Brownsville Architecture: A Visual History by Pino Shah and Eileen Mattei
Brownsville Architecture: A Visual History reveals the heritage and history of Texas’s southernmost city as told by its buildings. Outstanding architectural images by Pino Shah show the influence of diverse cultures and regional styles that have shaped the border city’s built environment since 1841. Eileen Mattei weaves architectural details and Brownsville history into a narrative that illustrates how buildings mirror the people, the place and the times. Here is a new perspective for looking at more than 100 architecturally significant buildings that are often also historically and culturally important. Pino Shah @ArtByPino is a world heritage, architecture, and performing arts photographer based in McAllen, Texas, and Ahmedabad, India. A freelance writer based in the Rio Grande Valley, Eileen Mattei writes travel, nature and history articles for Texas Coop Power, Texas Highways, and other magazines. She is the author of At the Crossroads: Harlingen’s First 100 Years; Leading the Way: McAllen’s First 100 Years, and For the Good of My Patients: The History of Medicine in the Rio Grande Valley.
Brownsville Architecture: A Visual History reveals the heritage and history of Texas’s southernmost city as told by its buildings. Outstanding architectural images by Pino Shah show the influence of diverse cultures and regional styles that have shaped the border city’s built environment since 1841. Eileen Mattei weaves architectural details and Brownsville history into a narrative that illustrates how buildings mirror the people, the place and the times. Here is a new perspective for looking at more than 100 architecturally significant buildings that are often also historically and culturally important.
Pino Shah @ArtByPino is a world heritage, architecture, and performing arts photographer based in McAllen, Texas, and Ahmedabad, India.
A freelance writer based in the Rio Grande Valley, Eileen Mattei writes travel, nature and history articles for Texas Coop Power, Texas Highways, and other magazines. She is the author of At the Crossroads: Harlingen’s First 100 Years; Leading the Way: McAllen’s First 100 Years, and For the Good of My Patients: The History of Medicine in the Rio Grande Valley.
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BROWNSVILLE ARCHITECTURE<br />
A VISUAL HISTORY SHAH AND MATTEI
Cover: Historic <strong>Brownsville</strong> Museum, La Nueva Libertidad,<br />
Texas Southmost College, Immaculate Conception Catholic<br />
Cathedral <strong>and</strong> George Kraigher House<br />
Right: Historic <strong>Brownsville</strong> Museum<br />
TYPOGRAPHY, LAYOUT, AND GRAPHIC DESIGN<br />
ISBN<br />
Carrie Rood<br />
Hardcover 9781948049030<br />
Paperback 9781948049047<br />
ePub 9781948049054<br />
© 2018 <strong>by</strong> publisher, Deval ‘<strong>Pino</strong>’ <strong>Shah</strong>, @ArtBy<strong>Pino</strong>.com,<br />
1007 W US Highway 83, Pharr, Texas 78501. All rights<br />
to images reserved <strong>by</strong> the Deval ‘<strong>Pino</strong>’ <strong>Shah</strong>. Rights to<br />
narratives reserved <strong>by</strong> <strong>Eileen</strong> <strong>Mattei</strong>. Reproduction of any<br />
kind requires prior written authorization from the publisher.
