Franklin-Wandless House Plaque

Robert Franklin, a true Galveston hero, once resided within these very walls. The Franklin-Wandless House, built in 1886, replaced a previous home lost to the Great Strand Fire. Robert, son of Benjamin C. Franklin (for whom Franklin County is named), was a distinguished attorney and judge. He was also a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. During the Civil War Battle of Galveston, Robert served as a “horse Marine”–a Confederate cavalryman aboard a modified battleship. As the officer in command of a captured Federal ship, he single-handedly apprehended the notorious Confederate deserter and Union spy “Nicaragua” Smith. The Franklin-Wandless House, believed to be designed by famed Galveston architect Nathaniel Tobey (designer of the Galveston Opera House), miraculously survived the devastating 1900 storm with only three feet of water flooding the lower level. Robert Franklin himself played a crucial role in the planning of the Galveston Seawall. In 1931, John F. and Veronica “Vera” Wandless, purchased the home from the Franklin family. John, a veteran of both the Boer War and World War I, had served as a mounted policeman and journalist in his native Canada before arriving in Galveston. During World War II, he contributed significantly to the war effort as a key Gulf Coast security and intelligence officer for Great Britain, while Vera managed the popular local British Allied & Merchant Navy Club. The couple later became U.S. citizens in the 1950s. Today, the Franklin-Wandless House stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring legacy of those who called it home. Its imposing Italianate architecture, with its pedimented windows and doors, corbelled eaves, and double-gallery porch, continues to captivate visitors. In 1999, this historical gem was officially recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, ensuring its preservation for generations to come.