J. F. Smith House
Galveston, Galveston County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Designed by Nathaniel Tobey, Jr., and built in 1884 for the family of John Francis Smith, this house is an excellent example of Italianate architecture. Prominent features of the house include paired brackets, a bay window, balcony, and hood moldings over large windows. Smith, who founded the J. S. Smith & Bro. Hardware Company on The Strand, probably ordered much of the woodwork, including doors and windows, from supply catalogs. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1990
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1884 to designs by Nathaniel Tobey, Jr., this Galveston house is a fine example of Italianate architecture, with paired brackets, a bay window, balcony, and hooded moldings over its tall windows. It was home to John Francis Smith, founder of the J. S. Smith & Bro. Hardware Company on The Strand, who likely ordered much of the woodwork from supply catalogs.
Why it matters
The Smith House reflects the prosperity of Galveston's Gilded Age merchant class, when The Strand made the island one of the busiest commercial ports on the Gulf.
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Related people
- · John Francis Smith
- · Nathaniel Tobey, Jr.
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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