Malcolm and Margaret Badger Reed Estate
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Central Texas native Malcolm Reed followed his father into business and ultimately became a leading cotton exporter. He wed Margaret "Maggie" Badger of Marble Falls in 1898, and in 1908, they moved to Austin. In 1929, they moved into their new home at this site. Designed by noted architect Hal Thomson, the home retains much of its original Italian Renaissance design, including a low-pitch hip roof, brackets, recessed porch and elaborate detailing. The home remained in the Reed family, passing on to daughter Margaret and her husband Joseph Cocke, until 1990. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2006
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Malcolm Reed built on his father's business to become a leading Central Texas cotton exporter, the trade that dominated the region's economy for generations. After marrying Margaret "Maggie" Badger in 1898 and moving to Austin a decade later, the couple commissioned architect Hal Thomson to design this Italian Renaissance–style home, which they occupied in 1929. It stayed in the family, passing to their daughter, until 1990.
Why it matters
Cotton wealth financed much of Texas's growth into the 20th century, and the gracious homes it built recorded that prosperity in stone and tile. The estate is a window into the merchant class that turned a farm commodity into urban fortune.
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Related people
- · Malcolm Reed
- · Margaret "Maggie" Badger Reed
- · Hal Thomson
Themes & tags
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