Reuter, Louis and Mathilde, House
Why it's listed
Perched on a wooded hilltop in Austin's Travis Heights neighborhood, this 12-room Spanish Colonial Revival villa was built in 1934 for grocer Louis Reuter and his wife Mathilde. Its walls are native limestone laid in a "peanut brittle" pattern beneath a red barrel-tile roof, and its eccentric details include an oversized volute and a porch with arches of differing radii. Inside, textured plaster walls, cast concrete columns, decorative tile and carved furnishings made for the house survive. The plan was designed for recitals, centered on Mathilde's concert grand piano. Louis Reuter introduced Piggly Wiggly self-service retailing to Austin around 1918 and expanded it into the city's first grocery chain. Mathilde, a trained soprano, was a leading figure in Austin's arts community for decades. Builder Thomas D. Jones, Louis's nephew, constructed the house, and the property still occupies its original nine lots. A restoration begun in 1986 returned original colors, glazing and fixtures.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, notable for its siting, textured finishes, craftsmanship and surviving original furnishings. It is also tied to Louis Reuter, who opened what is believed to be Austin's first self-service grocery and its first grocery chain, and to his wife Mathilde, a singer and patron of Austin's arts community.
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 87002100, listed December 7, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 806 Rosedale Terrace, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | December 7, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002100 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1934) |
| Architect / builder | Thos. D. Jones |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; restored inside and out after 1986, with exceptional integrity and the original nine lots intact. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Within district | Travis Heights-Fairview Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.24142, -97.74461 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 87002100.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6688414
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.