National Register Listing

St. Edward's University Main Building and Holy Cross Dormitory

3001 S. Congress St., Austin, TX

The highest point in south Austin is a bluff on St. Edward's campus upon which stand the Main Building and Holy Cross Hall, their location affording a visual and topographical command over the heart of the city to the north and across extensive stretches of river, freeway, and vast acreages of urban and rural territory to the east. A historical marker erected by the state of Texas in 1936 commemorates the site as principal lookout point and terminus of the Espinosa-Olivares-Aguirre Expedition of 1709 sent from the Presidio of Rio Grande del Norte to reestablish Spanish contacts with friendly Indians as far east as the Colorado River.

A century and a half after the Spanish expedition's visit the city of Austin was taking shape on the lower-lying hills three miles north of the bluff, and the state capitol was being erected. Supervising the capitol's construction was James Doyle, Texas pioneer who, on settling in Austin, chose the ancient lookout area three miles to the south for his homestead. Near the same bluff from which the Spaniards had spotted Indian campsites along the Colorado, Doyle erected his farmhouse. From this strategic elevation, now on his property, he could view the top of the capitol dome and all the layout of the city.

This location also appealed to another pioneer, the Reverend Edward Sorin, who had founded University of Notre Dame in Indiana 30 years before his visit to Austin in 1872. Father Sorin was looking for a site for an educational institution to be established by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, and he purchased 123 acres near where the Spanish expedition of 1709 had reached its terminal objective and the first mass in central Texas offered. He was encouraged in his plans by James Doyle's widow, Mary, who deeded him an additional 389 acres of the Doyle estate for $995 (repaid in her will) as an impetus to his educational goals. The next year, following the death of Mary Doyle, Father Sorin took steps toward the founding of a college by sending from Notre Dame Brothers Maxim and John of the Cross. On arrival they established themselves at the Doyle residence, cultivating the homestead acres which became known as "the Catholic farm."

In 1878 a small school was opened in one of the homestead buildings, accepting only day students for the succeeding three years when demand for a boarding school caused the erection of another building. In 1881 the first boarding students were enrolled, and in 1885 the institution was chartered by the state of Texas as St. Edward's College. The Texas Almanac of 1886 listed enrollment of the college at 60.

The first main building, designed by Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston and erected in 1887, consisted of a central section 107' X 40' with two wings, each 80' x 50'. The central section and one wing were in use by 1899. On April 9, 1903, the Main Building burned. Other buildings had been erected in the intervening years but apparently were without architectural significance and seemingly were regarded as somewhat temporary. Seven structures remained, so that following the fire the college could still announce itself "larger than any other private school in the state."

The first Main Building followed basically the same design of the present Main Building. The 1903 Main Building was, however, a more elaborate replacement and was to be fireproof - an advantage it was to share with its neighbor. Holy Cross Hall, already projected before the fire, and finished immediately after completion of the new Main Building. The expeditiousness with which Clayton was commissioned to redesign the new structure and with which it was completed in time for the fall semester seems to have made architectural history in the area, and papers of the time express wonderment at the achievement. Fireproof buildings were not unknown in the area at the time, but in the country as a whole apparently were considered sufficiently note-worthy to justify the school's advertising itself as "the only entirely fireproof college in the South."

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1973.