McNair House
Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Brownsville architect A.H. Woolridge designed this home in 1937 for Malcolm Prothro (Jack) and Vivian Faust McNair. Jack McNair moved to Brownsville in 1921 to join his brother, Phillip, in a clothing manufacturing business. Jack eventually became sole owner of the company, and McNair Clothing Manufacturing Company grew to become the largest private employer south of San Antonio. The McNair family sold the company to Levi Strauss in 1972. The McNair House is a good local example of Monterey style architecture. Significant features include an L-shaped floor plan, second-story balcony, painted brick exterior, shuttered windows and a low-pitched roof. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 2008
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Brownsville architect A.H. Woolridge designed this Monterey-style home in 1937 for Jack and Vivian McNair. Jack had come to Brownsville in 1921 to join his brother in clothing manufacturing, eventually building McNair Clothing Manufacturing Company into the largest private employer south of San Antonio before selling to Levi Strauss in 1972. The house remains a fine local example of the Monterey style, with its second-story balcony, shuttered windows, and low-pitched roof.
Why it matters
The McNair House ties South Texas to the twentieth-century garment industry, whose factories offered a major source of employment along the border before consolidation into national brands.
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Related people
- · Malcolm Prothro McNair
- · Vivian Faust McNair
- · A.H. Woolridge
Themes & tags
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