The Gem
Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built in 1848 for J.E. Garey and Company, this structure under subsequent ownership has housed a "drinking house", boutique and was the residence of Brownsville's first mayor, Robert S. Leman. The Gem is an excellent local example of mid-19th century commercial architecture influenced by vernacular traditions. Features include a five-bay facade, second floor balcony with full-length shutters, first floor french doors, and detailed corbelled brickwork.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1848 for J. E. Garey and Company, this Brownsville building later served as a drinking house, a boutique, and the home of the city's first mayor, Robert S. Leman. With its five-bay facade, second-floor balcony with full-length shutters, ground-floor french doors, and corbelled brickwork, it is a fine local example of mid-19th-century commercial architecture shaped by vernacular traditions.
Why it matters
Erected just as Brownsville rose on the Rio Grande frontier after the Mexican War, The Gem preserves the commercial architecture and civic beginnings of a border town at a pivotal moment.
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Related people
- · Robert S. Leman
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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