Green Pastures
Why it's listed
Green Pastures is a two-story Victorian country house at 811 West Live Oak in Austin, built about 1893 by Marion Hall for Dr. Eugene W. Herndon, a physician, publisher and philanthropist who wanted a rural home south of town for horticulture and prize-winning poultry. The wood frame house combines Stick Style and Eastlake details, including a projecting gabled portico, turned columns, stained glass windows and decorative entry doors. Inside, four rooms open off a central hall, with an elaborate stair and cherry and walnut mantels. Later owners included the Burnetts and then the Faulk family, whose Mary Faulk Koock began catering from the home and opened the downstairs to public dining by 1946. A 1965 fire damaged the upper floor, and additions were made in the 1950s and 1970s. The property, now about four acres, keeps its oak-shaded rural character. It was listed as one of very few Stick Style examples in Austin and as a local landmark of hospitality.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of very few examples of the Stick Style in Austin, combined with Eastlake motifs. Its rural setting has been maintained, and its nineteenth century interior is open to the public. It is also valued as a long-standing center of hospitality in Austin.
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 80004154, listed September 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 811 W. Live Oak St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | September 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004154 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date ca. 1893) |
| Architect / builder | Marion Hall |
| Architectural style | Stick Style with Eastlake motifs (Victorian country house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a restaurant and catering business; condition listed as excellent, with alterations including a 1965 fire repair and 1950s and 1970s additions. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 30.24520, -97.76285 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80004154.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5603058
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.