CONTENTS YEARS<br />
1841 Neale House (<strong>Brownsville</strong> Art League).....................................................................................................2<br />
1849 La Joya.....................................................................................................................................................4<br />
1851 Miller-Treviño de los Santos Coy House (Stillman House Museum).........................................................6<br />
1852 Miller Building <strong>and</strong> Webb (subsequently Kleiber) Drug Store Building...................................................8<br />
1852 City Market House (<strong>Brownsville</strong> City Hall)................................................................................................9<br />
1859 Immaculate Conception Catholic Cathedral..........................................................................................10<br />
1859 Immaculate Conception brick building..................................................................................................12<br />
1869 Fort Brown Post Hospital (Gorgas Hall Administration Building)...........................................................14<br />
1868 Fort Brown Comm<strong>and</strong>ant’s Quarters......................................................................................................16<br />
1872 W. H. Russell-J. J. Cocke House.............................................................................................................19<br />
1882 Jose Fern<strong>and</strong>ez/Olvera Building............................................................................................................21<br />
1883 Cameron County Courthouse & Masonic Lodge..................................................................................22<br />
1884 J. H. Fernández y Hermano Building.....................................................................................................23<br />
1883 Miguel Fern<strong>and</strong>ez Building/ Fern<strong>and</strong>ez Hide Yard................................................................................24<br />
1886 Lucio Bouis Vault....................................................................................................................................25<br />
1887 El Globo Chiquito Building (Laiseca Store)............................................................................................26<br />
1888 S. W. Brooks House................................................................................................................................27<br />
1890 M. Alonzo Buildings...............................................................................................................................29<br />
1891 Benjamin Kowalski-Miguel Fernández, Jr., House.................................................................................30<br />
1892 La Madrileña Building............................................................................................................................31<br />
1892 Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, Rancho Santo Tomás, Rabb-Starck House...............................................32<br />
1893 El Alamo, Lucio Bouis Building..............................................................................................................33<br />
1893 La Nueva Libertad Building/Cueto Building..........................................................................................34<br />
1894 Field-Pacheco Buildings.........................................................................................................................35<br />
1894 Browne-Wagner-L<strong>and</strong>rum House...........................................................................................................36<br />
1900 Rock-Gómez House................................................................................................................................38<br />
1904 Augustín Celaya House..........................................................................................................................39<br />
1907 Webb-Martínez House...........................................................................................................................40<br />
1909 Hicks-Gregg House................................................................................................................................41<br />
1910 The Bollack Store Building.....................................................................................................................43<br />
1911 José Celaya House.................................................................................................................................44<br />
1912 Tomás Tijerina House.............................................................................................................................45<br />
1912 Mrs. José Fernández House...................................................................................................................46<br />
1913 Sacred Heart Catholic Church................................................................................................................47<br />
1913 Cameron County Courthouse (Dancy Building).....................................................................................49<br />
1924 Commercial Building..............................................................................................................................52<br />
1924 Enrique Manautou House......................................................................................................................53<br />
1925 Louis Brulay House.................................................................................................................................54<br />
1926 Manuel J. Cisneros House......................................................................................................................55<br />
1926 Hylton S. Lynch-Rufus Ransome House..................................................................................................56<br />
1926 W. D. Van Siclen House..........................................................................................................................57<br />
1926 <strong>Brownsville</strong> Herald Home Beautiful........................................................................................................58<br />
1927 First Pres<strong>by</strong>terian Church.......................................................................................................................59<br />
1927 McDermott Motor Company Building...................................................................................................60<br />
1927 Aziz Brothers Building............................................................................................................................61<br />
1927 Borderl<strong>and</strong> Hardware Co. Building........................................................................................................62<br />
1927 Hotel El Jardín........................................................................................................................................63<br />
1927 Capitol Theater......................................................................................................................................65<br />
1927 <strong>Brownsville</strong> High School <strong>and</strong> Junior College.........................................................................................66<br />
1927 Casa Alta (Fitch Apartments)..................................................................................................................67<br />
1927 Nannie M. <strong>and</strong> Henry N. Hansen House (altered)..................................................................................68<br />
1927 Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church...............................................................................................69<br />
