Preibisch Building

German immigrant Adolph H. Preibisch and his wife, Emilie, came to Austin County in 1860. After Sealy developed along the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad, they bought property in the new railroad town. In 1885, Adolph and Emilie Preibisch purchased these lots and hired brick mason John Colleton to construct this commercial building for them in 1886-1887. Colleton's brickyard in nearby Bellville, where he fired bricks from Brazos River clay, supplied material for many of Sealy's buildings. On a prominent corner lot, the building first housed Preibisch's own store, where he sold household and kitchen furniture, window shades, rugs, carpets, and other household goods, and, as many early furniture dealers did, also made and sold funeral caskets. The family continued to run the store after Adolph died in 1899, and after Emilie's death in 1905, their son W.W. Preibisch took over the business. Later tenants included a general merchandise store, grocery store, jewelry and gift shop, and a saloon and pool hall known as "My Place," which served as a setting for several advertisements and motion picture films. The building remained in the Preibisch family until 1946. This one-part brick commercial structure, with arched window and door openings and corbelled brickwork, is significant for its association with Sealy's early commercial development and remains an important part of the town's architectural heritage.

Sealy, Texas · United States