Smith-Clark and Smith-Bickler Houses
historic place
The Smith-Clark and Smith-Bickler Houses, located in Austin, Travis County, Texas, are historic residences. These structures were built by James Baird Smith, a Scottish carpenter and builder, between approximately 1883 and 1886. Smith was the contractor for Austin's temporary State Capitol from 1882 to 1883. He is believed to have constructed these houses using salvaged brick and cut stone from that project, and potentially from the earlier Capitol that burned in 1881. The house at 504 West 14th Street, known as the Smith-Clark-Smith House, was later owned and occupied by Lucille Clark. The adjacent house at 502 West 14th Street was purchased in 1893 by Jacob Bickler, a notable early Austin educator. These buildings are recognized as excellent examples of small Symmetrical Victorian residences, featuring distinctive cut stone detailing. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 20, 1979. The Smith-Clark and Smith-Bickler Houses reflect a specific period of Austin's architectural development and the resourcefulness of its builders.