1927 E. K. Goodrich House.............................................................................................................................70<br />
1927 Church of the Advent.............................................................................................................................71<br />
1927 Mrs. Mary V. Gay House.........................................................................................................................73<br />
1928 Cameron Hotel.......................................................................................................................................74<br />
1928 Southern Pacific Passenger Station (Historic <strong>Brownsville</strong> Museum).......................................................75<br />
1928 <strong>Brownsville</strong> Fire Station #2.....................................................................................................................78<br />
1928 Sethman Apartments.............................................................................................................................79<br />
1928 James I. George House..........................................................................................................................80<br />
1928 George K. Aziz House............................................................................................................................81<br />
1929 Tewfik Aziz House...................................................................................................................................82<br />
1929 Nel-Roy Apartments...............................................................................................................................83<br />
1929 Lic. E. Urtusástegui House.....................................................................................................................84<br />
1930 Board-<strong>and</strong>-batten double house............................................................................................................86<br />
1930 First (Central-?) Christian Church............................................................................................................87<br />
1930 C. W. Dawley House - was renovated....................................................................................................88<br />
1930 Fausto Yturria House..............................................................................................................................89<br />
1930 Harold E. Gray House.............................................................................................................................90<br />
1930 F. L. Rockwell House...............................................................................................................................91<br />
1930 Leon Hinkley House...............................................................................................................................92<br />
1930 H. E. Blum Duplex House.......................................................................................................................93<br />
1931 U.S. Courthouse <strong>and</strong> Post Office...........................................................................................................94<br />
1931 The Argentine........................................................................................................................................95<br />
1931 Charles Pitt House..................................................................................................................................96<br />
1931 Edwin Pitt House....................................................................................................................................97<br />
1932 Congregation Beth El Temple................................................................................................................98<br />
1935 Royal D. Sundell House..........................................................................................................................99<br />
1935 Pan American Airways Engineering <strong>and</strong> Accounting Buildings...........................................................100<br />
1935 Henry G. Krausse Jr. House..................................................................................................................101<br />
1935 Dr. Thurman A. Kinder, Jr., House........................................................................................................102<br />
1936 Larry F. Lightner House........................................................................................................................103<br />
1936 Dr. W. S. Merrick House.......................................................................................................................104<br />
1937 George Kraigher House.......................................................................................................................105<br />
1937 Malcolm P. McNair House....................................................................................................................107<br />
1938 Casa Poinciana, Hubert R. Hudson House (altered).............................................................................108<br />
1940 Katherine Barnes <strong>and</strong> S. Miller Williams, Jr., House.............................................................................110<br />
1940 Salomé McAllen <strong>and</strong> William Scanlan House (altered).........................................................................111<br />
1940 C. S. Eidman House.............................................................................................................................112<br />
1941 Dr. James L. Rentfro House..................................................................................................................113<br />
1947 Dr. Vidal Longoria Clinic.......................................................................................................................114<br />
1949 Majestic Theater...................................................................................................................................115<br />
1949 Kenneth Faxon Building.......................................................................................................................116<br />
1949 Louise Beard <strong>and</strong> Morris P. Moore House............................................................................................117<br />
1950 Guillermo Peña House.........................................................................................................................119<br />
1950 All Souls Unitarian Church....................................................................................................................120<br />
1954 Fort Brown Memorial Center................................................................................................................121<br />
1954 Herminio Yturria House........................................................................................................................122<br />
1955 Antonio Cisneros, Jr., House (altered)..................................................................................................123<br />
1955 Bernard Whitman House (altered)........................................................................................................124<br />
1958 Buell O’Connor House.........................................................................................................................125<br />
1959 W. Vernon Walsh Building....................................................................................................................126<br />
1959 St. Joseph Academy............................................................................................................................127<br />
1961 Martín E. García House........................................................................................................................129<br />
