Smith-Marcuse-Lowry House
Why it's listed
Built in 1894 at 3913 Avenue C in Austin, this two-story frame house is an early and prominent Queen Anne residence in the Hyde Park subdivision. George Smith bought the lots from the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Land Company and was required to build a home worth at least $1,500; he hired local builder John Geggie. The house has a two-tiered front porch with chamfered columns, jigsawn trim and a geometric balustrade, plus a 2 1/2-story polygonal tower with an octagonal roof and a steep hipped roof of pressed-metal shingles. A board-and-batten carriage house also survives. Later owners included Louis Marcuse, a Prussian-born grocer, and his family, who lived there until 1968. After the city condemned the house, new owners restored it, rebuilding the porches, balustrades and fencing from historic photographs. It is recognized for its local architectural significance and its connection to the early marketing of Hyde Park.
Significance in brief: It was among the first residences built in Hyde Park and is a highly visible example of the Queen Anne style. It reflects the land company's strategy of encouraging large, showy houses to attract investors to the new subdivision. It retains a remarkable degree of historic character and is significant locally for architecture.
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 90001180, listed August 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3913 Ave. C, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | August 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001180 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894 |
| Architect / builder | Geggie, John (builder) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually unaltered and in good condition; restored after having been condemned by the city, and currently used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.30358, -97.73363 (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 90001180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7544921
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.