Carrington–Covert House facts for kids
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Carrington-Covert House
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Carrington–Covert House
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| Location | Austin, Texas, USA |
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| Built | 1857 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000765 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1970 |
The Carrington–Covert House is a historic building in downtown Austin, Texas. It serves as the main office for the Texas Historical Commission. This house was built between 1855 and 1857. It's one of the few buildings in Austin that is still standing from before the Civil War.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States. In 1971, the Carrington–Covert House became the headquarters for the Texas Historical Commission.
Contents
History of the Carrington–Covert House
Building the House
Construction on the house started in 1855. It was mostly finished by July 7, 1857. On that day, the builder, John Brandon, settled his payment with the owner, Leonidas Carrington. This was less than 20 years after the city of Austin was first founded.
The house was built in a style called "vernacular Greek revival". This means it looked like ancient Greek temples but was built with local materials. It was made from rough limestone blocks.
Early Owners and Uses
From 1857 to 1870, the house was home to Leonidas D. Carrington, his wife Martha, and their five children. After them, M.L. Hemphill bought the property in May 1870. His family likely lived there until 1881.
In 1881, John Fields bought the house. It's not known if he ever lived there himself.
A Hospital for the Community
In 1893, John Fields rented the house to a charity group in Austin. From then until 1898, the house became the "Texas Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital". This clinic helped many people. Two-thirds of its patients were treated for free. The other third paid, and their payments helped keep the hospital running.
The Covert Family Home
From 1903 to 1936, the house was home to the Covert family. This family was important in Austin. They opened the first car dealership in central Texas in 1909. That dealership was still in business in Austin over 100 years later, in 2020!
After the Covert family, the house was rented out for different uses. It was a boarding house, a regular home, and even a nursery.
Becoming a State Landmark
The State of Texas bought the house in 1968. In 1972, the Texas Historical Commission restored the house. They even did an archeological dig before the restoration. This helped them learn more about the house's past. The house was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1962.
Images for kids
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Carrington–Covert House, front view (west side), photo from July 1974.