1962 Plains Capital Building.........................................................................................................................130<br />
1962 J. Kendall Hert House..........................................................................................................................131<br />
1964 Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish School.................................................................................................132<br />
1965 <strong>Brownsville</strong> Chamber of Commerce Building......................................................................................133<br />
1965 Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.............................................................................................................134<br />
1965 Marta <strong>and</strong> J. Antonio Ortiz House.......................................................................................................135<br />
1966 <strong>Brownsville</strong> High School (Homer Hanna High School).........................................................................136<br />
1971 Villa del Sol...........................................................................................................................................139<br />
1990 Mary Rose Cárdenas Halls North <strong>and</strong> South........................................................................................143<br />
2001 Life <strong>and</strong> Health Sciences Building........................................................................................................146<br />
2001 Graduate School of Public Health - Regional Academic Health Center..............................................147<br />
2009 Center for Early Childhood Studies, Texas Southmost College...........................................................148<br />
2009 TSC Arts Center...................................................................................................................................149
CONTENTS ALPHABETICAL<br />
All Souls Unitarian Church....................................................................................................................................120<br />
Antonio Cisneros, Jr., House (altered)..................................................................................................................123<br />
Augustín Celaya House..........................................................................................................................................39<br />
Aziz Brothers Building............................................................................................................................................61<br />
Benjamin Kowalski-Miguel Fernández, Jr., House..................................................................................................30<br />
Bernard Whitman House (altered)........................................................................................................................124<br />
Board-<strong>and</strong>-batten double house............................................................................................................................86<br />
Borderl<strong>and</strong> Hardware Co. Building........................................................................................................................62<br />
Browne-Wagner-L<strong>and</strong>rum House...........................................................................................................................36<br />
<strong>Brownsville</strong> Chamber of Commerce Building.......................................................................................................133<br />
<strong>Brownsville</strong> Fire Station #2.....................................................................................................................................78<br />
<strong>Brownsville</strong> Herald Home Beautiful........................................................................................................................58<br />
<strong>Brownsville</strong> High School <strong>and</strong> Junior College.........................................................................................................66<br />
<strong>Brownsville</strong> High School (Homer Hanna High School).........................................................................................136<br />
Buell O’Connor House.........................................................................................................................................125<br />
Cameron County Courthouse (Dancy Building).....................................................................................................49<br />
Cameron County Courthouse & Masonic Lodge..................................................................................................22<br />
Cameron Hotel.......................................................................................................................................................74<br />
Capitol Theater.......................................................................................................................................................65<br />
Casa Alta (Fitch Apartments)..................................................................................................................................67<br />
Casa Poinciana, Hubert R. Hudson House (altered).............................................................................................108<br />
Center for Early Childhood Studies, Texas Southmost College...........................................................................148<br />
Charles Pitt House..................................................................................................................................................96<br />
Church of the Advent.............................................................................................................................................71<br />
City Market House (<strong>Brownsville</strong> City Hall)................................................................................................................9<br />
Commercial Building..............................................................................................................................................52<br />
Congregation Beth El Temple................................................................................................................................98<br />
C. S. Eidman House..............................................................................................................................................112<br />
C. W. Dawley House - was renovated....................................................................................................................88<br />
Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.............................................................................................................................134<br />
Dr. James L. Rentfro House..................................................................................................................................113<br />
Dr. Thurman A. Kinder, Jr., House........................................................................................................................102<br />
Dr. Vidal Longoria Clinic.......................................................................................................................................114<br />
Dr. W. S. Merrick House........................................................................................................................................104<br />
Edwin Pitt House....................................................................................................................................................97<br />
E. K. Goodrich House.............................................................................................................................................70<br />
