Schemedes, Kurt and Meta, House
Why it's listed
Set on a hill in Austin's Raymond Subdivision, this house at 804 Baylor Street was built for Kurt and Meta Schmedes between 1923 and 1924. Kurt, a German-born cotton broker, and Meta, from a locally established German family, hired the architects Giesecke and Harris. The brick-veneered house over a wood frame has limestone trim, a clipped gable red clay tile roof, balconies, roof terraces, and casement windows with geometric patterns drawn from German Jugendstil design. Craftsman, Prairie School, Mediterranean, and Classical touches add to the mix. Inside, Swiss immigrant Peter Mansbendel carved the living room mantel and Peter Alladi painted inlaid wall panels. A matching garage with an upstairs apartment was built at the same time. The house has had only three families, and nearly all original lighting, doors, windows, and floors survive. It was recognized for its architecture and its link to Austin's German community. The Schmedes were also known for supporting the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant locally under Criterion C for architecture, combining German Jugendstil, Craftsman, Prairie School, Mediterranean, and Classical elements. It is tied to the architects Giesecke and Harris, the builder Brydson Lumber Company, and Swiss-immigrant craftsmen who made its interior woodcarving and painted panels. German heritage is a central theme, since the owners, architect, and styles all have German connections.
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 00000696, listed June 15, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 804 Baylor St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | June 15, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000696 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architect / builder | Giesecke and Harris, Architects; Brydson Lumber Company, Builder |
| Architectural style | Mixed (German Jugendstil with Craftsman, Prairie School, Mediterranean, and Classical elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with high integrity; still used as a single dwelling with a secondary structure (garage with apartment). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.27418, -97.75438 (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 00000696.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000947
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.