DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll pass it right along to you. Now, Austin's got no shortage of fine old houses, but every once in a while you roll past one that's got a story tucked inside its walls worth slowin' down for. This is one of those.
It's the Joseph and Mary Robinson Martin House, and the place has been standin' since 1903 — when a prominent Austin contractor by the name of George Fiegel put the finishing touches on it and handed over the keys. Fiegel built it for Joseph Anthony Martin, born 1867, and his wife Mary, whose maiden name was Robinson. Joe Martin was a man of two worlds, it turns out.
In the Austin business history books, he's tied to the Austin White Lime Company. But step outside the ledger sheets and Joe Martin had another reputation entirely — as a noted wild game conservationist. The man cared about what was runnin' and flyin' out there beyond the city limits.
Now, the house itself is worth a good long look. It carries elements of both Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles of architecture — which is a bit like a building that couldn't quite decide which century it wanted to dress for, and decided to wear both outfits at once. But here's where the story deepens, and you'll want to listen close.
In 1918, Mary's sister died. And the Martins — without much fanfare, it seems — took in three of her children and raised them right there in that house. The home had to grow to hold them.
An addition went up on the southwest corner to make room. Mary Martin passed in 1934. Joe lived on until 1947.
And the house stayed in the family all the way until 1971 — nearly seventy years of one family's life held inside those walls. George Fiegel built it to last, and it did.
What the marker says
Joseph and Mary Robinson Martin House Prominent Austin contractor George Fiegel completed this house in 1903 for Joseph Anthony (1867-1947) and Mary (Robinson) (d. 1934) Martin. A noted wild game conservationist, Joe Martin primarily is associated in Austin business history with the Austin White Lime Company. After Mary's sister died in 1918, the Martins reared three of her children in their home, requiring an addition on the southwest corner of the house. Exhibiting elements of both Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles of architecture, the Martin House remained in the family until 1971. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2001