El Alamo, Lucio Bouis Building...............................................................................................................................33<br />
El Globo Chiquito Building (Laiseca Store)............................................................................................................26<br />
Enrique Manautou House.......................................................................................................................................53<br />
Fausto Yturria House..............................................................................................................................................89<br />
Field-Pacheco Buildings.........................................................................................................................................35<br />
First (Central-?) Christian Church............................................................................................................................87<br />
First Pres<strong>by</strong>terian Church........................................................................................................................................59<br />
F. L. Rockwell House...............................................................................................................................................91<br />
Fort Brown Comm<strong>and</strong>ant’s Quarters......................................................................................................................16<br />
Fort Brown Memorial Center................................................................................................................................121<br />
Fort Brown Post Hospital (Gorgas Hall Administration Building)...........................................................................14<br />
George K. Aziz House............................................................................................................................................81<br />
George Kraigher House.......................................................................................................................................105<br />
Graduate School of Public Health - Regional Academic Health Center..............................................................147<br />
Guillermo Peña House.........................................................................................................................................119<br />
Harold E. Gray House.............................................................................................................................................90<br />
H. E. Blum Duplex House.......................................................................................................................................93<br />
Henry G. Krausse Jr. House..................................................................................................................................101<br />
Herminio Yturria House........................................................................................................................................122<br />
Hicks-Gregg House................................................................................................................................................41<br />
Hotel El Jardín........................................................................................................................................................63<br />
Hylton S. Lynch-Rufus Ransome House..................................................................................................................56<br />
Immaculate Conception brick building..................................................................................................................12<br />
Immaculate Conception Catholic Cathedral..........................................................................................................10<br />
James I. George House..........................................................................................................................................80<br />
J. H. Fernández y Hermano Building.....................................................................................................................23<br />
J. Kendall Hert House..........................................................................................................................................131<br />
José Celaya House.................................................................................................................................................44<br />
Jose Fern<strong>and</strong>ez/Olvera Building............................................................................................................................21<br />
Katherine Barnes <strong>and</strong> S. Miller Williams, Jr., House.............................................................................................110<br />
Kenneth Faxon Building.......................................................................................................................................116<br />
La Joya.....................................................................................................................................................................4<br />
La Madrileña Building.............................................................................................................................................31<br />
La Nueva Libertad Building/Cueto Building..........................................................................................................34<br />
Larry F. Lightner House.........................................................................................................................................103<br />
Leon Hinkley House................................................................................................................................................92<br />
Lic. E. Urtusástegui House......................................................................................................................................84<br />
Life <strong>and</strong> Health Sciences Building........................................................................................................................146<br />
Louis Brulay House.................................................................................................................................................54<br />
Louise Beard <strong>and</strong> Morris P. Moore House............................................................................................................117<br />
Lucio Bouis Vault....................................................................................................................................................25<br />
Majestic Theater...................................................................................................................................................115<br />
Malcolm P. McNair House....................................................................................................................................107<br />
M. Alonzo Buildings...............................................................................................................................................29<br />
Manuel J. Cisneros House......................................................................................................................................55<br />
Marta <strong>and</strong> J. Antonio Ortiz House........................................................................................................................135<br />
Martín E. García House.........................................................................................................................................129<br />
Mary Rose Cárdenas Halls North <strong>and</strong> South........................................................................................................143<br />
