Brownsville in Haywood County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Felsenthal's

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 20, 2022

1. Felsenthal's Marker

Inscription. Brownsville's oldest mercantile business was established at this location in 1849. Known at one time as Felsenthal Bros. and Sons, later to become Felsenthal's Dept. Store, it was destroyed by fire in 1980.

Erected 1999.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.

Location. 35° 35.662′ N, 89° 15.737′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Tennessee, in Haywood County. It is at the intersection of North Washington Avenue (Tennessee Route 54/369) and North Court Square, on the right when traveling south on North Washington Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 N Court Sq, Brownsville TN 38012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States

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of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Twenty (within shouting distance of this marker); Haywood County War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Haywood County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Haywood County Confederate Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Army National Guard (within shouting distance of this marker); Gen. Jacob Jennings Brown (within shouting distance of this marker); Haywood County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownsville.

Regarding Felsenthal's. Excerpt from the Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities:

The earliest Jewish settler in Brownsville was Jacob Felsenthal, who came to the United States in 1840. He settled in Brownsville in 1847, opening a retail store. Jacob was the acorn from which the Brownsville Jewish community grew. He soon brought over four of his younger siblings from Bavaria. Two of his brothers fought for
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 20, 2022

2. Felsenthal's Marker
the Confederacy, serving in Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry. One of them, Isaac Felsenthal, was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. Joseph Felsenthal began his life in America as a peddler, before joining his brother’s business. Jacob and Joseph remained in Brownsville during the Civil War and tried to keep the business afloat. They suffered economic privation along with the rest of the town.

After the war, the Felsenthal Brothers contacted their creditors, and rather than asking for debt relief, requested additional credit to purchase merchandise. Correctly anticipating the economic boom of the New South, they were able to pay all of their debts within five years. Jacob Felsenthal became quite wealthy. In 1860, he owned $800 in real estate and $2300 in personal wealth. By 1870, he owned $8000 in real estate and $4000 in personal wealth. Joseph also became rich. Their store, J. Felsenthal and Brothers, was one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the state, and remained in its original location in downtown Brownsville until it closed in 1974.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 820 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.