Sweeney, Coombs & Fredericks Building
Houston, Harris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This late-Victorian commercial building with a 3-story corner turret and Eastlake decorative elements was designed by George E. Dickey in 1889. Evidence indicates that the 1889 construction may have been a renovation of an 1861 structure built by William A. Van Alstyne and purchased in 1882 by John Jasper Sweeney and Edward L. Coombs. Gus Fredericks joined the Sweeney and Coombs Jewelry firm before 1889. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1974
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Rising on a Houston corner with a three-story turret and ornate Eastlake trim, this late-Victorian commercial block was designed by architect George E. Dickey in 1889, possibly reworking an 1861 building on the site. It housed the jewelry firm of John Jasper Sweeney and Edward L. Coombs, who had bought the property in 1882, with Gus Fredericks joining before the decade was out. The exuberant brickwork captures the confidence of Gilded Age Houston as it grew into a regional commercial hub.
Why it matters
The building is a rare survivor of nineteenth-century downtown Houston, showing how a booming Gulf Coast city dressed its commerce in the height of Victorian style.
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Related people
- · George E. Dickey
- · William A. Van Alstyne
- · John Jasper Sweeney
- · Edward L. Coombs
- · Gus Fredericks
Themes & tags
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