James and Leanna Walsh House
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Located in Tarrytown, this Mission Revival style house features limestone quarried from a nearby source and red, Spanish-style clay roof tiles. Built for James Martin Walsh (1882-1944), third son of local lime manufacturer and Irish immigrant William J. Walsh, and James' wife Leanna (Brunner) Walsh (1881-1956), the house possesses several defining characteristics, including the curved gable parapet, low pitched tile roofs, shaded porch with corbel arch entry and multi-light windows. James Walsh carried on the family business at Austin White Lime Company and assisted in the development of the Austin area. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2016
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood stands the Mission Revival home of James and Leanna Walsh — its curved gable parapet, low tile roofs, and corbel-arch porch built from limestone quarried nearby. James was the third son of Irish immigrant William J. Walsh, whose Austin White Lime Company helped supply the mortar and plaster of a growing city; James carried on the family business and took part in the area's development.
Why it matters
The house ties a striking piece of early-20th-century architecture to an immigrant family's industrial success, a reminder of how newcomers helped literally build America's expanding towns.
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Related people
- · James Martin Walsh
- · Leanna (Brunner) Walsh
- · William J. Walsh
Themes & tags
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