McDermott Motor Company Building...................................................................................................................60<br />
Miguel Fern<strong>and</strong>ez Building/ Fern<strong>and</strong>ez Hide Yard................................................................................................24<br />
Miller Building <strong>and</strong> Webb (subsequently Kleiber) Drug Store Building...................................................................8<br />
Miller-Treviño de los Santos Coy House (Stillman House Museum).........................................................................6<br />
Mrs. José Fernández House...................................................................................................................................46<br />
Mrs. Mary V. Gay House.........................................................................................................................................73<br />
Nannie M. <strong>and</strong> Henry N. Hansen House (altered)..................................................................................................68<br />
Neale House (<strong>Brownsville</strong> Art League).....................................................................................................................2<br />
Nel-Roy Apartments...............................................................................................................................................83<br />
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church...............................................................................................................69<br />
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish School.................................................................................................................132<br />
Pan American Airways Engineering <strong>and</strong> Accounting Buildings...........................................................................100<br />
Plains Capital Building..........................................................................................................................................130<br />
Rock-Gómez House................................................................................................................................................38<br />
Royal D. Sundell House..........................................................................................................................................99<br />
Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, Rancho Santo Tomás, Rabb-Starck House...............................................................32<br />
Sacred Heart Catholic Church................................................................................................................................47<br />
Salomé McAllen <strong>and</strong> William Scanlan House (altered).........................................................................................111<br />
Sethman Apartments..............................................................................................................................................79<br />
Southern Pacific Passenger Station (Historic <strong>Brownsville</strong> Museum).......................................................................75<br />
St. Joseph Academy.............................................................................................................................................127<br />
S. W. Brooks House................................................................................................................................................27<br />
Tewfik Aziz House...................................................................................................................................................82<br />
The Argentine.........................................................................................................................................................95<br />
The Bollack Store Building.....................................................................................................................................43<br />
Tomás Tijerina House.............................................................................................................................................45<br />
TSC Arts Center....................................................................................................................................................149<br />
U.S. Courthouse <strong>and</strong> Post Office............................................................................................................................94<br />
Villa del Sol...........................................................................................................................................................139<br />
W. D. Van Siclen House..........................................................................................................................................57<br />
Webb-Martínez House...........................................................................................................................................40<br />
W. H. Russell-J. J. Cocke House.............................................................................................................................19<br />
W. Vernon Walsh Building....................................................................................................................................126
1840 ARTBYPINO<br />
As a sparsely settled suburb of Matamoros on the north side of the Rio Gr<strong>and</strong>e, what today is <strong>Brownsville</strong> early on consisted of a few scattered<br />
ranches <strong>and</strong> homes. The first battles of the Mexican-American (1846-48) took place in <strong>and</strong> around present-day <strong>Brownsville</strong>. Army operations at<br />
the earthen, star-shaped fort that became Fort Brown helped propel the community into a separate identity as <strong>Brownsville</strong>. After the Mexican-<br />
American War, riverboat traffic <strong>and</strong> international commerce spiked, leading to commercial ventures <strong>and</strong> buildings such as La Joya <strong>and</strong> residences<br />
like the Neale House.<br />
1
1841<br />
NEALE HOUSE (BROWNSVILLE ART LEAGUE)<br />
WILLIAM NEALE, BUILDER<br />
230 PORTER DRIVE<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
English immigrant William Neale operated the Matamoros - Boca del Rio Stagecoach line. Neale, who served as <strong>Brownsville</strong> mayor before <strong>and</strong><br />
after the Civil War, built this low profile house with wide ver<strong>and</strong>as on 14th Street. The oldest wooden frame house in the city, it was moved to this<br />
location in 1950. Recorded Texas Historic L<strong>and</strong>mark (RTHL).<br />
2
ARTBYPINO<br />
3
1859<br />
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL<br />
PIERRE YVES KÉRALUM, OMI<br />
1218 E. JEFFERSON STREET<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Pierre Keralum, a French architect turned Oblate priest <strong>and</strong> missionary on horseback, designed the Gothic Revival style Immaculate Conception<br />
Catholic Cathedral. Built with locally made bricks, it features buttresses <strong>and</strong> French ch<strong>and</strong>eliers. It became the first Oblate seminary in Texas <strong>and</strong> a<br />
destination for priests fleeing the Mexican Revolutions. RTHL<br />
4
ARTBYPINO<br />
5
1860<br />
The Cortina War, a battle between l<strong>and</strong> grant heirs, ushered in a chaotic era that included Civil War smuggling of cotton (going south) <strong>and</strong> guns<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
(going north). Confederate <strong>and</strong> Union forces traded occupation of <strong>Brownsville</strong>. After the war, the smuggling boom times ended, a devastating<br />
hurricane destroyed much of the town, <strong>and</strong> yellow fever killed about one-third of the population. In the major positive development, Fort Brown<br />
