The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-08-05

OIa TI,,,e. A, Au-,I,,.


y. d. y. ~, a. % ana -. j. VAN NOS rkASD.
Old Times la Austin.
The tearing down Of ths.oId hotel build
ing known in early days as the Bullock
House, =" and Of late years as the Cook
corner, y to give place for the erection of
:hree-story building 4G by 100 feet in di-
mension, affords an opportunity of giving
a rambling glimpse over by gone years
which may not prove uninteresting, espe-
cialIy to those in Texas VINO, thirty-slX years
ago saw the house built aud to-day see it
torn down. In 1889, just about the
time that Austin, then called Waterloo, was
selected for the capital Of the Republic of
Texas, Richard Bullock owned the property
which is the subject OF this article. He
built first on the alley fronting on Pecan
street, extending his establishment down
Pecan street, east, and up the alley, northS
with small. one-story buildings, leaving a.
sort of an open court between, where, in
early days, the few families then living in
this exposed frontier section used to flock
for safety whenever a dash of the wild war
two-story portion, built of both logs,
and boards, where the Mexican res
taurant has been kept, was two stories
high then, and was used as the din
ing-room, and in 1910. Mr.. Bullock built
a log parlor in the centre of the court, and
for number of years after this no changes
or additions were made to the hotel, the
ground in front of the old buildings being
an open space and a general congregating
spot. At the time that Bullock built his
hotel but very few cabins had been erected
in the place several hundred people, how
ever. lived in tents and under the shade of
live oaks. Mr.. Baker, Jake Harral and
Mr.. Soules, with their families, and several
young men were here. William Barton
lived. IN a cabin at Barton Springs; several
cabins were at the foot of the Avenue,
where the town of Waterloo had been
started, and James w. Smith and Mr..
Tanneyhil lived at Montopolis ford. In
1889 40 this hotel was the headquarters of
such men rs President Lamar, Vice Presi-
dent David G. Barnett, Abner S. Lips
comb, Attorney General; James w. Webb,
Secretary of State; Branch I. Archer, Sec
rotary of War Dr. James II. Starr and
John G. Charles, Secretaries of the Treas
ury, and Gen. Sidney A. Johnston.
1t was also the resort of such men as Will
liam G. Cook, George Phelix Huston, gen
eral of the militia, James S. Mayfeld,
Thomas Jefferson Green, Gen. Tom Green,
(no relation), Pat aud William Jack, Mosely
Baker, Robert Potter, Richard Brennan,
Judge Joseph Lee, James II. Raymond-the
latter gentleman being a regular boarder at
the hoIel-James F. Johnson, Ashford b.
McGill, James b. Shaw, John NJ. Swisher,
etc.
At the time of the taking of San Antonio
by general Vasquez in March, 1912, there
was a general breaking up in Austin. Presi-
dent Houston ordered the archives to be
removed to Houston, and in few days but
about thirty-five men and eight or ten
women were left in the capital of the young
Republic, and many were the exciting Incl
dents Of frontier life that this little band Of
border settlers experienced. Cut off almost
entirely from the outside world, they had
nothing to depend upon but their cour-
age and true brotherly feeling. With
those who lett Austin at the time
the archives were removed was the land
lord of the Bullock House, and soon
after he abandoned the general rendez-
vouz, man named Browning took posses
sion of it afterwards Thos. w. Ward be-
came the landlord; then Jas. G. Swisher
purchased it, and kept the hotel for a year
or more, and then rented it to a man named
Lane; Gen. Henry e. McCulloch succeeded
him, aud MeCulloch was relieved by Mr..
+. B. Smith; then Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. r.
Thompson toek il, and soon after it passed
back into the management of Mr.. Swisher;
then Mr.. Cleveland became landlord, and
soon after Col. Cook, the present owner,
purchased the property. This, we believe,
was in 1856. While Bullock was making
his improvements IN 1889 and 1910, the
government buildings were being erected.
They were erected on both sides of the
Avenue, and all of them above Bots dare
street. The old Capitol stood on the pres
ent site of the market house, and it was
enclosed in a stocksde, as sort of breast
work against the Indians, who not unfre-
quently dashed into the place, when run
ming fights for miles followed. The
Presidents house occupied the site
OF Mrs. Duifaus present residence, Il was
burned down in 1916. Where Tobin's drug
store stands was the s'Miller Hotel, y little
eight 10y ten pole cabin, where people could
get something to eat, and lodgings under
the broad canopy ofheaven free. About the
year 1910 the following old citizens, still
living, took up their residence at Austin :;
Louis Horst, Osborn Wilcox, Edward seid-
crs, Mrs. Joseph Walker, then Mrs. Ara
Brigham, james N. Long and wife, Mrs.
Dennis Walsh, +. N Psase aud Mrs. DIR.
Robinson, whose son George was born in
Austin. ~ sEE6tEa ~ ~.
In a day or two not piece Of this old
hotel where Presidents, GovsEnoTs, gener.
ais, statesmen and the patriots al the early
days Of this country congregased years ago
to draft laws, lay plans for Indian raids,
etc., will he lefl standing to marx the spot
of the exciting. the pleasant and abe trying
scenes Of the past.
The property Inclusive Of four lots now
owned by George Hancock, cost Col. Cook
$40, 600, and he has since been offered
for the two lots. double that amount,
bat decli ned 70 take less than $50, 008.
The population % Aastin in is4O
was about 500. f5o OF whom were
colored, aud for short time the
place grew rapidly, and sooa il had
eight or ten stores aschoOl several preach
crs, several boarding houses and hotels,
two organized churches, one Acthodisf and