Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-01-29
Wcrk Begins on Another Old
18th St. Structure; to Be
Modern; Old Landmark


warehouse and office building at
the south corner Of Twelfth and
Levee streets erected in lS47 by
the late Charles Stillman, father of
the late James Stillman, and grand
father Of James A. Stillman, until
recently president of the National
City Bank of New York City, is
scheduled to be RACED beginning
Monday morning.
Mrs. Ida Combe and Ter broth
er, II. A. Maltby. heirs to the estate
of the late II. A. Maltby, announ-
ced Saturday that they have let the
contract TO f. F.. Jochen, local con
tractor, for the erection Of mod
ern two story brick and concrete,
fireproof business building to re-
place the present structure, work
to begin Immediately. The new
building will cost about 100000 and
will be completed in four months.
1t will occupy the entire lot, which
faces 120 feet on Twelfth street and
back rs feet on Levee street.
The latest Brownsville building to
give way to the march of progress
is said to have been the first brick
building erected in Brownsville, and
has long been known as Browns
ville's corner stone" For a great
many years it was the starting
point, or witness block" for all
surveys in the city of Brownsville.
At the time il was built by Charles
Stillman, who was engaged eXten-
sively in trading with Mexico, it was
located almost on the bank of the
Rio Grande. and faced along a riv-
or wharf. The river has since NOV
ed several hundred feet to the
southwest. Stillman, wl-o is said TO
have laid the foundations Of the
Stillman fortune in Brownsville, was
believed u have amassed some four
millions Of dollars through his busi-
ness operations in the old structure.
He remained in Brownsville. making
his headquarters in that building.
until shortly before the outbreak of
the Civil War. at which time he
Z
ed his interests here, being repre-
sented by the late Judge Carson,
who at one time was his rar-ner.
Mr.. Stillman sold the building in
| 1886 TO the late H. A. Malthv, Sr.,
who occupied II with his printing Of
years. or since the death of the eld-
! or Maltbv. has been conducted by
his son. II. A. Maltby. Jr.
The plans for the new building
we're drawn by n. l.. Waller. archit-
ect Of San Antonio who drew the
plans for the new Junior high
school building now urGer construc.
tion. The contract for plumbing
and w'rino has been awarded to the
W. II. PutcgnGt Company, OF
Brownsville
The building. il is announced by
the archi'oct is to be absolutely fire
! proof. The ground floor will con
tain five stCrercorls all Of which il
/ IS understood have been leased for
I long terms willie the second floor
will have total Of fifteen rooms,
1s bv 20 fee. in size. to be rented
for offices. Quarters will be set
aside in the secord floor of the
building f. 5Tcs'donce for n. A.
Maltby end David Maltby.
An amusing r'crv concerning the
erection OF the Stillman building is
recalled as having been related ny
old timers" Vt "; : said that be-
fore work on the structure starte
Mr. .Stillr'an had brought down sew
eral wheel barrow5 from Corpus
Christi. ind turned them over to the
lahorer- n be used in carrying
brick for the walls. A the walls
rose Dl@tforr,e were arrpnged to the
'on and tie labcrers. who had there
'ofC~" alwavs carried hricl on THEN
shoulders. tru7Aled the brick ur
But. I wrs said. thev insisted or
carrving the wheel barrows bacl
down TO the ground on their heads
This rontirue1 throuohout the con
Struction Of the building, so tn,
story goes
More Now Work On 18th St
One block to the east Of tn,
Maltby building. also on Twelfth
street. sees another somewhat an
cient hu'ldiro being THOROUGHLY
overlauled and nrodernized II !
the two s-orv hr'ck structure a hal
block east of Elizabeth street. cor
Continued on Page Two)