barronracing74 Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 (edited) Edited October 31, 2020 by barronracing74 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 Me and a couple of my friends went back to the old Salvato family property last night and decided to look around. If you didnt know, the Salvatos were one of the big Mafia familys in Galveston County.Well, theres a big barn located on the property which we entered and looked around in. We found alot of very old kitchen equipment and diner booths, old records, cigarette and coke dispensers, giant baseball betting boards, old cash registers, many of the familys bank records and high school documents, a couple bottles of homemade alcohol, and a giant safe. Their used to be alot of gambling equipment but the place has been slowly gutted due to Dickinson ISD buying the land which means the barn will most likely get torn down. Im gonna try and go back and snag some pictures before its completely gutted and torn down. Just thought Id share with yall what I thought was pretty interesting.Wonder what's going to happen to all that stuff...old records (probably damaged by the weather), coke dispensers...very eerie that it was left behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted October 9, 2008 Author Share Posted October 9, 2008 Its most likely just gonna get trashed. Well Im going back tonight and plan on grabbing the big baseball betting boards for my garage. Some call that stealing. I call it perserving history. Last night i found the original lease paper to the actual land. Needless to say I snagged it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F. Barnes Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 The Fertitta and Salvato families were huge in the gambling rackets on the island. Franco "Frank" Salvato was at one time a kingpin for Joe Bonanno. I have a lot of direct info on a lot of this. My father was a lead investigator for the Texas Rangers Task Force on Organized Crime, for years. My father kept copies of files on every case he ever worked on. After he passed away, I inherited boxes of files, store rooms full. All sorts of stuff, even stuff on Jack Kennedy's assasination. You have some cool stuff on your hands, somewhere I have a photo of Frank Salvato and Joe Bonanno togther at Joe Campisi's place in Dallas. I'll try to dig it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted October 9, 2008 Share Posted October 9, 2008 The Fertitta and Salvato families were huge in the gambling rackets on the island. Franco "Frank" Salvato was at one time a kingpin for Joe Bonanno. I have a lot of direct info on a lot of this. My father was a lead investigator for the Texas Rangers Task Force on Organized Crime, for years. My father kept copies of files on every case he ever worked on. After he passed away, I inherited boxes of files, store rooms full. All sorts of stuff, even stuff on Jack Kennedy's assasination. You have some cool stuff on your hands, somewhere I have a photo of Frank Salvato and Joe Bonanno togther at Joe Campisi's place in Dallas. I'll try to dig it up.Now that's bound to be some good storytelling in those records. All the Galveston Bay-area Italian families knew what business the Fertittas and Salvatos were in. When I was a child we'd sometimes go to the latin mass at the church in Dickinson, and even then, into the 1970s, you'd see certain men who were receiving a particluar type of 'respect' from the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted October 9, 2008 Author Share Posted October 9, 2008 Yeah im really interested in learning about the family. I found the school records to Michael Salvato which includes his diploma, awards, and all kinds of cool stuff. Also found a picture of Joe Salvato eating dinner with Ruth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoriginalkj Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Yeah im really interested in learning about the family. I found the school records to Michael Salvato which includes his diploma, awards, and all kinds of cool stuff. Also found a picture of Joe Salvato eating dinner with Ruth.Exactly where is this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Native Son Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I had a history teacher/coach at Madison HS who spent hours talking about how deeply the mob was integrated into small coastal communities..even as a kid we all knew about Galveston and the Maceos, but I thought Coach Cuttler was nuts and blowing smoke in an attempt to keep a small part of his Texas history class awake....see, it threads like this that keep me on this board.....I would love to see some pictures of the stuff you get.