Berlocher Row

Berlocher Row (HM2CWB)

Location: Galveston, TX 77550 Galveston County
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Country: United States of America
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N 29° 18.363', W 94° 47.681'

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Inscription

1858

One of the earliest commercial blocks in Galveston, this row of three three-story brick buildings was constructed for John Berlocher by builder John Brown. The easternmost building, 2309 Mechanic, was erected in 1858. The westernmost, 2315 Mechanic, was built soon after, as both appear on the Map of Galveston, Texas showing The Rebel Line of Works, 1865.
The architectural style is Greek Revival. Originally the red brick with 1/16 inch mortar joints, similar to that used in the Hendley Building on the Strand, was exposed. The buildings also had finely detailed sill, labels, and lintels of cast iron.
John Berlocher, a native of Switzerland, was an early settler and wholesale merchant in Galveston who owned commercial buildings on the Strand and Mechanic Street. He built four of the first brick commercial buildings in the city. Three of his buildings were on the Strand, all on the same site, and were destroyed by successive fires. During the Battle of Galveston, January 1, 1863, his building on the Strand was in the line of fire from the 11-inch guns on the Federal ship "Owasco" and was damaged by cannon fire.
These disasters ruined him financially and in 1876 this row on Mechanic Street was sold to Gustave Oppermann in a Trustee's sale. It remained in the Opperman family until 1903,



when it was sold to Mistrot Bros. & Co., a wholesale and retail dry goods and clothing firm which then owned the Leon & H. Blum Building across the street.
A drug store, a crockery shop, a coffee and spice company, various business offices, a feed store, a lodge chapter, and a dance studio have occupied the buildings over the years. After the Battle of Galveston the building was used by the Confederate Army as a Guardhouse. In 1868 the United States Internal Revenue had an office here. Neidermann's Galveston Builder's Supply Company was located in the west building from 1923 to 1943, followed by J. A. Neidermann's antique store until 1979.
In 1980 a fire damaged the upper floors and roof of the west building and it was bought by the Revolving Fund of the Galveston Historical Foundation. George and Cynthia Mitchell soon purchased the building, subject to protective deed restrictions, and have undertaken its restoration.
Details
HM NumberHM2CWB
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Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 at 10:01am PST -08:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)15R E 325700 N 3243230
Decimal Degrees29.30605000, -94.79468333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 29° 18.363', W 94° 47.681'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds29° 18' 21.78" N, 94° 47' 40.86" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)409, 281
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling East
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 2317 Mechanic St, Galveston TX 77550, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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