National Register Listing

Smith-Clark and Smith-Bickler Houses

a.k.a. Twin Houses

502 and 504 W. 14th St., Austin, TX

The two 1-story brick and cut stone residences at 502 and 504 W. 14th St. are excellent examples of small Symmetrical Victorian residences with cut stone quoins and detailing rarely found in small residential structures in this area. They were built ca. 1883-86 by James Baird Smith, a carpenter and builder from Scotland. Smith was the contractor for construction of the temporary State Capitol in 1882-83. It is believed that Smith built the two houses of used materials from that project. In support of this, his original contract with the State dated May 29, 1882, states that "all material in the Supreme Court building, the Treasury building, and the old Capitol, and the terraces on the Capitol grounds, shall be the property of the Con-tractor-- such of it to be used in the construction of the temporary Capitol as is sound and available; the remainder to be removed by him upon completion of the building..." Also, in the process of restoring the two buildings, evidence was found on exterior walls and footings that stone in the structures was salvaged or used, with plaster fragments and paint remnants on various stones, and laying patterns with inconsistent shaping indicating the use of salvaged stone.

Smith was born in Paisley, Scotland on June 20, 1843. He studied at the London Architectural School and Polytechnic College. He married Mary Kingswell Stevens in England. They traveled to New Orleans and Houston, moving to Austin where he was listed as a carpenter, builder, architect and contractor from 1872 to 1907.

Smith built the courthouses in Calvert and Baird, Texas. Later in his life, he contracted to build several Municipal buildings in Mexico. He died in Chihuahua, Mexico, July 24, 1907.

Smith built a home for himself at a location a few blocks west of the permanent Capitol site. He apparently removed to that site such stone and brick as he had not sold to others or used in constructing the Temporary Capitol. The contract for cleaning up the final details on the Temporary Capitol expired on September 1, 1883. It is unclear he moved the last stones from the Capitol site.

By 1883-84 Smith's new residence was completed, and the family of eight children moved into the new home at 502 W. 13th St. Smith acquired Lots 3 & 4, block 177, May 1, 1883 for $2100, and perhaps moved his stone yard to the lots. Buildings do not seem to have been built on the 14th St. lots until 1886 when the two lots were encumbered for $1000 in a deed of trust. The amount was paid in full December 31, 1886, and probably was used in constructing portions of the twin houses. Another deed of trust on December 31, 1886, encumbering the two lots for $2500 described the lots as being no part of the home-stead and that "the buildings and improvements on said land would be insured against fire and like accidents for the amount of not less than $5000."

Smith lost Lots 3 & 4, block 177 on June 6, 1899 at a public sale due to a foreclosure of a deed of trust lien on several pieces of property including the two lots. At the time of the suit. Smith was residing in Monterrey.

By 1901, ownership of the two properties was split. The house at 504 W. 14th alternated between use as rental property and an owner-occupied home until its purchase in 1959 by the present owners, who have restored the house as a dwelling for their son.

The house at 502 W. I4th was purchased in 1893 by Jacob Bidder. A prominent early Austin educator, Bickler was born at Sobernheim, Germany on November 20, 1849. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1870, and moved to Austin in 1872. Bidder founded the German-English Academy which he operated from 1877 to 1887. After teaching in Galveston from 1887 to 1891, he returned to Austin to found the Bickler Academy which he operated until his death in 1902. According to Bidder's son. Max, he operated the Bickler Academy out of two rent houses on 14th, between Nueces and Guadalupe Sts., possibly a reference to the twin houses at 502 and 504 W. 14th.

The house at 502 W. 14th St. changed hands several times until 1920, when Joseph C. Phillips, a clerk, bought it. After Phillips* death in the 1930*s, his widow altered the house, changing it into apartments. It remained in the Phillips family until 1965, when it was purchased by the present owner. The house is now undergoing extensive restoration by the owner.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.