.

	Winfred GordyPhoto courtesy Debra Weaver

Miss Winnie married Albert Gordy, who worked at Black Hardware for 30 years before he passed away. And then she went to work at the United States National Bank, and retired from there after 25 years.

She was also a prolific artist whose works are well respected. About thirty years ago, Miss Winnie painted an acrylic of the historic home my wife and I lived in on Ball. It hangs in my Dallas home, today.

This past Mother�s Day, Winnie Gordy and her family will celebrate her 72nd Mother�s Day on this planet, and it was at Miss Winnie�s home, the west end brick home where Edward and Theodora had also lived for decades before they both passed away.

Copyright 2013 �

William S. Cherry
"Bill Cherry's Galveston Memories"June 8, 2013 column
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