Page 65 - Lets Make Waves December 2018

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G a l v e s t o n H i s t o r y

Fox’s Steam Bakery | Est. 18377

his ovens himself. The expert mason worked quickly, and Fox The expert mason worked quickly, and Fox The expert mason worked quickly, and Fox
his ovens himself. The expert mason worked quickly, and Fox
completed his loaf first.
In 1842, Fox purchased two lots on the corner of 21st and Me-
chanic where he erected a two-story frame building to house
both the bakery and his family residence. A staunch Unionist
and over the enlistment age, Fox did not fight during the civil
war and temporarily closed the bakery. After the hostilities end-
ed, he brought his sons, George and Christopher Jr., into the
business. When assured they mastered the trade, he transferred
the bakery to them in 1869.

George and C
George and C
George and C
George and Christopher Jr. Take Overhristopher Jr. Take Over hristopher Jr. Take Overhristopher Jr. Take Over
CHRISTOPHER FOX | Operating under the name G&C Steam Bakery, George and
Christopher won several awards at the 1871 Texas State Fair,
Fox’s Steam Bakery Est. 1837ox’s Steam Bakery Est. 1837 including best crackers made in Texas, best bread and best rye
F
bread, best soda biscuit and best butter crackers. In 1872, the
Christopher Fox, a pioneer settler of Galveston and one of the brothers opened a second location, Fox’s Steam Bakery, on the
first bakers to arrive in the city, was born in Edenderry, Kings corner of 12th and Mechanic.
County, Ireland on March 9, 1811. Standing 5’10” tall with dark Christopher Fox, Sr. died the following year on March 1, 1873.
hair and bright eyes, Fox immigrated to New York in 1836, Galvestonians knew him as a straight forward man, friendly to
where he found work at Jonas Humbert’s bakery on the lower those he knew and gruff to those his disliked, but well respected
east side, near the infamous Five Points. A year later, he left for in the community.
Texas, arriving in Galveston during the summer of 1837 to pur-
sue a bakery in the Wallstreet of the South.

Fox’s first bakery was on a water lot at the foot of 20th Street on
the harbor behind where the Hendley Building is today. Uncon-
ducive to baking as well as patrons, he moved the bakery to
22nd, between Market and Postoffice, where business rapidly
increased.

That fall, a rival
baker named An-
drew Baldinger
moved to Galves-
ton and the two
men raced to see Circa.1870 City Directory Advertisement
who would bake
the first, commer- Research Sources include the Galveston Historical Foundation
The Fox Home cial loaf of bread and Rosenberg Library. Have more history information?
on the island. In a wise move, Fox hired the city’s only brick Let us know at:
mason to construct his baking ovens, forcing Baldinger to build www.wavesgalveston.com

Waves Magazine | December 2018 Issue | 65