Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Hirshfeld Cottage
Photographed By Keith Peterson, July 8, 2007
1. Hirshfeld Cottage Marker
German native Henry Hirshfeld (1834-1911) migrated to the United States at the age of fifteen. After working with his two uncles in Mobile, Alabama, he moved to Georgetown (28 mi. N), where he enlisted in the Confederate Army.
Following his service in the Civil War, Hirshfeld moved to Austin and entered the mercantile business. By 1868, when he married Jennie Melasky, he owned a clothing store and was becoming a prominent businessman of the city. Three years later Governor E.J. Davis appointed him as the first Vice President of the newly created State Board of Trade.
Active in civic development, Hirshfeld was also an early leader of Austin’s Jewish community. He was a founder and the first President of Congregation Beth Israel, established in 1876 on the second floor of his Congress Avenue store building.
Hirshfeld had this one-story stone cottage built for his family in 1873. Constructed by Ed Christian, Ferdinand Dohme, and S. Loomis, it features a widow’s walk on the roof and jigsawn detailing on the porch. After the family moved to their new residence on the adjacent east lot in 1888, the cottage was maintained as rental property.
Erected 1981 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6441.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic
this page online
Location. 30° 16.296′ N, 97° 44.691′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. Marker is on West 9th Street east of Guadalupe Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 305 West 9th Street, Austin TX 78703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Austin's Moonlight Towers (within shouting distance of this marker); Hirshfeld House (within shouting distance of this marker); Wooldridge Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Booker T. Washington (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1933 Austin Public Library (about 300 feet away); Wooldridge Square (about 300 feet away); Votes for Women (about 300 feet away); Third Site For Travis County Government (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Regarding Hirshfeld Cottage. See Nearby Marker Hirshfeld House for information regarding the house located on the adjacent
Photographed By Larry D. Moore, December 23, 2020
2. Hirshfeld Cottage Additional Marker
Additional keywords. Jewish Americans
Photographed By Richard Denney, November 25, 2021
3. Hirshfeld Cottage Marker
Updated photo including Austin Landmark tablet.
Photographed By Larry D. Moore, December 22, 2020
4. Hirshfeld Cottage Marker Area
Photographed By Keith Peterson, July 8, 2007
5. Hirshfeld Cottage
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 921 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 28, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. 3. submitted on November 27, 2021, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 4. submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. 5. submitted on December 28, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
