Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
J. Levy & Bro.
Joseph Levy (1844-1922) with his brother Bernard "Ben" Levy (1849-1908) established the J. Levy & Bro. livery business in Galveston in 1868. Raised in the family livestock business in the French region of Alsace, the Levy brothers came to America with a keen knowledge of horses. They began by offering horses, mules, wagons, and buggies to a Galveston community emerging from the debilitating effects of the American Civil War.
About 1880 the Levy brothers began offering a horsedrawn hearse and other carriages for use in funeral services. They also maintained a high profile in other areas of the horse business by participating in races at a track they operated until 1900. Their position as the city's preeminent undertakers was solidified by Ben Levy's appointment as overseer of the extraordinarily high number of burials in Galveston following the devastating hurricane of 1900.
About 1916 J. Levy & Bro. introduced their first motorized coaches and, in 1918, formally discontinued the use of horse-drawn vehicles. In 1926, the company built a new funeral home, believed to be one of the earliest in the state. Both brothers and their sons who inherited the business in the 20th century were active in religious and civic affairs in Galveston.
Erected 1992 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7517.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
Location. 29° 18.04′ N, 94° 47.437′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway and Kempner Street, on the right when traveling west on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2128 Broadway, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. J.F. Smith House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Congregation B'nai Israel Synagogue (about 400 feet away); The Galveston Movement (about 400 feet away); St. Joseph's Church (about 400 feet away); Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church (about 500 feet away); First Baptist Church of Galveston (about 600 feet away); The Rosenberg Library (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galveston.
Additional keywords. Funeral Homes
Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 207 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.