History of Kemah (From the Kipp Collection)
KEMAH, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS
Page 4
A Southern Pacific railroad line was built and passed through the area bringing more people, so the Bradford and Kipp families subdivided the land they owned into town lots in 1898 and established the township of Evergreen. The village was basically a summer resort. [1]
The hurricane of 1900 flattened the town and in 1901 Henry Kipp and his wife moved back to Evergreen and built a lovely two-story home with wrap-around porches and a widow’s walk. This home is still standing on 10th Street. Jane and James Bradford also built a similar two-story home facing the bay not too far from the Kipp home. [2]
The Kemah post office was established November 12, 1907 by John H. Kipp Sr. The name of the town was changed to Kemah because there was already an Evergreen, Texas. One local legend says that “Kemah,” an Indian word meaning “wind in the face,” was chosen by the residents. [3] Another local legend holds that Kemah was actually name for an Old Man Hamek, with his name being spelled backward. [4]
Most families on the bay had boats for transportation; therefore one of the first businesses in Kemah was the Platzer Boatyard. Owned and operated by Herman Platzer the yard was located on Clear Creek, which offered deep water for docking while the shallow bay did not. New boats were built and old boats repaired and refinished. [5]
In about 1900 the first Seabrook-Kemah ferry was built. It was powered by a hand-cranked cable system. Before this, a skiff was used. [6] George Dudley, Robbie Strasding, and[1] Dolores Kenyon, From Arrows to Astronauts. ( League City, TX: The National Association of Conservation Districts, 1976), 27.
[2] Kenyon, 27-29.
[3] Kenyon, 27; National Archives and Record Service, Industrial Branch (Post Office), Washington D.C.; Beverly Miller, “Kipps’s Dream Still Blows in the Wind.” Retrospect. (1988), 20. Then naming of Kemah is repeated from local tradition and cannot be documented. The author has not found a Mr. Hamek listed in any records.
[4] B. Miller, 20.
[5] Kenyon, 28.
[6] “The First 100 Year.” A Day at the Bay. (October 3, 1987).