"The Galveston County Commissioners Court began planning in 1886 to purchase a farm to house and care for the county's indigent citizens. A site was chosen and by June 1887 the county bought 213 acres of land on the banks of Clear Creek. The first building constructed was designed by local architect Nicholas J. Clayton and contained a dining hall. Joe Meyers was hired as the first superintendent. Those house at the farm included county citizens who were poor, elderly, mentally ill, and convicted of crimes.All physically able residents were required to help with farming chores. Funding for maintaining the farm was inadequate, and complaints about living conditions were investigated by the county. Portions of the poor farm land were sold to help finance operation of the facility. By 1913, the Commissioners Court closed the site. The land lay dormant until 1928, when the Galveston County Park was established at the urging of local citizens. A pavilion was constructed in 1929, and the park became the site for recreational activities and social gatherings. The pavilion was refurbished in 1975 and reconstructed in 1994 after a fire. In 1985 the site was named the Walter G. Hall Park. (1997)"

"A poor farm and a convict farm were established at League City [Galveston County] in the 1890s."
     from The Handbook of Texas Online

"I recently visited with one of my cousins, who just had her 100th birthday this year. Her father, Robert E. Lee Dick, managed the Galveston County Poor Farm in the early 1900's. His brother,  T. J. "Tump" Dick, was County Commissioner for Galveston County in League City." 
     Nancy Barginear  nanbark@eastex.net