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New Orleans Style - meaning architecture style originating from New Orleans brick masons, which covers a wide range of architectural styles

New Orleans style found in Brownsville, TX:

  • Creole

  • Greek Revival

  • Colonial Revival

Quick history of this era. 

"As visitors make their way around Brownsville, they may see Mexican influences in the rose-tinged buff brick buildings along Brownsville's streets. Yet on closer inspection, these structures reveal a more complex architectural ancestry with roots in New Orleans." --1

​

1. Texas Highways, The Border Brick Style in Twin Cities of the Rio Grande Brownsville and Matamoros. Stephen Fox

New Orleans Style
1834 -1904

Page 1: Buildings 1 - 26
Page: 2: Buildings 27 - 50

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Neal House

  • Built: 1834

  • Street: 230 Neale Rd

  • Floors: 1

  • Arch./Bldr: 

  • Style: Spanish-Mexican Creole

  • Condition: Poor, Dilapidated

  • Use: N/A

  • Source: 

  • Comments: Deteriorating quickly and no signs that the City will rescue or move it.

  • Image Credit: 

    • Row 1: Left: Texas History, Top Right:  Google Maps (May 2011) 366 Neale Dr, 

    • Row 2: Left & Right: Anthony McWilliams

    • Row 3: Left & Right: Anthony McWilliams

Neale House.jpg
Neale House.png

2011

c. 1960s

Neale House 2004.jpg

2004

20230825_131809.jpg

2023

20230825_131738.jpg

2023

20230825_131852.jpg

2023

Gem/Roser Custom Services Building

  • Built: 1848

  • Street: 

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: 

  • Style: New Orleans

  • Condition: Renovated

  • Use: 400 E 13th St

  • Source: 

  • Comments:

    • Originally a saloon​

    • It's façade was altered during the modern style ear.

    • Brought back to its original form by Roser Customs Services

    • Oldest building in Brownsville.

  • Image Credit: Left/Right: Anthony McWilliams

Gem Building 2004.jpg

2004

Gem Building 2023.jpg

2023

Miller Hotel

  • Built: 1848

    • 1967 - Demolished​

    • 1967 - New Building

  • Street: 1307 E. Elizabeth St

  • Floors: 

    • 2 - Originally​

    • 3 - After 1867

  • Arch./Bldr: 

  • Style:

    • 1867 - Henry T. Phelps of S.A firm remodeled the hotel​

  • Condition: 

    • 1849 - Wooden structure​

    • 1867 - Mission style

  • Use:

    • 1849 - 1960s: Hotel

    • 1967-Present: Store

  • Source:

  • Comments:

    • First mission style building in Brownsville in 1867​

    • Targeted travelers arriving to Brownsville by train

    • Was a combination of new and old.

  • Image Credit: Bottom Right: Anthony McWilliams

Screenshot 2023-08-24 9.00.46 AM.png
Miller Hotel.jpg

1850s

c. 1900s

Miller Hotel_digitalcollections.jpg
Miller Hotel 2023.jpg

c. 1910s

2023

San Roman Building

  • Built: 1850

  • Street: 1245 E. Elizabeth St.

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: Don Jose San Roman

  • Style: Border Brick

  • Condition: Altered

  • Use: Store

  • Source: 

  • Comments: San Roman began the tradition of living on the second floor and having the store on the fist floor.

  • Image Credit: Left: Alchetron

San Roman Building.jpg

1920s

San Roman Building 2023.jpg

2023

Market Square

  • Built: 1850

  • Street: 1150 Market Square St, Brownsville, TX 78520

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: 

    • 1850 - ​

    • 1912 - S.B Elliot & Co.

    • 1984 -

  • Style: Mission Revival

  • Condition: 

    • 1867 - Second story was damaged by a hurricane​

    • 1912 - Second story rebuilt and added a new gable roof covering attic space used for the city offices

    • 1949 -  The phase of modernization of the building included building a new domed tower entrance, new stucco exterior and Spanish Mission tower added.

    • 1985 - Free-standing tiled roof canopies were added parallel to the interior roadways

    • 2012 -  Free-standing tiled roof canopies were demolished

    • 2017 - The interior streets were closed to traffic and made into pedestrian spaces and resurfaced with pavers.

  • Use:

    • 1852 - Market on first floor​

    • 1852 to 2002 - City of Brownsville offices on second floor

    • 1949 - Fire department added

    • 1980s - Became a city bus terminal 

    • 2009 -  Brownsville Historical Association

  • Source: 

  • Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Row 3 - Anthony McWilliams, Row 4 - Anthony McWilliams

Market Square 1852-67.png

1852-1867

Market Square 1867-1912.png.png

1867-1912

Market Square 1912-48_2.png.png

1912-1948

Market Square 1912-48.png.png

1912-1948

Market Square 1949.png

1949

Market Square 1980s_1.png

1980s

Market Square 1980s_2.png

1980s

Market Square 2004.jpg

2004 

Market Square 2004-2.jpg

2004 

Market Square 2023.jpg

2023 

592A0150.jpg
592A0160.jpg
592A0151.jpg

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F. Yturria Bank Building

  • Built: 1850

  • Street: 1255 E. Elizabeth St

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: Henry A. Peeler​

  • Style: New Orleans/Border Brick

  • Condition: ​​

  • Use: Store​

  • Source: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit:

