Goodman Building
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Probably constructed in the early 1890s, this commercial building is noted for its decorative brickwork and iron railing. Built for grocer Joseph Goodman, the main floor served as his store until 1924. The upper floor was used from 1892 until about 1896 for Jacob Bickler’s German and English Academy, an elite preparatory school. From its significant location near the State Capitol, the Goodman Building stands as a reminder of Austin’s early commercial history. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1969
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in the early 1890s near the Texas Capitol, this handsome brick commercial building with decorative brickwork and iron railings served grocer Joseph Goodman, whose store occupied the main floor until 1924. Upstairs, from 1892 to about 1896, Jacob Bickler ran an elite German and English preparatory academy. Together they made the building a small hub of Austin's Gilded Age commerce and learning.
Why it matters
The Goodman Building survives as a reminder of the mixed shop-and-school life of a growing state capital, and of the German cultural presence in nineteenth-century Texas.
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Related people
- · Joseph Goodman
- · Jacob Bickler
Themes & tags
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