was rebuilt. Many of the 70 new buildings were constructed of mottled tan border brick. The Barracks <strong>and</strong> Commissary are Recorded Texas Historic<br />
L<strong>and</strong>marks.<br />
6
1869<br />
FORT BROWN POST HOSPITAL (GORGAS HALL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING)<br />
1869, 1991- REHAB., DAVID HOFFMAN (AUSTIN) 1825 MAY STREET<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Captain William Wainwright followed architect S. W. Brooks’ design of wide breezeways, graceful arches <strong>and</strong> tall windows flush to the floor that<br />
admitted southeast breezes. Part of the oldest permanent fort in Texas, the hospital is known as Gorgas Hall in honor of Lt. William Gorgas, who<br />
researched yellow fever in 1882 when a physician here. Texas Southmost College <strong>and</strong> its predecessors have occupied the building since the Army<br />
left in 1945. NRHP<br />
7
ARTBYPINO<br />
8
1868<br />
FORT BROWN COMMANDANT’S QUARTERS<br />
2011 RESTORATION LAWRENCE V LOF MAY STREET AND GORGAS DRIVE<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Fort Brown Comm<strong>and</strong>ant’s Quarters, 1868. May Street. Originally a one-story, square-plan, wood cottage on Officers’ Row that housed the post<br />
comm<strong>and</strong>er, the house’s distinguished guests included Charles Lindberg <strong>and</strong> General John Pershing. In 2011, Larry Lof restored the building after<br />
it was moved to its current site.<br />
9
ARTBYPINO<br />
10
1910 ARTBYPINO<br />
Beginning in 1910, the <strong>Brownsville</strong> & Matamoros Railway Bridge across the Rio Gr<strong>and</strong>e, designed to swing open to accommodate steamboat<br />
traffic, sped passage of people <strong>and</strong> goods between cities, between nations---after riverboat traffic had ended. The Mexican Revolution brought a<br />
surge of refugees <strong>and</strong> b<strong>and</strong>its into <strong>Brownsville</strong>, followed <strong>by</strong> thous<strong>and</strong>s of American Army <strong>and</strong> National Guard units training for World War I. The<br />
new Cameron County Courthouse or Dancy Building <strong>and</strong> notable residences <strong>by</strong> Merle Tracy infused the city with vitality. The Young House featured<br />
a Craftsman interior with a Classical Revival exterior.<br />
11
1913<br />
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
FREDERICK B. GAENSLEN (SAN ANTONIO)<br />
602 E. ELIZABETH STREET<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Gothic Revival twin towers of border brick overlook the entry to the first English-speaking parish church in <strong>Brownsville</strong>.<br />
12
ARTBYPINO<br />
13
1930s<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
The Depression had little impact on <strong>Brownsville</strong> as the U.S. Courthouse <strong>and</strong> Post Office was completed along with Beth-El Temple <strong>and</strong> Pan<br />
American Airways buildings. The Port of <strong>Brownsville</strong> connected to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Modernist architect Richard Neutra designed his<br />
first Texas structure, the George Kraigher House. Local architects W. Frank Godwin, E. G. Holliday, William Van Siclen <strong>and</strong> Newell Waters designed<br />
houses for Dr. Merrick, F. L. Rockwell <strong>and</strong> Fausto Yturria. Los Ebanos Estates had large residential lots facing Palm Boulevard with backyards looking<br />
at the resaca which curved through the neighborhood.<br />
14
1937<br />
GEORGE KRAIGHER HOUSE<br />
1937 - RICHARD J. NEUTRA (LOS ANGELES), RESTORED 2008, LARRY LOF 525 PAREDES LINE ROAD<br />
WITH W. FRANK GODWIN<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Pilot <strong>and</strong> bon vivant Kraigher pioneered Pan American Airways routes in South America from Pan Am’s <strong>Brownsville</strong> base. Noted International<br />
Modernist architect Richard Neutra’s only single family residence in Texas was constructed with reinforced concrete, steel, <strong>and</strong> repeated casement<br />
windows. The Mid-century Modern house displays stark vertical <strong>and</strong> horizontal lines, a partial second floor, a cantilevered roof deck, <strong>and</strong> open<br />
interiors that bring in the l<strong>and</strong>scape. RTHL<br />
15
1950<br />
Riding an exuberant post-war boom, <strong>Brownsville</strong> became a global leader in exporting cotton <strong>and</strong> a major home port for Gulf shrimpers. Mid-<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
century Modern architects John York, Bowman & Cocke <strong>and</strong> William Baxter provided light-filled houses designed for the Valley’s semi-tropical<br />
climate <strong>and</strong> lush l<strong>and</strong>scaping.<br />
16
1950<br />
GUILLERMO PEÑA HOUSE<br />
CAUDILL, ROWLETT, SCOTT & ASSOCIATES (BRYAN)<br />
37 S. CORIA STREET, EAST BANKER TERRACE<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Among the middle class Mexican Americans drawn to modern architecture, cotton broker Pena hired Caudill, Rowlett, Scott & Associates (where<br />
his brother was an architect-partner) to design his house.<br />
17
1959<br />
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY<br />
1959-60. CAUDILL ROWLETT SCOTT & ASSOCIATES (HOUSTON) 101 ST. JOSEPH’S DRIVE<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
The Catholic boys school embraced Midcentury Modern design across the campus. “Different roof shapes identified different use <strong>and</strong> spatial<br />
configurations,” Stephen Fox said.<br />
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1960<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Architects Ruth Young McGonigle, Wilhite & Winans, Bowman Swanson Heister, <strong>and</strong> Robert Velten h<strong>and</strong>led the dem<strong>and</strong> for distinctive homes <strong>and</strong><br />
commercial buildings.<br />
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1966<br />
BROWNSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL (HOMER HANNA HIGH SCHOOL)<br />
SWANSON HIESTER WILSON BOLAND, WILHITE & WINANS, AND ROBERT E. VELTEN<br />
2615 E. PRICE ROAD<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
The five acre campus with multiple pods at one time had 5,000 students enrolled. Swan Hiester Wilson Bol<strong>and</strong>, Wilhite & Winans, Robert E. Velten.<br />
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ARTBYPINO<br />
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1970 ARTBYPINO<br />
A sluggish economy characterized <strong>by</strong> gas shortages <strong>and</strong> peso devaluations led to an absence of notable new architecture other than the Villa del<br />
Sol.<br />
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1971<br />
VILLA DEL SOL<br />
WILHITE & WINANS<br />
700 E. ST. CHARLES STREET<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
The complex has 189 one-<strong>and</strong> two bedroom apartments available to low income renters.<br />
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ARTBYPINO<br />
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2000<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Although the border economy suffered major blows with the closing of local factories <strong>and</strong> peso devaluations, two new academic buildings at Texas<br />
Southmost College garnered architectural interest. NAFTA reset the future.<br />
25
2009<br />
TSC ARTS CENTER<br />
STUDIO RED ARCHITECTS<br />
ARTBYPINO<br />
Studio RED Architects incorporated Fort Brown design elements -- arches, arcades <strong>and</strong> brick patterns-- when creating the 811-seat performance<br />
hall with a Nautilus floor plan. On a resaca, the center is acoustically tuned <strong>and</strong> adjustable for musical performances <strong>and</strong> has a full theatrical stage<br />
with precision lighting.<br />
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ARTBYPINO<br />
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