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THE ROBINSON-MACKEN HOUSE
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the Mackens acquired the house in 1928. Neighbors were compatible,
and there was no thought of locking doors and windows to keep the com-
munity out. ''The home's closeness to downtown allowed all members of
the Macken family to walk to their places of employment in the busi-
ness district as well as to church on Sunday. Over the years, other
families moved out, to be replaced by more impersonal businesses.
Safety became an important factor; locks and window air conditioners
replaced the open windows and natural breezes of the past. The house
is now zoned for commercial office use and has become the headquarters
of the White, Dolce and Barr architectural firm.d t
Although the design is found in brick dwellings and commercial struc-
tures throughout the state, the Robinson-Macken house is one of the
last remaining frame Second Empire Style residence in Texas. With
%ts carved brackets, tail si ngie and paired windows, double front doors
with arched clear glass, projecting baV windows, pediment-shaped man-
tels, concave Mansard roof with metal curbs and dormers and eyebrow
like heads above second floor windows, the house beautifully illustrates
the Texas interpretation of Second Empire at its finest. The building
is also an excellent example of now outdated construction techniques, :
having been built with balloon-frame, eighteen-inch-wide cross boards
and square nail. Additionally, the house is interesting as an example
of the craftsmanship of a little-known local construction firm, Campbell
and Deats, which operated briefly in the 1870s. The men called them-
selves "carpenters and builders" or "contractors" rather than "archi-
tects" but designed as well as built the structures for which they con-
tracted. They apparently employed a large work force. The partnership
lasted until Deats' death in 1878. A volunteer fireman, he succumbed
to an illness which grew out of injuries sustained while fighting a
blaze at the State Blind Asylum. He was given a hero's funeral with
brass band. Campbell con ued in the carpentry/construction trade in
Austin until around 1890. The house itself forms an integral part
of its historic Old Original City neighborhood and is only a few blocks
west of the Bremond Block Historic District. The Robinsons and Bremonds
were related by marriage anf10 n fact, several of the Robinson children
lived on the Bremond Block, Although many of the homes surrounding
the Robinson-Macken house have been converted for commercial purposes,
most retain their antique character and spirit and some still serve as
residences.
Two families which contributed to the public life of Austin have called
the residence home. The Robinsons were pioneer settlers who arrived in
1855. John H. Robinson operated a successful dry goods and grocery
business on Congress Avenue and invested in cattle, ranch lands and ur-
ban real estate. He served as a member of the City Council (1860-1862,
1871-1875), a director of the Austin Graded School (1876), volunteer
fireman (1858, 1868) and fire chief (1870). Robinson's youngest son,
Eugene, was reportedly a close friend of short story writer O'Henry during
the latter's stay in Austin; and it is possible that the buddin1lj thor
visited his friend in the house then located at 700 Rio Grande. The