Page-Gilbert House
3913 Ave. G, Austin, TXThe Page-Gilbert House is an unusual example of a vernacular dwelling enlivened with design elements from the Queen Anne style. Built in 1893 by Christopher H. Page with the assistance of William John Sutor, it is believed to have been the only brick residence in Hyde Park at that time. As one of only two such residences in the original Hyde Park subdivision, the house reflects requirements by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Land Company that significant improvements be made to property purchased in the new development (see also 3913 Avenue C). It is the only residence remaining in Austin known to have been occupied by Page, one of 17 major subcontractors on the construction of the State Capitol building in 1887-1888. It is therefore being nominated for its local architectural significance under Criterion C.
A native of England and immigrant to Texas by way of Missouri, Christopher H. Page came to Austin in the early 1880s to work as a stonemason and contractor on the new State Capitol (City of Austin. Historic Landmark Inventory File C14h-78-040). According to records of the Capitol Building Commission, he eventually was designated the subcontractor in charge of pointers, washers and other laborers working on the installation of stone (Records of the Capitol Building Commission 1887-1888).
Following completion of the Capitol, Page purchased lots 1-2 in Block 37 of the Hyde Park Addition (later resubdivided into lot 28 of the Shadow Lawn Addition), agreeing to erect a brick residence worth a minimum of $2000 (DR 105:397). Page evidently executed the design and brick work himself, hiring Sutor, whose father had been a skilled German cabinetmaker, to supply the woodwork and other items. Page's contract with Sutor specifically called for the construction of sashes, blinds, casings, doors, a stairway, baseboards, moldings, two tile hearths, mantles, bathroom fixtures and furnishings, plumbing fixtures, scullery, sink and fixtures, front and back porches, plumbing for the yard and barn, and barn and outbuildings for a total consideration of $407 (Mechanics' Liens 90:432).
The Pages lived in Hyde Park until 1896 when CH. Page conveyed the property to his son Charles Henry Page, Jr., who was to become a prominent local architect in the 20th century (DR 134:326). CH. Page, Jr. re-conveyed the house to the Texas Loan & Trust Co. of Hays County (DR 133:563), who in turn sold it to G.L. Brinkman. The property continued to change ownership frequently during the late 1890s (DR 138:277; 141:182) until its acquisition in 1898 by Mrs. Clara Border. She lived in the house until 1933, whereupon it was purchased by John F. Gilbert, a real estate agent and member of the Austin Real Estate Board (Austin American^ September 23, 1948:1; DR 496:152). The house underwent extensive interior remodeling before his family sold the property to current owners Gary P. and Wanda Penn in 1977 (Hyde Park Historic Homes Tour 1980:17; 1984:11). The house was zoned historic by the City of Austin in 1978. Changes to the interior and rear do not intrude on the street-side elevation on Avenue G.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
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.