F. Yturria Bank Building 1962.jpg

1962

F. Yturria Bank Building 1972.jpg

1972

F. Yturria Bank Building 2023.jpg
F_ Yturria Bank Building_2.jpg

2004

2023

Commercial & Agriculture Bank Building

  • Built: c. 1850

  • Street: 1159 E. Elizabeth St

  • Floors: 

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: New Orleans

  • Condition: ​​

  • Use: Store​

  • Source: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Anthony McWilliams

Commercial & Agriculture Bank Building 2023.jpg

2023

Henry Miller "White Cottage"

  • Built: 1851

  • Street: 13th & Washington St

  • Floors: 

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: Mexican Creole/Anglo-American

  • Condition: Demolished​​

  • Use: Residence

  • Source: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Google Maps

Henry Miller White Cottage.jpg

2023

Stillman House

  • Built: c.1850

  • Street: 1325 E Washington St  

  • Floors: 1

  • Arch./Bldr: Henry Miller​

  • Style: Greek Revival

  • Condition: Restored​​

  • Use:

    • ​1850 to 1959 - Residence

    • 1960 to Present: Museum

  • Source: Brownsville Historical Association

  • ​Comments: 

    • ​Is among the oldest surviving structures in Brownsville

    • The house is donated to the City of Brownsville, with the condition that the Brownsville Historical Association manage the property.

  • Image Credit:

Stillman House 1928.jpg

1938

Stillman House 1942.jpg

1942

Stillman House 1955.jpg

1955

Stillman House 2002.jpg

2002

Stillman House 2002_2.jpg

2002

592A0156.jpg
592A0155.jpg
592A0161.jpg

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Webb Drug Store/Galeria 409/Curio 409

  • Built: 1852

  • Street: 409 E. 13th St.

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: 

  • Condition:

    • 2006 - Restored​​

  • Use:

    • 1852 to        - City's first drug store

    • 2006 to 2018 - Art gallery

    • 2020 - Gallery/Events/Gifts

  • Source: 

  • Link: Curio 409

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit:

Webb Drug Store 2004.jpg
Webb Drug Store 2023.jpg

2004 

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2023

Frank Yturria Residence

  • Built: 1853

  • Street: 1424 E. Washington St.

  • Floors: 1 1/2 

  • Arch./Bldr: Henry A. Peeler​

  • Style: Victorian (Anglo-American)

  • Condition: 

    • 1961 - Demolished​

    • Year? - UETA building is built

  • Use:

    • ​1853 to 1961 - Residence​

    • Year? - Duty free store

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Anthony McWilliams

Frank Yturria Residence 2004.jpg
Frank Yturria Residence 2023.jpg

2004 

2004 

First Convent of the Incarnate Word & Blessed Sacrament

  • Built: 1853

  • Street: 9th & Fronton St.

  • Floors: 2 

  • Arch./Bldr: Fr. jean Maurice Verdet, OMI​

  • Style: Victorian (Anglo-American)

  • Condition: 

    • 1867 - Demolished (Hurricane)​​

  • Use: ​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Top - Valley Central, Bottom - Google Maps

First Convent of the Incarnate Word & Blessed Sacrament.jpg
First Convent of the Incarnate Word & Blessed Sacrament_2023.jpg

2023

Martinez Building

  • Built: c. 1853

  • Street: 1201 E. Elizabeth St.

  • Floors: 

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: New Orleans

  • Condition: ​​​

  • Use: ​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit:

Martinez Building 1920s_Cropped.jpg

1910s

Martinez Building 2004.jpg
Martinez Building 2023.jpg

2023

2004

H.E Woodhouse Residence

  • Built: 1856

  • Street: 1136 E. Washington St.

  • Floors: 

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style:

  • Condition: ​​​

    • c. 1926 - Demolished​

  • Use: Residence​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: Had a wrap -around porch

  • Image Credit: Google Maps

H_E Woodhouse Residence 2004.jpg

2004

H.E Woodhouse Residence 2023_1.jpg
H.E Woodhouse Residence 2023_2.jpg

​​2023

​​2023

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

  • Built: 1859

  • Street: 1218 E. Jefferson St.

  • Floors: 1

  • Arch./Bldr: Fr. Pierre Yves Keralum​

  • Style: Gothic Revival

  • Condition: ​​​

    • ​Good​

  • Use: Church​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Top Left - Oblate School of Technology, Top Right - Unknown, Bottom Left - Unknown, Bottom Middle/Right -Anthony McWilliams

Immaculate Conception Cathedral 1850s.jpg

1858

Immaculate Conception 1900s.jpg

1910s

Immaculate Conception Church 1950s.jpg

1950s

Immaculate Conception Cathedral 2004_1.jpg

2004

Immaculate Conception Cathedral 2004_2.jpg

2004

Israel B. Bigelow Residence

  • Built: 1859

  • Street: 908 E. Levee St.

