< PreviousCall us at 409-744-0774 Lic# TA CLB9653E Established in 1975 for all your air conditioning and heating needs. NEVER MISS A SINGLE ISSUE! COASTMONTHLY.COM/SUBSCRIBE 409.683.5201 60 | Parade of Homes | 2020 2020 | Parade of Homes | 61 Stewart Title: Guiding Galveston residents through real estate transactions PAID ADVERTISEMENT W eathering every climate in the business world is not something to be taken lightly. Like catching light- ning in a bottle, all the right players and factors have to be in place and then, with a little luck you may have something. Doing it for more than 125 years and being successful is remarkable. Stewart Title has managed to do just that. Now a member of the New York Stock Exchange, this multinational corpora- tion started with humble beginnings. Stewart Title was founded in Galveston in 1893, when Maco Stewart Sr. purchased the Gulf City Ab- stract Company. The enthusi- astic businessman recruited brothers Minor and Clegg and brother-in-law W.C. Morris to help build the company. Unbeknownst to them, the foursome would be a driving force in creating the company we see today. They were that lightning in a bottle. The young men set about taking the world by storm and developing the small title company seemed like a great first step. In 1897, W.C. Morris officially joined the office. Together, the men created the first title insurance in the state of Texas and the company grew. Within a few years, there were offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Galveston. Stay- ing true to their local roots, they kept the home office in Galveston. The company grew more successful and a new entity was opened in Houston under the moniker of Stewart Title Guaranty Company. During the 1950s and ’60s, the company opened branch- es in several states bringing the number of locations to 180 by 1960. The business also looked to streamline service, first affiliating with a computerized title plant located in California and then establishing one in Houston. By 1972, the company had taken the name Stewart Infor- mation Services Corporation (SISCO) and was leading the charge in the digitalization of the title industry. By 1990, more than 2,000 offices were issuing policies and they had long surpassed the $100 million mark in rev- enue. The company collected accolades, including being named on Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 fastest-grow- ing companies, an award the company would receive again in 1999 and 2004. The early 2000s saw the company making the Forbes Platinum 400 list of America’s best-performing big compa- nies in 1999 and 2002-2004. Stewart Title has been restructured and operations today are much larger. Fred Eppinger is now CFO of Stewart Information Services Corporation (SISCO), and oversees all company opera- tions, and David Norris is the senior vice president of the Houston division. The long-lasting company ensures that they have the best employees on their staff and many employees have been with the company for more than 20 years and have the knowledge to prove it. For example, Branch Opera- tions Manager Harriet Dues has worked for Stewart Title for more than 30 years. She oversees operations at the downtown office and Pirates Beach office. Stewart Title serves more than just Galveston, it serves all of Galveston County. The company would like to recognize its experienced and loyal branch managers on the mainland, including Debbie Self in Texas City, Kathy Tav- arez in Santa Fe, Dee Jiminez in League City, and D’Ann An- drus in Friendswood. Not only does the company appreciate all of their hard work, but the clients appreciate their time and service as well. The future holds exciting things for Stewart Title with more expansion coming in the form of both new loca- tions and services. One won- ders if Maco Stewart Sr. had any idea of the empire he would create when he caught that lightning in a bottle. 62 | Parade of Homes | 2020 Joe Tramonte Realty: Galveston mansion exudes history and elegance PAID ADVERTISEMENT I n 1893, Swiss immigrant and influential Galveston philanthropist Henry Rosenberg died and left a $30,000 bequest to build a permanent home for his wife Letitia, stipulating how it was to be named after her. One of the grand historical gems of Galveston designed by noted architect, Alfred Muller, was finally built in 1895 and has since been known as the Letitia Rosenberg Home for Women. The Great Storm of 1900 severely damaged the home, but she lives on to tell the story of her decline and restoration to grandeur. The current owners have done a painstaking and loving restoration for approximately the west half of the home, with the east side ready for your own restoration. Stepping into the main entry with its 5-foot, hand-crafted, mahogany-pan- eled wainscoting, you will be greeted by stunning period crystal chandeliers and refin- ished longleaf pine hardwood floors. The second floor is the main living area with formals and all plus three half baths. Adding to the beauty and functionality are multiple built-in bookcases and buffets laid with granite. No grand dame of a home is complete without being graced by a stunning winding staircase and her own 528-square-foot theater room in the main area. The owners have added approximately 22,000 pounds of Carrara white and black marble in the kitchen and bathrooms. Interesting details abound, such as the hidden pull-out kitchen cabinet that leads to a stairway to the third floor. The third floor is home to three deluxe bedroom/bath- room suites — each have their own private sitting area. The owners have floored approximately 4,500-square- feet of the attic on the fourth floor. From there, you can access the roof through a latched doorway to view the Gulf of Mexico and many Galveston landmarks. Mod- ern amenities include the two-person elevator from the ground floor to the attic. With its multiple balconies, verandas, courtyard and lus- cious landscaped gardens, this home is to be enjoyed inside and out. The original shutters still protect and enhance the home after 117 years. Many historical pieces, from St. Pat- rick’s Church, the Buccaneer Hotel, and architectural finds from around the world, now embellish this great home. The onion-domed Cupola was blown away in the Great Storm of 1900 but now has been restored, utilizing its original beams found on the fourth floor. It, once again, sits atop this beautiful and happy home. This home is listed at $2,199,500. Galveston - West End 409-737-1488 13680 FM 3005 Friendswood 281-819-4280 601 S. Friendswood Dr. #103 Texas City 409-948-1771 905 Logan Galveston 409-763-4641 222 Kempner League City 281-332-3521 2225 Phillips Road, Suite 100 Santa Fe 409-925-3800 13227 FM 1764 WE PROVIDE SEAMLESS EXPERIENCES THAT MOVE PEOPLE.Next >