Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Post Morgue

Circa 1870

Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023

1. Post Morgue Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Built circa 1870 and originally two separate army buildings, the morgue and the linen storage were joined in 1940. A garage was also added and the building became an office and storeroom. In 1946 the Fort Brown property, including the old morgue, was acquired for the junior college. The building is reputed to be haunted.

Spanish:
Construido cerca 1870 era originalmente dos distintos edificios del ejército, la morgue y el almacén de ropa de cama. En 1940, los dos edificios fueron unidos para crear una oficina y un almacén. Un garaje también fue agregado. En 1946, la propiedad del Fuerte Brown, incluyendo la morgue vieja, fue adquirida para el colegio preparatorio. El edificio se rumora estar embrujado.

Erected by City of Brownsville, Brownsville Heritage Complex, Preserve America and Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Forts and Castles • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 25° 53.912′ N, 97° 29.494′

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W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Gorgas Drive and May Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located on the north side of the Historic "Old Morgue" building on the campus of Texas Southmost College. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1821 Gorgas Dr, Brownsville TX 78520, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Brown Buildings 85 and 86 (a few steps from this marker); African American Troops at Fort Brown (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Brown Commissary/Guardhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Commissary (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Brown Commissary / Guardhouse Comisaria y Casa de la Guardia del Fuerte Brown (within shouting distance of this marker); William Crawford Gorgas (within shouting distance of this marker); Post Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Post Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownsville.

More about this marker. The historic Fort Brown buildings are located around the campus of the Texas Southmost College.

Also see . . . Fort Brown. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Fort Brown, originally called
Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023

2. The Post Morgue building and Marker
Fort Texas, was established when Zachary Taylor and the United States forces of occupation arrived on the Rio Grande on March 26, 1846, to establish the river as the southern boundary of Texas. In April 1846 Taylor built an earthen fort of 800 yards perimeter, with six bastions, walls more than nine feet high, a parapet of fifteen feet, and the whole surrounded by a ditch fifteen feet deep and twenty feet wide. Armament was four eighteen-pound guns. The Seventh Infantry, with Company I of the Second Artillery and Company E, Third Artillery, commanded by Maj. Jacob Brown, garrisoned the fort. Mexican troops led by Mariano Arista intercepted United States troops as they brought supplies from Fort Polk at Point Isabel to Fort Brown, leading to the opening battles of the war, Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, fought on May 8 and 9, 1846. On May 9 Major Brown died from injuries received during the bombardment of the fort by Mexican forces in Matamoros. Shortly after his death he was buried within the fortifications, and the post was named in his honor.

(Submitted on May 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Post Morgue and Marker on the campus image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023

3. The view of the Post Morgue and Marker on the campus

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 363 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.