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A poor immigrant teenager born in Switzerland in 1824 came to Galveston at the age of 19 and secured employment in a clerical capacity in one of Galveston's early business enterprises. This teenager was Henry Rosenberg, and it was not within the realms of possibility at that time that the city would someday celebrate his birthday each year and call him one of the city's greatest benefactors. His name and immense fortune still echo throughout the island today, and his gifts to his adopted city are monuments of service to the succeeding generations of Galveston.
Who was Mr. Henry Rosenberg?
Henry Rosenberg was born on June 22, 1824, in Bliten, Switzerland. When he was 17, he began working in a textile factory where he met John Hessly. The two young men became friends. Two years later, Rosenberg followed his friend to Galveston, where he began to work as a clerk in Hessly's new dry goods store. Rosenberg arrived on Galveston Island in February of 1843 at the age of 19. In 1843, Galveston was part of the Republic of Texas.
The young Rosenberg proved to be quite business savvy. He first purchased half interest in the store, and within three years, he was the sole owner. By 1859, it was the leading dry goods store in Texas. He then became a full-fledged entrepreneur, an investor, and a financier active in real estate, transportation, and banking.
It's a little-known fact that in 1860, Henry Rosenberg enslaved two people, an 18-year-old man, and a 14-year-old girl. Without a doubt, Rosenberg benefited greatly from Galveston's slave economy, which also played a significant role in shaping 20th-century Galveston. It's important to remember that most prominent white Galvestonians enslaved people until the end of the Civil War, when the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Texas on June 19, 1865. Like many other places in the South and Texas, the island was segregated for nearly a hundred years after.
One day, in the spring of 1893, Henry walked into an office and declared, "I have one hundred thousand dollars for which I have no use. And I want you to tell me what I had best do with it so that it will be the greatest good to the greatest number." At the time, no one in Galveston knew precisely how much money Henry Rosenberg had accumulated; they just knew it was a lot. But it turned out to be much more than the $100,000 which he was inquiring about.
Throughout his life, he was active in the community as a financier and philanthropist. Rosenberg also served as the consul to Switzerland for the state of Texas from 1869 until his death. In 1882, he contributed about half the cost of the construction of the Eaton Memorial Chapel at Trinity Episcopal Church. On his final visit to his hometown in Switzerland, Rosenberg commissioned a church to be built. One of his first contributions to benefit the public was completed in 1888. He initially promised $40,000 for a free public school for the education of the white children of the city of Galveston. Ultimately, the school cost $80,000, and Rosenberg paid for it entirely himself, although he had no children of his own.
Rosenberg died in his home on Friday, May 12, 1893. He had been seriously ill for about a week prior. Upon his death, it was reported that his health had not been good for a long time, his ailments consisting of a fatty degeneration of the heart and diabetes. Nevertheless, the death felt sudden to most people.
In honor of the man and all that he had done for the island, Galveston effectively shut down for the day. Public schools and many businesses closed, and flags were set at half-mast. In death, his fortune continued to provide for the city.
Rosenberg's last will and testament was a windfall for Galveston. He left $65,000 for the construction of the Galveston YMCA and $30,000 each for the Galveston Orphans Home and Grace Episcopal Church. Another $30,000 was allotted for 17 drinking fountains to be placed around the city for "man and beast." Of the original 17, only 9 still exist and can be found around Galveston.
Rosenberg also commissioned the Texas Heroes Monument at Broadway and 25th Street, renamed Rosenberg Avenue upon his death. This monument, standing 72 feet tall, was a testament to his patriotism to Texas and was dedicated to those who served in the 1836 Texas Revolution. The bronze figures were cast in Rome, Italy, adding an international touch to this local monument.
Like Rosenberg Avenue in Galveston, Heinrich Rosenbergstrasse, strassa meaning street, runs right through the middle of Bliten, Switzerland. Rosenberg's most outstanding contribution was $600,000 towards the first free public library in the state. The dedication ceremony for the Rosenberg Library was held on June 22, 1904, what would have been Henry's 80th birthday.
The main branch of the Rosenberg Library was initially open to white Galvestonians. The "Colored Branch" of the Rosenberg Library was opened in 1905 as an addition to Central High School. It was much smaller than the main branch and opened fewer hours, and in 1959, the main branch of the Rosenberg Library was finally integrated.
When Rosenberg's memorial services were held, Galveston's businesses and schools were once again closed down. Between 3,000 and 6,000 people were in attendance. To quote the Galveston Daily News, the crowd "represented all classes and conditions of the populace. The Merchant Prince and Millionaire Banker stood side by side with the Brawny Longshoreman and the Stalwart Mechanic..."
The Galveston Evening Tribune remembered him this way, "He gave not lavishly, but generously, not promiscuously, but methodically. Nothing hurt him more or caused him as much annoyance as to have his charities made known."
In total, over $805,000 of his vast wealth was left to charitable and religious institutions. Adjusted for inflation, this would be over 28 million dollars today. Upon his death, one of his close friends noted that Rosenberg "constantly strove to appear worse than he was. Henry Rosenberg always acted as if he wanted the world to think he had a very rough side to his character when, as a matter of fact, he was charity, tenderness, and benevolence personified. But he took delight in concealing his goodness of heart by pretending to have one."
Henry Rosenberg's journey from a poor immigrant teenager to a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist is a remarkable story. While his contributions to Galveston are celebrated, It's essential to acknowledge the historical context of his life in pre-Civil War Texas.
Examining this complex history allows for a more nuanced understanding of his legacy and the city's development. Henry Rosenberg's impact on Galveston is undeniable. After all, there have been avenues, libraries, and monuments, all named after or donated by Henry. It's important to look at history from all sides. Just like Henry Rosenberg, history is complicated and nuanced, but it always keeps giving.
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Author
J.R. Shaw Creator & Host of Galveston Unscripted
J.R. Shaw is the creator and host of Galveston Unscripted Podcast & audio tour. Shaw recognizes that history is nuanced and learning it can be powerful. He's made it his mission to reduce the friction between true history and anyone who is willing to listen! J.R. Shaw focuses on telling the full story through podcasting and social media with the goal of making learning accurate history easy and entertaining for all who seek it.
J.R. grew up along the Texas Gulf Coast, where he learned to love talking with anyone about anything! He started Galveston Unscripted after he realized how much he loved talking to people about their stories related to Galveston Island and Texas History. "So much of our history is lost when we don't have the opportunity to hear from those who lived it or have second-hand knowledge."
