Woodlawn
Also known as: Paese Mansion
Why it's listed
Woodlawn is a two-story Greek Revival brick house at 6 Niles Road in Austin, designed by builder Abner Cook and finished in 1853. It has a flat roof, a two-story Ionic gallery with six fluted columns, and a small balcony over the front door with Cook's characteristic bundled-slat balustrade. A side porch carries three Doric columns. James B. Shaw, an Irish emigrant to Texas, commissioned the house. Construction paused when he was jilted, then resumed after he became engaged to someone else. Shaw served as state comptroller under Governor Pease, and in 1857 Pease bought the house and named it Woodlawn. He called the surrounding 365 acres Enfield, after his Connecticut birthplace, but sold most of the land over time. Pease family members lived there until 1957, when Allan Shivers bought it. Additions include a rear dining hall and a north-side room and kitchen. The house became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964. The estate is now a city block with landscaped grounds.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls Woodlawn one of the most beautiful homes Abner Cook designed. It was built in 1853, shortly before the governor's mansion of 1855, and shares that building's two-story Greek Revival design. It was also the home of Governor Pease and, later, of his family until 1957.
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 70000772, listed August 25, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Niles Rd., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | August 25, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000772 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1853 |
| Architect / builder | Abner Cook |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. The form marks the property as occupied, with preservation work in progress. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 30.28667, -97.75807 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 70000772.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8032993
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.