Caswell, Daniel H. and William T., Houses
Why it's listed
Two limestone houses face each other across 15th Street at West Avenue in Austin, on the crest of a hill at the edge of the original northwest city boundary. The D.H. Caswell house, built about 1900, is a two-and-a-half-story Chateauesque residence with a round turret, a conical roof, a patterned slate roof and a two-story gallery. The W.T. Caswell house, built in 1906, is a Classical two-story house with a double gallery, composite columns and a lively roofline of gables and dormers. Both were built by the Caswell family, prominent in Austin's cotton industry. Daniel Caswell founded a cottonseed oil mill in 1890. His son Will became a businessman and civic leader who promoted parks, athletics and recreation in Austin. A third Caswell house between the two was demolished in 1966 to extend 15th Street. The D.H. Caswell house is now city-owned and awaits restoration.
Significance in brief: The houses are tied to the Caswell family, prominent in Austin's cotton industry and in the city's recreational planning. They are also visually linked, framing the corner of 15th Street and West Avenue. Daniel H. Caswell's house is Chateauesque and Will T. Caswell's is Classical in style. The form also notes that Judge John Edward Hickman rented an upstairs unit in the 1930s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75002004, listed April 21, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1404 and 1502 West Ave., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | April 21, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75002004 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Chateauesque (D.H. Caswell House); Classical (W.T. Caswell House) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The D.H. Caswell house is city-owned and rented as a duplex, with its slate roof and cresting deteriorating and restoration planned. The W.T. Caswell house is a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 30.27935, -97.74766 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75002004.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5217391
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.