Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Building
historic place
The Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Building in Austin, Texas, is a historic place in Travis County. Veteran Travis County official and historian Frank Brown erected this structure in 1886. The Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company purchased and restyled the building in 1898. Architect A.O. Watson designed the ornate façade. This building served as Austin's first dedicated telephone building, as the company had previously operated from rented spaces. The John L. Martin family owned the structure from 1922 to 1976. In 1977, the building was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. This site is significant for its architectural style and its role in the early development of telephone services in Austin.