Smoot, Richmond Kelley, House
Also known as: Pecan Place
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 on what was then the western edge of Austin, this two-story brick house at 1316 West Sixth Street was constructed by contractors Loving and Maxwell for the Rev. Richmond Kelley Smoot and his wife. It is a substantial Italianate dwelling, with bay windows, bracketed cornices, and locally made brick. Wings were added in 1882 and 1884, and in 1925 Colonial Revival double galleries replaced the earlier Eastlake porch. The property still has its carriage drive, gardens, pecan and oak trees, and several outbuildings, giving it a nearly rural feel amid dense development. Its importance rests on its occupants. Smoot served as Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly and helped found a school of theology in the house's library. His son Lawrence spent decades with the Texas Supreme Court, and historian Amelia Worthington Williams lived there from 1925 to 1958. In 1887, the writer O. Henry married Athol Estes in the front parlor. The family gave the house to a preservation society in 1973.
Significance in brief: It was the home of a single prominent Austin family: Dr. Richmond Kelley Smoot, a nationally known Presbyterian clergyman who helped found a forerunner of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary; Lawrence Smoot, Texas Supreme Court librarian and reporter; and Dr. Amelia Worthington Williams, a University of Texas history professor. It is also one of the few Victorian mansions with fine Italianate detailing left in Austin in its original setting, and it kept most of its original furnishings.
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 82004527, listed August 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1316 W. 6th St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | August 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004527 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | R.V. Loving & W.W. Maxwell |
| Architectural style | Italianate, with Colonial Revival double galleries added in 1925 |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent to good condition, owned by a preservation society, with the last family member holding a life tenancy at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Within district | West Line Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.27441, -97.75958 (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 82004527.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000445
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.