Bremond Block Historic District
Roughly bounded by Guadalupe, San Antonio, 7th and 8th Sts., Austin, TXDuring the years between the end of the Civil War and the turn of the century, Austin, Texas experienced a building splurge which produced some of the city's finest old homes. Six of those homes are located within a square block which extends from Guadalupe to San Antonio Streets, and from West 7th to West 8th Streets. Each house on the block has a view of the hills to the west, and the capitol and city to the east.
Familiarly known as the Bremond Block, the area contains six distinctive and beautifully preserved houses. The homes, together, represent a large part of Austin's early cultural and social history. Indeed, just as each of the six houses represents a repository of Austin's diverse architecture, so the histories of the various owners of the homes reflect an er of growth during which Austin became a busy state capital.
The history of the Bremond Block began with John Bremond's arrival in Austin, from Philadelphia, in 1845. By 1863, he had bought a lot near his friend and future business associate, John Robinson, recently arrived from Little Rock, Arkansas. Occupied with establishing a new business, and settling his large family, John Bremond had little time to think about the house building enterprises which were to become his oldest son' favorite occupation. Indeed, it was fortunate that at least one house was already standing on the newly-purchased lot. Built in the early 1850's, the building now known as the Hale-Houston home must have been a pleasant place to live. A variation of the"dog-run" Texas traditional style, the Bremond's first home was cool in the summer; although it lacked the size and elegance of the later homes, still, its spare by surrounding growth and filtered light.
Since John Robinson also had a large family, John Bremond suggested that the Robinsons join the Bremonds in building homes on the same block. The fact that members of the two families had married one another did nothing to discourage the idea, and after John Bremond's death in 1865, his son Eugene took steps to formalize a Bremond-Robinson block. Between the years 1870 and 1900, Eugene was at the height of his business activities. In 187p he sold his store to his brother John; in 1876, he became involved in banking, and by 1882 he was president of the State National Bank. In 1887 he became a member of the Austin Board of Trade; in later years he served in the Austin Volunteer Fire Department. Yet, despite his many civic and business activities, he somehow found the time to have four homes built on the Bremond Block. His task was made easier by the fact that two of the homes had been one-story structures to which he could add second stories. He did a particularly outstanding job on his son Walter's home, adding a distinguished Mansard roof, fireplaces in every room, and a curving walnut staircase which led to the second floor and attic.
In 1877, Eugene directed his energies toward building a home for his second wife, Mary, and when he finished, he had the only frame house on the block. Despite its one-story design, the Victorian cottage was one of the most spacious in the block, and its extensive veranda assured pleasantly cool summer evenings.
In 1898, Eugene began construction on a house next door to his own home. He intended the house for his son Pierre, and the grandiose plans and durable brick construction perhaps reflect a sympathy for Pierre's two favorite occupations: raising huge dogs and racing cars. Indeed, the least ornate of all the houses, Pierre's home is undoubtedly the most spacious.
The last and most distinguished house of all was built by one of Eugene's brothers, John Bremond, Jr. Like Eugene, John was involved in many business and social enterprises: he owned a large store on East 6th Street; he was a city alderman in 1877, and chief of the Austin Fire Department; his daughter attended a fine private school, the Ursuline Academy in San Antonio. When John Bremond hired George Fiegel to design and build his home, he was expressing a desire to have a home which would adequately express his social and financial positions. Thus, the home's golden-colored brick, ornate railings, high dome, stained glass, and fine woodwork demonstrate not only John Bremond, Jr.'s high standing in the Austin community, but they are a measure of the high regard in which every member of the Bremond and Robinson families was held.
The Bremonds slowly decreased in social and commercial prominence as Austin grew from a small town to a semi-metropolitan city. Yet, their prominence of fifty years ago remains clearly visible in the homes they left behind. Their good taste assured that the Bremond Block would be one of the finest and most complete Victorian neighborhoods in Texas.
