National Register Listing

Old Brulay Plantation

a.k.a. Plantation House No. 1

E of Brownsville off TX 4, Brownsville, TX

The Brulay plantation was purchased in 1870 by a French emigrant, George N. Brulay of Paris. In 1872 he built the first sugar mill (commercial) in the area to produce piloncillo on his 300-acre plantation. The plantation was severely damaged in 1880 by a severe hurricane. Shortly after purchasing the plantation, Brulay began irrigating his fields revolutionizing agricultural practices in the lower Rio Grande valley. He expanded his activities by purchasing equipment for refining sugar in New Orleans and building a brick sugar mill and refinery after the frame structure burned. He continued to make improvements to the plantation creating "... the finest in the Southland."

His agricultural operation was so successful he was able to build a large 3-story townhouse (razed between 1923 and 1968). The enterprise flourished until his death.

The site contains the considerable archeological potential for providing insight into the material culture of the late 19th century, of a French emigrant and insight into the technology Brulay developed to revolutionize agricultural practices with the introduction of irrigation. He was apparently the first to introduce commercial production of sugar to the valley, the first to use irrigation, and developed a high level of industrial technology for the milling and refining of the sugar he produced. The structures are well preserved considering that they have been abandoned for some time. They provide a unique unit consisting of all the major structures of the plantation.

Local significance of the building:
Industry; Agriculture; Historic - Non-aboriginal; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.