Caswell, Daniel H. and William T., Houses

The Daniel H. and William T. Caswell houses are both historically and visually related. Built on West Avenue, one of the most prominent locations for homes during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth century, both homes were built by the Caswell family, prominent in the Austin cotton industry and significant to Austin's community recreational planning. The houses also have visual continuity, for they frame the corner of 15th Street and West Avenue at the top of a hill. At one time a third Caswell house stood between these two, but it was demolished in 1966 to extend 15th Street.

Born in Maine in 1835, Daniel H. Caswell, Sr. first came to Austin from Tennessee in 1890 and founded the Austin Oil Manufacturing Company, a cotton-seed oil mill, at 5th and Chicon Streets. In 1899 he built a cotton gin on the west side of Chicon. Beginning with the Austin Oil Manufacturing Company in 1890, the Caswell family made a major contribution to the economy of Austin. D.H. Caswell and his sons were involved in all the various aspects of the cotton industry - the buying and selling, the processing of raw cotton, and the manufacturing of by-products.

Around 1899 D.H. Caswell, Sr. began construction of an elegant two-story stone house at 1404 West Avenue and was first listed at that address in 1900. Apparently Caswell bought a large tract of land along West Avenue on which were later built the homes for his two sons, D. Haskell Caswell, Jr. and William T. Caswell. Until the property was condemned by the city in 1966 for a street right-of-way, the Daniel H. Caswell house was continuously occupied by members of the Caswell family or their spouses. Haskell and Will Caswell both lived in the house before they were married. A daughter, Clara, and her husband, P. G. Dismukes, lived in the house with Daniel and Louise Caswell for several years after it was built. After Daniel Caswell's death in 1916, his wife continued to live in the house. Following her mother's death in 1927, Helen Gerhard, the Caswell's oldest daughter, and her husband, W.H. Gerhard, lived in the house for a few years. Another daughter, Fannie, and her husband, W. V. Brenizer became owners of the house in 1932.

W. V. Brenizer continued to reside at 1404 West Avenue until the city bought the property in 1966. Sometime during the 1930's, the house was apparently divided into a duplex, and Brenizer rented the second floor to various occupants, including John Edward Hickman in 1935. Having just moved to Austin to serve as an Associate Judge on the Commission of Appeals, Hickman resided with his wife at 1404 and 1/2 West Avenue for their first two and one-half years in Austin. Hickman became a renowned judge, later serving on the Texas Supreme Court for 25 years and presiding over that court as Chief Justice for 12 years.

The city of Austin presently owns the D.H. Caswell, Sr. house and has rented the house as a duplex since 1968. As plans for the cross-town freeway have been indefinitely tabled, the city recently announced plans to restore the house.

The owner of the second house, Caswell's second son. Will T. Caswell, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1877. Having just graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1899, Will returned to Austin to join his father and brother Haskell in the cotton brokerage business. He started out as a cotton seed buyer for the Austin Oil Manufacturing Company, but after a few months started in business for himself buying and selling cotton. Will Caswell lived with his parents at 1404 West Avenue the first years he lived in Austin, but shortly after his marriage to Vivian Brenizer in 1904, he moved into a new home at 1502 West Avenue. Possibly Daniel H. Caswell built the home for Will as a wedding gift, for a home at 1500 West Avenue was also built for Haskell at the same time.

Will Caswell became a prominent and successful businessman in the community. Besides his business in Austin, he began setting up sub-offices in other towns. He owned a considerable amount of timber land in East Texas, where he operated a steam log road and sawmill. Besides operating the Austin Cotton Gin, known as "Big Gin", he was President of the Capitol City Compress Company in Austin and President of the San Marcos Compress and Elgin Compress Companies, He also served as the President of the Woodward Manufacturing Company in South Austin. Entering the real estate development field. Will Caswell became the owner and promoter of a residential addition to the city of Houston, as well as one in Austin, His most spectacular promotional gimmick was the attempt to advertise his new Austin residential development, Ridgetop, in 1911, Cal Rodgers, who was making the first transcontinental flight from New York to California, was offered $150 by Will Caswell to land his airplane at Ridgetop, Rodgers agreed to the plan, and over 2000 people showed up at Ridgetop to see the first airplane ever to land in Austin.

Will Caswell also had a significant impact on the history of Austin recreational facilities. Interested in sports and physical fitness, Caswell worked to promote athletics and recreational opportunities for the people of Austin. Caswell was an original member of the Board of Directors of the corporation which raised funds to build Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas, In 1923 he built the Austin Athletic Club as a private club for Austinites and then turned the club over to the city recreation department in 1931, As an original member of the Parks and Recreation Board, created in 1928, he served as its chairman for 12 years and was responsible for Austin's modern parks and playgrounds system. In addition, in 1922, Caswell was the one who encouraged and promoted the construction of the first public road to scenic Mt. Bonnell, the highest point overlooking the city of Austin. In 1949 he planned the tennis center at West 24th and Lamar Boulevard, donating half of the $50, 000 required to build the court facilities, which are now named in his honor.

A prominent civic leader. Will Caswell served 25 years as Director of St. David's Hospital, was on the YMCA board in the early 1900's, was on the original city planning committee, and was a director of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1924 Caswell was awarded the second award ever given for Austin's Most Worthy Citizen. Caswell continued to live in his home at 1502 West Avenue until his death in 1962, The house is still owned and occupied by Mrs, W.T. Caswell.