Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Sparks House

Photographed by James Hulse, August 30, 2022

1. Sparks House Marker

Inscription. The Sparks House was built in 1927 for former state treasurer Sam Sparks and his wife, Bertha May "Polly" Jones Mulkey Sparks. Austin-based firm Page Brothers, architects of many homes, schools and the 1930 Travis County Courthouse, designed this house in Spanish eclectic style. It was built in one of Austin's oldest neighborhoods, Judges Hill, so named for the concentration of judges in the nineteenth century who resided in the area. The house was built of brick, limestone, cast concrete and tile. Features of note include an elaborate bas-relief around the front windows, multiple arched doorways, a decorative fan above the north entry, stone sills, and Weigl Ironwork. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 2016

Erected 2016 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18370.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 30° 16.795′ N, 97° 44.828′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. It is at the intersection of West Avenue and West 16th Street, on the left when traveling north on West Avenue. The marker is located in front of the house by the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1510 West Avenue, Austin TX 78701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Herblin – Shoe House (within shouting distance of this marker); Granger House and The Perch (within shouting distance of this marker); Daniel H. Caswell House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); McLendon-Price House (about 500 feet away); West Hill (about 600 feet away); Site of Edward Mandell House Home (about 600 feet away); Hugh B. Hancock House (about 700 feet away); J.W. and Cornelia Scarbrough House (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Also see . . . Sparks, Sam (1873–1933). Texas State Historical Association

During the time Sparks was Texas state treasurer, from 1906 to 1912, he established residence in Austin. He embarked on a career in finance in 1912 and organized the Texas Trust Company, which became the Texas Banking and Trust Company in 1922 and merged with Republican Bank and Trust in 1932; Sparks was serving as chairman of the board of directors of the firm at the time of his death. While president of the Austin Chamber of Commerce in 1916 Sparks helped bring grand opera to the city for the first time and assisted in the merger of the United Telephone Company with Southwestern Bell, a move that provided residents with one of the lowest telephone rates in the country at the time. Sparks was
Photographed by James Hulse

2. The view of the Sparks House and Marker from across the street
also president of the Travis County Fair in 1921 and the Central Texas Fair in 1922 and was prominent in Lions Club affairs. He led drives for funds for building Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas and the University Methodist Church.

(Submitted on September 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Sparks House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 30, 2022

3. The Sparks House

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 340 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.