Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Carrington-Covert House
Leonidas D. Carrington (1816-97) and his wife, Martha Hill Carrington (1824-59), came to Austin from Mississippi in 1852. He began to accumulate real estate and on Sept. 15, 1853, bought this block from James M.W. Hall, Austin hotelman, and ten days later opened a mercantile store on Congress Avenue. In 1856 Carrington hired John Brandon, a local architect-contractor, to build on this site a Vernacular Greek Revival home, constructed of rough limestone ashlar. The house was completed in the spring of 1857.
The property was purchased by M.L. Hemphill in 1870 and by the John Fields family in 1881. Fields leased the building, 1893-98, to the “Texas Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital”, directed by Dr. Henry L. Hilgartner (1868-1937), and in 1903, sold the site to Frank M. Covert (1865-1938). The head of a prominent Austin family, who lived here until 1936. Later owners rented the structure as a boardinghouse, residence, and nursery until it was purchased by the State of Texas in 1968.
The Texas Historical Commission restored the house in 1972.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1972
Erected 1972 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6423.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1876.
Location. 30° 16.68′ N, 97° 44.432′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. Marker is on Colorado Street near West 16th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1511 Colorado Street, Austin TX 78701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Swedish Evangelical Free Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gethsemane Church (about 400 feet away); Diocese of Austin (about 400 feet away); State Bar of Texas (about 400 feet away); Texas World War I Memorial (about 700 feet away); Swedish Central Methodist Church (about 700 feet away); Wahrenberger House (about 700 feet away); Statue of Liberty Replica (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Regarding Carrington-Covert House. The Carrington-Covert House history fails to mention that the house was to be torn down in the 60s when Walter Raney Carrington bought the demolition permit and contacted the Texas Historical Commission to see if they wanted the property. It is part of the history of a building that would not be in existence were it not for his efforts.
Cordially,
Bill Carrington
Also see . . . The Texas Historical Commission. The Texas Historical Commission's Headquarters has been in the Carrington-Covert House since 1972. (Submitted on December 30, 2009.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,237 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 23, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on January 4, 2016, by Michael Heinich of Austin, Texas. 3. submitted on December 23, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.