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 The Fertitta and Salvato families were huge in the gambling rackets on the island. Franco "Frank" Salvato was at one time a kingpin for Joe Bonanno. I have a lot of direct info on a lot of this. My father was a lead investigator for the Texas Rangers Task Force on Organized Crime, for years. My father kept copies of files on every case he ever worked on. After he passed away, I inherited boxes of files, store rooms full. All sorts of stuff, even stuff on Jack Kennedy's assasination. You have some cool stuff on your hands, somewhere I have a photo of Frank Salvato and Joe Bonanno togther at Joe Campisi's place in Dallas. I'll try to dig it up."Things started to get out of hand in 1933 when a young aviator named Lee Hausinger robbed Frank Fertitta, a member of the Maceo family." Says Hausinger died shortly after that, from a bullet to the heart. source: Galveston, author: Gary CartwrightSounds like someone you wouldn't want to mess with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 "Things started to get out of hand in 1933 when a young aviator named Lee Hausinger robbed Frank Fertitta, a member of the Maceo family." Says Hausinger died shortly after that, from a bullet to the heart. source: Galveston, author: Gary CartwrightSounds like someone you wouldn't want to mess with.Im going back tonight to grab the baseball betting board so when I get back ill post some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Im going back tonight to grab the baseball betting board so when I get back ill post some pics Are you back yet? Hope no one was shooting at you, since that property is owned by someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 I personally wouldn't mess with the mob. I love my knee caps. Ironically the Festa Italiano is just gearing up. Una grande famiglia felice - One big happy family! or rather one big trigger happy family - Una grande colui che ha griletto facile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillowBend56 Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Some Italian families were strawberry farmers in the Dickinson area years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumber2 Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 There was another joint on Highway 6 in the "Algoa" part of Santa Fe called the Plantation. It was owned by the same family, and catered to the same types of vice. The property has been vacant for years, although it is presently for sale. The brick entrance gates are still in place on the highway. The building has not been visible from the highway for some time. It may be gone.There was also a horse track just down the road. This site is now an abandoned sand pit that was recently cleaned up by the community. It was famous for all the tires that were dumped there through out the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 Everytime Iv been there has been at night so no pictures yet, but I did get the baseball betting board and cleaned it up: Anyone got any info on it like what its worth? What the 1st day, 2nd day, etc means? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 you should go to antiques roadshow and tell the story of how you got it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 you should go to antiques roadshow and tell the story of how you got it Lol I dont wanna carry it anymore! It so heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retama Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I used to live and work down around there and nothing will start up a nice long conversation than asking if Dickinson was controlled by the mob. I have heard some pretty wild tales from folks who are from that neck of the woods on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bred Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I used to live and work down around there and nothing will start up a nice long conversation than asking if Dickinson was controlled by the mob. I have heard some pretty wild tales from folks who are from that neck of the woods on the subject.Do tell, Retama. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to hear about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic08 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Everytime Iv been there has been at night so no pictures yet, but I did get the baseball betting board and cleaned it up: Anyone got any info on it like what its worth? What the 1st day, 2nd day, etc means? Where is this barn located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 (edited) you should go to antiques roadshow and tell the story of how you got it HaHa...I agree with TexasVines...cool pic. Edited November 20, 2008 by NenaE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Yeah.. i call this stealing. Everytime Iv been there has been at night so no pictures yet, but I did get the baseball betting board and cleaned it up: Anyone got any info on it like what its worth? What the 1st day, 2nd day, etc means? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F. Barnes Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Everytime Iv been there has been at night so no pictures yet, but I did get the baseball betting board and cleaned it up: Anyone got any info on it like what its worth? What the 1st day, 2nd day, etc means? If I had to guess, I'd say it was meant to cover a Parlay type betting on a series, like maybe a five or six game homestand against one team, There weren't as many teams and travel was generally by bus or rail back then, so homestands were longer, and travel was limited to as little as possible I am sure. And the High was probably similar to an over and under type of deal. Just a guess!!! Either way, that a very cool piece you have there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 I could care less is this is stealing. It was in the barn thats going to be torn down, so it wouldve been trash. The barns right off FM517 behind Barber Middle School Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I could care less is this is stealing. It was in the barn thats going to be torn down, so it wouldve been trash.I don't have a dog in this fight so I don't really care, but the first thing that