How prominent/well known were/are Fertitta/Maceo families in Houston/Galveston

[texas7]

wouldnt say that. A lot of people live on the island so it's more than a tourist destination. It was a very bustling city at one time, particularly while Houston developed. The historical activities you inquire about impacted much of Galveston county and not solely Galveston.

[Clever nickname here]

Read up on the Balinese Room in Galveston.

Prohibition is when the Fertitta/Maceo clan rose to fame in Galveston

Also, one of the cousins was involved in running guns to Mexico in the 80s(?). I can't remember her full name other than her first name was Shelby nor can I find the Texas Month article about it. She later became a Houston developer.

[crone]

The Texas medical center is still there, do not forget.

The cotton warehouses and shipping were still doing business in the early 60s. The railroad company must have left with the cotton.The Corps of Engineers was still there last time I looked. What was the insurance company?
There is a lot more to Galveston than the beach. Natives didn't like tourist or hotel owners. Except a relative who owned the last gas station on the outward bound side of Broadway and leased the fishing concession from the city.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

Then Houston overtook Galveston long before the Fertittas/Maceos showed up. And when the Maceo/Fertittas came, it was basically a tourist destination.

Houston had already passed Galveston by 1900 in population and would have developed into the more prominent city regardless of whether the 1900 storm hit or not. Galveston was and is limited by its own geography, I cannot imagine more than 100k people living on that island full time even today.

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by crone

The Texas medical center is still there, do not forget.

UTMB medical school is there but the Texas Medical Center is in Houston.

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

Houston had already passed Galveston by 1900 in population and would have developed into the more prominent city regardless of whether the 1900 storm hit or not. Galveston was and is limited by its own geography, I cannot imagine more than 100k people living on that island full time even today.

The more protected nature of the Houston ship channel was the early impetus for the shift.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Originally Posted by Clever nickname here

Read up on the Balinese Room in Galveston.

Prohibition is when the Fertitta/Maceo clan rose to fame in Galveston

Also, one of the cousins was involved in running guns to Mexico in the 80s(?). I can't remember her full name other than her first name was Shelby nor can I find the Texas Month article about it. She later became a Houston developer.

So texas version of Griselda Blanco running guns to Mexican Cartels?

[crone]

Originally Posted by Clever nickname here

UTMB medical school is there but the Texas Medical Center is in Houston.

Thanks. Should have remembered. I just think John Sealy.

[H'ton]

Remember that the Italian- American mafia actually started in New Orleans in the 1870s (not too far from Galveston). Also, remember that the Port of Galveston was second to only Ellis Island in receiving European Immigrants in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Many made there way to the Texas interior and middle America.

The opportunity (growth of Texas + prohibition) was definitely there for a Sicilian, or southern Italian, crime organization. Many did take advantage of it. The ironic thing is that prohibition did not reduce America's desire for alcohol but it did create more organized crime. It didn't only aide them...it gave them ALL the power and leverage.

[Clever nickname here]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

So texas version of Griselda Blanco running guns to Mexican Cartels?

Shelby was a two-bit amateur in comparison and she and her partner got sideways with everyone involved pretty quick but she threaten all parties with her MOB connections and they let her go back to the states. If it had been 20 years later they would have killed her on the spot.