Hutchison House
LBJ Dr. and University St., San Marcos, TXStandards of Victorian taste are well expressed in the many gables, bays, and carved details of the Hutchison House. The intricacy of the line is repeated inside in the walnut stair, mantel, and fretwork.
Charles S. Sinz, a German craftsman who also built some of the houses on Belvin Street, designed the house for Beverly Hutchison, son of Major W.0. Hutchison, one of the town's early developers. The Hutchison family lived here from 1896, when the house was built, until 1913, when they moved to Kyle.
During the Hutchison residence, the home was the epitome of late Victorian elegance. The floorplan is irregular, reflecting the faceted exterior appearance. A tiny room within an oriel at the stair landing is a feature unique to the town. Other items are comparable: the walnut paneling on the stair spandrel, deeply incised newels, bullseye moldings, pocket doors, and walnut mantels embellished with ball and dowel trim that is echoed on the fretwork at the oriel.
The house changed owners several times but was regularly operated as a boarding house. Among the student boarders was president-to-be Johnson, who took his meals here from March 1927 to September 1928 and during the summer of 1929. Other accounts report that Johnson lived here. The exact nature of his association is still debated, but that he spent a great deal of time in this house is undisputed. Johnson revisited the house in 1964.
Three years later the house had to be moved to an adjacent lot to save it from demolition by the Urban Renewal Agency. Because it was moved only a short distance, approximately 60 feet, changes were minimal. The subsequent rehabilitation was sensitive, and the house can be considered to have retained its architectural and historical integrity.
Local significance of the building:
Charles S. Sinz, a German craftsman who also built some of the houses on Belvin Street, designed the house for Beverly Hutchison, son of Major W.0. Hutchison, one of the town's early developers. The Hutchison family lived here from 1896, when the house was built, until 1913, when they moved to Kyle.
During the Hutchison residence, the home was the epitome of late Victorian elegance. The floorplan is irregular, reflecting the faceted exterior appearance. A tiny room within an oriel at the stair landing is a feature unique to the town. Other items are comparable: the walnut paneling on the stair spandrel, deeply incised newels, bullseye moldings, pocket doors, and walnut mantels embellished with ball and dowel trim that is echoed on the fretwork at the oriel.
The house changed owners several times but was regularly operated as a boarding house. Among the student boarders was president-to-be Johnson, who took his meals here from March 1927 to September 1928 and during the summer of 1929. Other accounts report that Johnson lived here. The exact nature of his association is still debated, but that he spent a great deal of time in this house is undisputed. Johnson revisited the house in 1964.
Three years later the house had to be moved to an adjacent lot to save it from demolition by the Urban Renewal Agency. Because it was moved only a short distance, approximately 60 feet, changes were minimal. The subsequent rehabilitation was sensitive, and the house can be considered to have retained its architectural and historical integrity.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
About National Register Listings
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.
Texas was once a part of Mexico but gained independence in 1836 after a famous battle at the Alamo.
About Hays County
Hays County Timeline
Hays County, located in the central part of Texas, has a rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various indigenous tribes, including the Tonkawa and Comanche peoples. However, the first recorded European arrival in the region occurred in 1690 when Spanish explorers made their way through the area.
In the early 1800s, Anglo-American settlers began to establish permanent settlements in what is now Hays County. One of the most notable figures in the county's history is Captain John Coffee "Jack" Hays, a Texas Ranger who played a significant role in fighting against Native American raids in the region. As a result of his contributions, the county was renamed in his honor in 1848.
During the mid-1800s, Hays County experienced rapid growth and development, fueled by the arrival of the railroad in the region. The county became an important hub for agriculture, with cotton and cattle as the main industries. The county seat, San Marcos, played a key role in the growth of education in the area, becoming home to Southwest Texas State Normal School (now Texas State University) in 1899.
In the 20th century, Hays County continued to evolve and modernize. The population increased steadily as more people were attracted to the area’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and proximity to Austin. Today, Hays County remains a vibrant and growing community, serving as a bridge between the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country and the urban amenities of nearby metropolitan areas.
In the early 1800s, Anglo-American settlers began to establish permanent settlements in what is now Hays County. One of the most notable figures in the county's history is Captain John Coffee "Jack" Hays, a Texas Ranger who played a significant role in fighting against Native American raids in the region. As a result of his contributions, the county was renamed in his honor in 1848.
During the mid-1800s, Hays County experienced rapid growth and development, fueled by the arrival of the railroad in the region. The county became an important hub for agriculture, with cotton and cattle as the main industries. The county seat, San Marcos, played a key role in the growth of education in the area, becoming home to Southwest Texas State Normal School (now Texas State University) in 1899.
In the 20th century, Hays County continued to evolve and modernize. The population increased steadily as more people were attracted to the area’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and proximity to Austin. Today, Hays County remains a vibrant and growing community, serving as a bridge between the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country and the urban amenities of nearby metropolitan areas.
Hays County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Hays County, Texas.
- 1837: Hays County is officially established as a county when the Republic of Texas is formed.
- 1848: The county seat is established in the town of San Marcos.
- 1856: A charter is granted to create the Hays County Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Mechanical Association.
- 1861: With the outbreak of the Civil War, many men from Hays County volunteer for service in the Confederate Army.
- 1881: The International-Great Northern Railroad is completed, connecting San Marcos to Austin and San Antonio.
- 1903: Southwest Texas State Normal School (now known as Texas State University) is established in San Marcos.
- 1938: The Blanco River floods, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure in Hays County.
- 1996: The Hays County Courthouse, built in 1909, is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2015: The county experiences widespread flooding from heavy rains, resulting in several deaths and extensive property damage.