Our History

Steeped in Austin’s rich history, the Caswell house has stood as a symbol of elegance and charm since its construction.

  • Building BlocksCirca 1899

    Constructed circa 1899, this 4,560-square-foot limestone house was one of three neighboring mansions built by the Caswell family, all designed by architect A.O. Watson. Perched on a hilltop, it boasts views of Shoal Creek and convenient access to downtown via the Rio Grande streetcar line. The house’s style combines Gothic, Chateauesque, and Renaissance elements, featuring a 2 ½ -story design with a round turret on the northeast corner of the main facade.

    View from the Northeast

  • Duplex Conversion1930's

    The tower’s first floor was altered in the 1930s to include an exterior door, likely during the house’s conversion into a duplex. Fannie (daughter of Daniel H. Caswell) and her second husband, William V. Brenizer, who owned the house from 1932, remodeled it into two flats. After Fannie’s death in 1934, W.V. lived on the second floor until 1965.

    Clara Broadwell Caswell Dismukes, daughter of Daniel H. Caswell and sister of Fannie

  • Demolition Danger1965 - 1975

    In 1965, Brenizer sold the Caswell house to Landrum Hickman, who divided it into more apartments. Rapid deterioration prompted the City of Austin to purchase it in 1968 for demolition. However, plans changed in 1974 when the city aimed to become a Bicentennial City, leading to a restoration study by engineer Eugene Wukasch. This study helped place the house on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

     

    Ralph and Mazie Bickler, pictured in the center, were the last tenants to inhabit the Caswell house

  • Austin Junior Forum1978 - Present

    The Austin Junior Forum (AJF) purchased the house in 1978 through a competitive bid. Although the city council awarded the home to AJF, the women had to obtain their husbands’ signatures to secure a loan.

    To pay off the loan, Austin Junior Forum (AJF) members created the cookbook “Lone Star Legacy,” selling over 200,000 copies since its initial printing in 1981, still found in antique stores across Texas. Proceeds from the cookbook helped them pay off the mortgage in just three years. Members and their families dedicated countless hours to rehabilitating the interior of the home. Today, the Caswell House serves as AJF’s headquarters and center for community service, hosting weddings, parties, and corporate events.

    A copy of Lone Star Legacy II (1985)