The Great Storm Survivor ABNC's Farmhouse
Written by Erika Davis with Photos by Stacy Holcomb
A History of Survival
On September 8, 1900, a massive hurricane hit Galveston Island. Now aptly known as The Great Storm, this devastating natural disaster swept through the Gulf Coast with very little warning, doing what would be calculated today as millions of dollars worth of damage. Yet, they persevered, and many of the original structures still stand today. Of course, this is all well known history, but what you might not know is that other parts of the greater Houston area were also affected at the time. Cities as far inland as Pearland and Richmond reported widespread devastation to their populations and infrastructure. But they rebuilt. They persevered.
Just like in Galveston, you can still find surviving structures throughout the mainland, and today the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) has decided to recognize the incredible and hidden history of these buildings with special plaques dedicated to their survival. These dedications are commonplace on the island, but as of this fall, Armand Bayou Nature Center’s own Hanson Farmhouse will be receiving one!
The Journey from Bay to Bayou
1895: Built near Galveston Bay, the home originally belonged to Clarence Roberts and his family, who had moved to the area from Minnesota.
1900: When The Great Storm hit five years later, it knocked the home off its foundation blocks. The Robertses responded not by abandoning the site, but by moving the entire structure slightly further inland, near what is now the intersection of Highway 146 and FM 518 in Kemah.
1905–1970s: After Clarence died in 1905, his mother took over the farm. The property was then passed down through several generations of the family, eventually reaching Everett A. Hanson, Jr.
1982: Everett made the incredibly generous decision to donate his family’s historical home to ABNC. The home then made its final, memorable journey—it was moved via barge across Clear Lake, then by flatbed trailer to its current resting place as part of the Martyn Farm on the ABNC grounds.
The Farmhouse Today
As of 2025, the now 130 year old structure is used by ABNC as a representative site to teach visitors about history and farm life between 1890 and 1910. Most of the interior on the first floor, including the upholstery on the parlor suite, is original to the time period, and helps to complete the picture of what a typical family home would look like. In 1982, not long after the Hanson Farmhouse arrived on the property, a barn was erected in the style of the original Martyn barn. Various other buildings and structures dot ABNC’s Martyn Farm site for teaching purposes, and is one of ABNC’s most beloved landmarks.
ABNC’s Hanson Farmhouse is truly a pillar of Texas history, and the Galveston Historical Foundation’s acknowledgement of this resilience is an honor, and we are thrilled that the GHF will officially present the plaque to ABNC during our 2025 Fall Festival weekend. Here’s to another 130 years!
