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‹ Barton
Springs, page 4 - Zilker Park
Of
historical interest is the story of the Butler Brick Company
whose history is intertwined with Barton
Springs. The Butler Brick Company was founded by Michael Butler
in 1873 when he came from Limerick, Ireland to join his brother Patrick
in Austin. The first
plant was located between Congress Avenue and East Avenue (now IH35)
but was washed out by repeated floods. Butler built another plant
south of the river along Barton Springs Road. Butler and Zilker had
land that bordered each other where the fence line met at the old
rock bridge over Barton Creek. If one built a fence, the other did,
too. When one planted alfalfa, the other soon followed. One fenced
in Robert E. Lee Road, so the other told city council to take it down.
The Colorado River filled with deposits of red clay which were eventually
used by Butler to construct bricks for the Paggi House. Bricks were
hauled across the river on a cable (some of the support towers can
still be seen on the shores of Town
Lake). Eventually, a city dump was built on the old brick quarry
and then Zilker Park was developed
over it. The pit is still visible along the hike and bike trail and
is marshy and sulfurous. The Butler family finally moved their plant
to Sandy Creek near Elgin
because the soil had more clay. Butler's bricks were used in the construction
of City Hall, the capitol building of 1888, the train depot on Congress
Avenue, and the Board of Trade building.
Back to Barton Springs:
Page 1 - 2 - 3
- 4 - 5 |
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| Photo
courtesy Chandra Moira Beal, 2001 |
Barton Springs
TE Editor's
Note: This chapter is the text for pages 27 through 37 of Splash
Accross Texas - courtesy of the book's author, Chandra Moira Beal.
Thorough in research, rich in history, description and recreational
information, this engaging chapter should be read in it's entirety.
However, for quick reference for internet users, we take the liberty
of breaking up the chapter by topics ( in sequence ) as follows:
About
Barton Springs
Sunken
Gardens,1947 Bathhouse, The Environmental Debate
Maintenance,
& Endangered Barton Springs salamander
Philosopher's
Rock, pecan tree
The
Pool
The
Polar Bear Club, Barton Creek Greenbelt, New Trail
Barton
Creek
Swimming
Holes in Barton Creek
Zilker
Park
Botanical
Garden, Zilker Zephyr miniature train ride
Zilker
Hillside Theatre, Austin Nature Center, McBeth Recreation Center,
Beverly Sheffield Education Center
Butler
Brick Company
Addendum:
Barton Springs Endangered Salamander
Book Hotel Here › Austin
Hotels
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