Brizendine House
507 W. 11th St., Austin, TXThe natural stone, two-story cottage built by John Brizendine over 100 years ago, appeared in the first city directory of Austin in 1872. Brizendine, who worked variously as a miller, carpenter, and machinist, was listed by the directory as residing in the house on Mesquite Street (later changed to 11th St.) between Nueces and San Antonio. This listing remained unchanged through the year 1914.
In 1916, the house was listed as the residence of Catherine Brizendine, widow of John R. However, the records for 1922 show the house to have been vacant. From 1924 to 1927, Charles Cross, owner of the C.H. Cross Furniture Co., was listed as the occupant at 507 West 11th.
In 1928, Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon moved to Austin from the mountain region of Tennessee with her daughter and two sons. Mrs. Bettie Easton, the daughter of Mrs. Gordon said that her mother bought the house in that year, and that a wooden addition was built then, to serve as an art studio. Mrs. Gordon and her daughter were listed in the city directory of 1930 as being in the advertising busi-ness, and from 1935 to 1939, as being in interior decorat-ing and sales.
The house remained in possession of the Gordon family through 1972. It acquired the name Easton House or Brizendine-Easton House because Mrs. Gordon's daughter Bettie purchased the house after marrying Thomas Easton. Bettie Easton bought the house from Mrs. Margaret L. Gordon in 1966, and rented out portions of it until she sold the family home to Travis County in 197 2.
Unlike the large mansions nearby, the Brizendine-Easton house is an example of the few remaining early "workingman's homes" in Austin. Constructed of natural, hand-cut stone, it typifies a more practical, unadorned Style of the mid-19th century which is fast disappearing. In 1973, the Travis County Commissioner's Court had opted to raze the structure to make room for three additional parking spaces for the new courthouse annex. However, Austin citizens, led by the Travis County Historical Committee, persuaded the county commissioners not to destroy the land-mark. The Austin Heritage Society donated $5,000 toward restoration of the home. The Travis County Bar Association received permission to lease the house for office use and also contributed $5,000. (It will be paid back to them in the form of substantially reduced rent.) Thus, an important part of Austin's history will be able to continue its usefulness.
Bibliography
Austin American Statesman, December 2, 1972
Austin American Statesman, August 4, 1973
Austin American, September 7, 1973
Austin American Statesman, September 29, 1973
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
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.