June 18, 2010

Austin historic sites

former conoco station in austin
I was just recently in Austin and did a post about several vintage neon signs I was able to locate. The focus this time will be on structures (such as private residences) which are considered to be historic sites.

Sometimes I get to these historic sites and the sun is in a bad spot or trees obscure my view, as was the case with The Martin House, considered to be a significant example of a Late Victorian T-plan, one-story house, constructed in 1897, today invisible (and in a "rough" neighborhood):

the martin house

or this, The Robinson-Macken House, c. 1876, French Second Empire/Italianate style:
robinson-macken house

I least I got a good glimpse from the side:
robinson-macken house

And if there isn't an issue with either the sun or trees, sometimes these old places are either gone or irreparably diminished by the time I get to them, like with The John Henry Brewer House, c. 1926:

the john henry brewer house

Here is why this place is considered to be important (from the Texas Historical Commission Atlas narrative):

In early 1995 the house is in poor condition and under threat of demolition by the City of Austin. Despite its condition, the house retains a significant degree of integrity and may be repaired.

The John Henry and Minnie Tate Brewer House (1926) served as the principal and only remaining residence of the well-known Brewer family of East Austin. The Brewers played a significant role in the development of Austin's African- American community for most of the 20th century. Because of its proximity to Huston-Tillotson College, the Brewer House served as a reception area, center of social life, and occasionally dormitory. Moreover, John Mason Brewer, nationally recognized chronicler of African-American folklife and folklore, lived in the house at various times during his most productive teaching and writing years (1928- 1968). This is the only extant property closely associated with him.


the john henry brewer house

So, this is why it is so nice when I have found a place, the sun/sky is good, I can work around the trees (if there are any), and it looks pretty much like it does in any old photographs I've seen of it, such as with The Covert House, a Queen Anne Victorian, estimated to have been built around 1898:

covert house
Nice, huh? And I found the presence of children's toys out front gave it strangely, yet pleasantly, a Victorian mood.

a side view in different light:

covert house

The Page-Gilbert House, c. 1895, Victorian
the page-gilbert house

The Connelly-Yerwood House, c. 1904, Late Victorian/Queen Anne
the connelly-yerwood house

Community Center, c. 1929-30, Mission/Spanish Revival
community center

The Haynes-Delashwah House,
ca. 1890, Queen Anne/Eastlake Victorian
the haynes-delashwah house

The Gilfillan House, c. 1905, Spanish style
gilfillan house
west side of gilfillan house

La Casa de Suenos, c. 1947-53 (main house), Mexican-American folk art
la casa de suenos

The North-Evans Chateau
north-evans chateau
Begun as family residence by Mrs.Catherine North in 1847. Completed in style of a French chateau by Austin banker, Maj. Ira Evans, 1892.

The North Cottage, c. 1879, Italianate style
north cottage

The Eugene Bremond House, c. 1874, Italianate Victorian
the eugene bremond house

The Pierre Bremond House, c. 1880s, Queen Anne Victorian
the pierre bremond house

The John Bremond House, c. 1886, French Second Empire style
the john bremond house
The Bremonds must have been something, huh?

The J.P. Schneider Store, c. 1873, Commercial Victorian
j.p. schneider store
This place may not look like much, but there it has been as the downtown area has completely changed around it for one hundred and thirty years. The Schneiders first had a store on this spot in 1870. Their personal residence was right across the street, which is where the busy Warehouse District is now.

j.p. schneider store

The Daniel H. Caswell House,
c. 1900, Late Victorian/Colonial Revival/Chateauesque styles
the daniel h. caswell house
the daniel h. caswell house

The William T. Caswell House, c. 1906, Classical Revival
william t. caswell house

The William Braxton Barr House,
c. 1898, Queen Anne Victorian/Colonial Revival
the william braxton barr house

House at 209 East 39th Street (my current desktop wallpaper)
house @ 209 east 39th street

and last, but not least:

The Col. Monroe M. Shipe House,
c. 1892, Swiss Chalet/Eastlake/Stick styles
the col. monroe m. shipe house

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