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The Academy

Austin, Travis County, Texas

Marker Inscription

This house was constructed in 1889 for Myron D. Mather, President of Austin Water, Light & Power Company, who lived here until 1893. A fine derivative of the Shingle style, the structure is said to be partly constructed of granite left from the 1888 completion of the state capitol. It was briefly owned by Texas Supreme Court Justice Leroy G. Denman in 1897. As the Austin Military School in the decade after 1920, the house was called "The Academy." Recorded Texas Historical Landmark - 1985

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Built in 1889 for Myron D. Mather, president of the Austin Water, Light & Power Company, this Shingle-style house is said to incorporate granite left over from the state capitol's 1888 completion. It briefly belonged to Texas Supreme Court Justice Leroy G. Denman in 1897, and in the decade after 1920 it operated as the Austin Military School — the source of its enduring nickname, "The Academy."

Why it matters

A utility magnate's home that became a military academy shows how Austin's grand houses were repurposed as the city and its institutions grew.

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Related people

  • · Myron D. Mather
  • · Leroy G. Denman

Themes & tags

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