with supplemental notes and photos added
Pictured, is the old Combe house, once a magnificently appointed mansion, rendezvous of Brownsville high society in the early 1880's. which had stood for more than half a century at the corner of Ninth and Elizabeth streets. In this house, many celebrities were entertained, including William Jennings Bryan, who was in Brownsville on a speaking tour in 1909. From this house also came the nucleus of Brownsville's first baseball team, "the Combe boys" who caught, pitched and held down infield. It was the last of three historic residence structures that once occupied the entire block between Ninth and Tenth streets. The home was owned by U.S. Commission Carlos G. Watson, the building was torn down on May 16, 1941, to make way for a business structure.
Dr. Fred Combe was a major during the Spanish-American War and a prominent physician in Brownsville who also served as mayor during the incident remembered as The Brownsville Raid in 1906.
Loved this article. Dr. Fredrick John Combe was my great uncle.
ReplyDeleteDr. Fredrick John Combe was my great uncle. His brother being Owen Peagram Combe and my dad was Bertram Clemente Combe, Owen's second son.
ReplyDeleteOk so this is going to sound strange but, I married a Combe that never met his grandfather. It’s such a unique name and rich in history. Very interesting indeed!
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