The commercial house of William Hendley & Co. was established in 1845 by William Hendley (1798-1873), his brother Joseph J. Hendley (d. 1887), John L. Sleight (1810-73), and Phillip Gildersleeve (1819-53). At the same time, they started the Texas and New York Packet Line with the firm of Brower and Neilson of New York, using a fleet of fast sailing ships. As brigs were withdrawn, the Hendleys and J.H. Brower built more suitable vessels of greater capacity and lighter draft. The firm spent $320,100 in just over ten years to lead in the growth of Galveston's maritime commerce. The company had this three-story Greek revival commercial row built in 1855-58. It is comprised of four buildings, originally similar on the interior. Separated by fire walls, they share a uniform brick facade. The columns, cornices, and ornamentation are mad eof granite. The row's cupola, since removed, served as a lookout post for both Confederate and Federal forces during the Civil War. After the war, Hendley's mercantile firm returned to the block. The row later housed offices of the First National Bank of Galveston, Col. William Moody, the U. S. Corps of Engineers, the retail firm of Greenleve, Block & Co., and other businesses. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981
Hendley's Row
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
Hendley's Row is a historical marker in Galveston, Galveston County, dedicated in 1981. It is one of 283 historical markers documented in Galveston County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 373 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 29.3081, -94.7913 near Galveston. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mallory-Produce Building (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Old Galveston Market House and City Hall, Marschner, C. F., Building, and American National Insurance Company.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5167007487. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
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