Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
1871 Thomas Jefferson League Building
Photographed By Jim Evans, May 2, 2013
1. 1871 Thomas Jefferson League Building Marker
The Strand, known as "Wall Street of the Southwest," served as the central business district of early Galveston. A fire, set in 1869 to cover a robbery at Cohn Brothers, a clothing emporium, burned a mile wide area. It began at this site, once occupied by Moro Castle, a fashionable bar and meeting place of famous people. Thomas Jefferson League (1834-1874), began construction of this building in 1871. League, son of a prominent pioneer family, was an attorney and later a judge. He contracted with local craftsmen to erect this commercial building with a decorative cast iron first floor facade and a galvanized iron cornice.
Originally the three-story structure housed three stores: Isaac Bernstein & Company, a leading clothier; a stationer and bookseller; and a cotton factor and commission merchant. Later tenants were attorneys, insurance agents, and clothing manufacturers.
In 1921, Ben Sass joined Aaron P. Levy in purchasing this property and buying Ben Blum Hardware Co. They moved the business into this facility in 1923, where it remained 50 years. After the deaths of Aaron P. Levy (1929) and Ben Sass (1935),
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Erected 1979 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7513.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.
Location. 29° 18.419′ N, 94° 47.677′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Strand Street and 23rd Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is inside the doorway to the building partway up the stairs. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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. Thomas Jefferson League Building (a few steps from this marker); Greenleve, Block & Co. Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Magale Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Saengerfest Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Merchants Mutual Insurance Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Rice, Baulard & Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Hutchings, Sealy & Co.
Photographed By Jim Evans, May 2, 2013
2. 1871 Thomas Jefferson League Building
The Thomas Jefferson League Building is on the left. The marker is part way up the stairs inside the entryway to the building near the tan SUV.
Photographed By Jim Evans, May 2, 2013
3. 1900 Storm Survivor Marker
Photographed By Jim Evans, January 24, 2010
4. Giant Chess
This chess board is across the Strand from the marker
Photographed By Jim Evans, January 24, 2010
5. Giant Cornet
This giant cornet is on the building one block east of this marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 947 times since then and 131 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 5, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