The integrity of the Bremond Block is due largely to homes which Austinites built in the surrounding district. William and Catherine North, for example, built four large houses directly west of the Bremonds; the Smith, Palm, and Tips families lived in less ornate homes to the south and east. All of the seven houses are Austin landmarks, and one of them, the Gustaf Palm home, was contracted by George Fiegel.
Of all the homes in the district, the B.J. Smith home has had the stormiest history. The house was sold and re-bought more than ten times, involved in lawsuits and litigation, and put up for auction twice. Today, the United Fund of Austin owns the building. Because that organization has been careful to preserve many of the building's distinctive features, the house still has square nails, hand-made bricks, and pieces of original glass. Its floors are made of single boards which run the length of the rooms.
The North homes on San Antonio Street are a sharp contrast to the more modest buildings on West 7th Street. The North-Evans Chateau, for example, has twenty rooms, buttresses, and stone porches on the first and second floors.
The Chateau name was derived from the dual ownership of the building, by Captain William F. North, in 1874, and by Major Ira H. Evans in 1892. Today, the Austin Women's Club owns the Chateau and that group has worked hard to restore the building to its former elegance. They have preserved the sliding doors of hand-carved pine, the hand-cut stained glass windows, and metal ceilings of pressed copper. They have added numerous pieces of antique furniture, and furnished the drawing rooms with antiques after the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods. The rugs are Persian, from the Kirman Province; draperies at the French windows are French blue water silk; and the chandeliers in the entrance hall and drawing room are of the "Versailles type."
Nine of the thirteen houses in the Bremond district have been designated as historic Texas landmarks by the Texas Historical Survey Committee.
Bibliography
Austin-Travis County Collection, Austin Public Library Williamson, Roxanne. Victorian Architecture in Austin. (Austin, unpublished, 1967)
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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.
European exploration of the region began in the 17th century when Spanish explorers ventured into what is now Travis County. However, it was not until the early 19th century that permanent settlements were established. In 1835, the area became part of the Republic of Texas after gaining independence from Mexico, and the county was officially created in 1840.
Travis County was named after William Barret Travis, a Texas Revolution hero who commanded the Texan forces during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Throughout the 19th century, the county experienced significant growth and development, driven by factors such as the arrival of immigrants, the expansion of the railroad, and the establishment of institutions like the University of Texas at Austin in 1883.
During the 20th century, Travis County continued to evolve and modernize. Austin, the county seat and state capital, grew into a vibrant and culturally diverse city, known for its live music scene, technological innovations, and progressive policies. The county became a center for government, education, and business, attracting a wide range of industries and residents.
Today, Travis County is one of the most populous and economically vibrant counties in Texas. It is home to a diverse population and a wide range of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. The county's history, coupled with its present-day dynamism, contributes to its unique character and makes it a significant region in the Lone Star State.
Travis County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Travis County, Texas.
- Pre-19th Century: The area that would become Travis County was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Tonkawa and Lipan Apache.
1691: Spanish explorers, including Domingo Terán de los Ríos and Alonso de León, explored the region.
1835: Texas Revolution against Mexico begins, and the area becomes part of the Republic of Texas.
1839: Waterloo, a small village settled near the Colorado River, is selected as the site for the new capital of the Republic of Texas.
1840: Travis County is officially established and named after William Barret Travis, a hero of the Texas Revolution.
1842: The capital is officially named Austin after Stephen F. Austin, "The Father of Texas."
1871: The Houston and Texas Central Railway reaches Austin, facilitating transportation and spurring growth.
1883: The University of Texas at Austin is founded.
1891: The Texas State Capitol building, an iconic landmark, is completed.
1930s-1940s: The construction of dams, including Mansfield Dam and Tom Miller Dam, on the Colorado River provides flood control and creates Lake Travis and Lake Austin, respectively.
1970s-1990s: Austin experiences significant growth and becomes known for its live music scene, technology industry, and progressive culture.
2000s-Present: Travis County continues to grow in population and economic significance, with Austin being recognized as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.