Brizendine House, Austin

The Brizendine House, a significant historic home situated in downtown Austin, stands as a testament to the architectural and social history of the late 19th century. Constructed around 1870, this house is located on 11th Street and is now neighbored by modern structures such as an annex to the Travis County Courthouse and the Blackwell/Thurman Criminal Justice Center.

This house was built by John R. Brizendine, a native of Kentucky who was a skilled carpenter, machinist, and miller. Born in 1829, Brizendine lived in this home until his death in 1914, marking it as a significant part of his legacy. The Brizendine House is a prime example of a simple vernacular rough ashlar house, reflecting the lifestyle of Austin's working middle-class families in the late 1800s. Its exterior proportions exhibit the influence of Victorian architecture, a popular style of the era.

The construction material, limestone, was a common choice for building during this period and contributes to the house's historic charm and durability. The Brizendine House's significance was formally recognized in 1974 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its preservation as a piece of Austin's history.

After Brizendine's death, the house changed hands and was bought by Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon in 1928. It remained in her family until 1972, serving as a residential property for nearly a century. Today, the Brizendine House in Austin symbolizes the city's 19th-century working middle-class history amidst urban changes.