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: Greek Revival

  • Condition: ​​​Demolished​​​

  • Use: Residence​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Google Maps

Israel B. Bigelow Residence 2023.jpg

2023

Metropolitan Building

  • Built: 1860s

  • Street: 13th & Elizabeth St.

  • Floors: 

  • Arch./Bldr: Robert Dalzell​

  • Style: American Victorian

  • Condition: 1967 - ​​​Demolished​​​ (Hurricane Beulah?)

  • Use: ​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit:

Metropolitan Building.jpg

2023

Oblate Father's Community House

  • Built: 1861

  • Street: 13th & Jefferson St.

  • Floors: 1

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: Creole Classicism

  • Condition: 1970 - ​​​Altered

  • Use: ​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit: Anthony McWilliams

Oblate Fathers Community House.jpg

2004

Oblate Father's Community House.png

2023

House

  • Built: 1865

  • Street: 8th & Elizabeth St.

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: Robert Dalzell​

  • Style: American Victorian

  • Condition: Demolished

  • Use: Residence​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

  • Image Credit:

House.jpg

2023

St. Joseph Academy

St Joseph_Elizabeth St_1912.jpg

1912

St Joseph_Elizabeth St_1912_2.jpg

1965?

St. Joseph Academy 2023.png
St_ Joseph Academy 2004.png

2004

2023

Convent of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament 

  • Built: 1868

  • Street: 8th between St. Francis St. and St. Charles St.

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: George Moore​

  • Style: Mexican Creole/Anglo-American

  • Condition:

    • 1971 - Demolished

    • 1971 - Villa del Sol housing apartments built (as seen below)​​

  • Use: ​

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: 

    • >1867 - Replaced the first building after the hurricane of 1867​

    • L1971 - demolished to build the 14-story Villa del Sol housing apartments

  • Image Credit: Anthony McWilliams

Convent of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.jpg

2004

Lawrence J. Hynes Residence

  • Built: 1868

  • Street: 826 E, Levee St.

  • Floors: 

  • Arch./Bldr: Lawrence J. Hynes​

  • Style: Mexican Creole/Anglo-American

  • Condition: 1975 - Demolished

  • Use: ​

    • 1868 to 1975 - Residence​

    • 1975 to Present - Housing

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: It was an unconventional house​

  • Image Credit: Google Maps

Lawrence J. Hynes Residence.png

2023

Post Hospital (Gorgas Hall)

  • Built: 1868

  • Street: Texas Southmost College

    • Map: Building #5

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: Samual W. Brooks​

  • Style: Mexican Creole/Border Brick

  • Condition: Good

  • Use: ​

    • 1868 to 1926 - Army hospital​

    • 1926 to Present - Texas Southmost College

  • Source: 

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments: Still has many of its original windows as characterized by their wavy surface due to many imperfections of window making during that time.​

  • Image Credit: 

Screenshot 2023-09-27 11.25.52 AM.png
Screenshot 2023-09-12 11.01.48 AM.png

1916

Screenshot 2023-09-12 11.05.39 AM.png

c. 1950s

Gorgas Hall 2004_1.png
Screenshot 2023-09-12 10.53.25 AM.png

c. 1990s

2004

Post Chapel (Regiment House)

  • Built: 1868

  • Street: Texas Southmost College​​

    • Map - Building #9​

  • Floors: 1

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: Mexican Creole

  • Condition: Good

  • Use: ​

    • 1868 to 1948 - 

    • 1948 to Present - Higher education

  • Source: Texas Southmost College

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments:​

    • Originally along the Rio Grande river bank​

    • Was near the Gateway Int'l bridge

    • Rebuilt at this location in 1992.

  • Image Credit: 

Screenshot 2023-09-27 11.25.52 AM.png
Post Chapel Regiment House 2002_edited.j

Cavalry Building

  • Built: 1868

  • Street: Texas Southmost College

    • Map: Building #28​

  • Floors: 1

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: Mexican Creole

  • Condition: Renovated

  • Use: ​

    • 1868 to 1948 - 

    • 1948 to Present - 

  • Source: Texas Southmost College

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments:​

    • ​

  • Image Credit: 

Screenshot 2023-09-27 11.25.52 AM.png
Cavalry Building_2002_2.png

2002

Cavalry Building 2002_1.png

2002

Post Hospital Annex (Champion Hall)

  • Built: 1868

  • Street: Texas Southmost College

    • Map: Building #4

  • Floors: 2

  • Arch./Bldr: ​

  • Style: Mexican Creole

  • Condition: Renovated

  • Use: ​

    • 1868 to 1948 - 

    • 1948 to Present - 

  • Source: Texas Southmost College

  • Link: 

  • ​Comments:​​

  • Image Credit: 

Screenshot 2023-09-27 11.25.52 AM.png
Post Hospital Annex Champion Building 2002_1.png

2002

Page: 2

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