living history
Historic Greek mansion near Austin hits the market for just under $1 million
If you've ever wanted to own a piece of history, now's your chance: A historical Greek Revival mansion in Lockhart has arrived on the Central Texas housing market for $995,000.
The beautiful brick home at 703 W. San Antonio St., dubbed "The Judge's House," was built on a .93 acre lot just steps away from Lockhart's historic Town Square. It contains five bedrooms and three bathrooms across two floors, and boasts 4,888 square feet of living space.
It was originally built in 1907 by Edward A. Masur and belonged to the Masur family for seven decades, according to the listing, which is managed by Douglas Elliman agents Emily Waldmann and Megan Gallagher. It's seen many transformations and renovations throughout its time, from a post-World War II boarding house for Air Force members, to a three-apartment "boarding facility" in 1977.
The Judge's House earned its namesake thanks to Texas State Judge Mike McCormick and his wife, Kathy, who restored the home to its original single-family design in 1983.
"[The McCormicks'] dedication ensured many original details, like the hand-carved stair paneling and the grand Oak Mantle, continue to grace the interior," the listing says. "The high chair in the dining room was given to the McCormicks as a gift when they purchased the house by the grandsons of the Masur family. This stays with the purchase of home."
Other restored original details of the home include its hardwood floors, windows, and a new kitchen foundation. The furniture seen in the photos can be purchased with the house, but the cost is currently not included in the listing price.
Four grand oak trees stand tall in front of the house to provide ample shade from the Texas sun, grown from Texas State Capitol acorns, the listing says. Newer outdoor additions to the property include a spacious pool, hot tub, barbecue area, and a storage shed.
The property is surrounded by lush trees.Photo courtesy of Dillon Magnuson
The home is currently undergoing a new renovation, which will focus on preserving more charming features while including architectural plans for a more than 1,800-square-foot third-floor attic suite. The listing says the property is approved for a change of use permit, which will allow future owners to use the house as a legal lodging or boarding home, if desired.
The property's location in Lockhart is a good distance from big cities like Austin (36 miles away) and San Antonio (70 miles away) without being remote, but still provides easy drives for any weekend adventures or daytrip plans. The town is known as the "Barbecue Capital of Texas" thanks to longstanding establishments like Black's Barbecue, Chisholm Trail Barbecue, Kreuz Market, and Smitty's Market.
More information about The Judge's House in Lockhart can be found on elliman.com.