occurred to me is that perhaps some family member or relative who had a legal claim to (or at least permission) might have wanted to look through the barn to see if there was anything interesting there before it was torn down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bred Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Looking around on the web, I found this book! I'm about to order it and didn't know if anyone here was aware of it:www.NoGreaterDeception.comDICKINSON and KEMAH TEXAS Come to Life in New Book NO GREATER DECEPTION A True Texas Story Balinese Room, Cedar Oaks, Chili Bowl, Crystal Palace, Dickinson Social Club, Kemah Den, Key Largo, Rose Garden, Silver Slipper, Wagon Wheel, White House Night Club and Casino For_Immediate_Release:May 7, 2004 (Press Release) -- NO GREATER DECEPTION A True Texas Story by SYDNEY NEWMAN DOTSON is "a real life Texas Soap Opera of Love, Death, Betrayal and Justice. Move over Dallas, here comes Houston!" says Liz Carpenter, Author and Lady Bird Johnson WHITE HOUSE Press Secretary. "Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, Officers and Deputies are shooting me emails like bullets," says Sydney. "They want to know my father's name, the Police Chief that married the town whore. I was recently on the NBC Today Show in Midland, Texas. The Midland Reporter Telegram newspaper devoted an entire page to me.""I remember the lighted billboards, casinos, bawdy houses, hookers, hotels, restaurants and local businesses that lined the streets of Dickinson, Galveston and the Kemah Boardwalk. Salvatore Sam Maceo and his brother Rose owned most of the casinos along with partners Anthony Fertitta, Pete Salvato and the Emmitte brothers. They kept the Texas Rangers, Deputy Sheriffs and local Police very busy. Some of them got rich by tipping off the establishments of pending raids. These lawmen were known as Rose's Night Riders. My father was at the top of the list. At six foot six, he served as the Maceo's and Bobby Moody's bodyguard during this colorful time period. The Edgewater Lounge, now known as Jimmy Walker's Landry's Restaurant, was the most guarded casino in Kemah." "Remnants of casinos, motels, night clubs, speakeasies and bawdy houses remain in Galveston County today in the form of gambling chips, match books, dinner menus, table napkins, and monogrammed towels, restaurant glasses, and decks of cards. Many local law enforcement officers on the take hung monogrammed towels from The Silvi D Motel in their homes.""Hold onto your bootstraps! Sydney and her sister Heather will take you on a gut-wrenching roller coaster ride that occurs after their father dies and their stepmother, a well known hooker, produces a suspicious Last Will and Testament that leaves the stepmother the entire estate. Was it normal for Joe Bonanno and other well-known gangsters to visit their home? How involved was their father in the gambling and prostitution rings along the Galveston Bay? Were his connections to George Bush, Lyndon Johnson and New York Mafia Kingpin Joe Bonanno much deeper than they seemed? Was he involved in the JFK assassination?""No Greater Deception, A True Texas Story," ranks right up there with "Galveston Island of Chance" by Frank Chalfant, "Galveston" by Ray Miller, "Galveston: A History of the Island" by Gary Cartwright, Is There a Leprechaun in the Gazebo" by Pinky Hull, "From Tent Sow to Opera" by Pinky Hull, "Galveston" by Charles W. Hayes, "The Gamblers" by Time-Life Books, "Isle of Illicit Pleasures" by Alan Waldman, "The Galvez and the Gambling Years" by Janice Williams, "Gambling in Galveston" by Henry David, "Galveston: A History" by David G. McComb, "Aces High: The Maceo Legend" by Jennifer Kelso, "Endo of the Gambling Era Hits Home" by Therese Deats, "This Week in Galveston" by Garry Pliner, "Galveston Week" by Christie Mitchell, along with "Bill Cherry's Galveston Memories," and "Galveston: Lore, Legend and Downright Lies."NO GREATER DECEPTION is available on AMAZON.com and BARNES and NOBLE.com.For more info: www.NoGreaterDeception.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I don't have a dog in this fight so I don't really care, but the first thing that occurred to me is that perhaps some family member or relative who had a legal claim to (or at least permission) might have wanted to look through the barn to see if there was anything interesting there before it was torn down.if that is the case then I am sure members of a CRIME family won't have trouble locating an Astros fan that lives in an area hit hard by the hurricane that likes to wakeboard for spring break and restoring vintiage Austrian dirtbikes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margokorin Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 burn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barronracing74 Posted November 26, 2008 Author Share Posted November 26, 2008 if that is the case then I am sure members of a CRIME family won't have trouble locating an Astros fan that lives in an area hit hard by the hurricane that likes to wakeboard for spring break and restoring vintiage Austrian dirtbikesHaha, the things you can find out by google searching my username. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasVines Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Haha, the things you can find out by google searching my username. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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