Old Enfield – Austin, TX
The Old Enfield neighborhood is one of Austin’s oldest, most historic and most prestigious neighborhoods. It is a very small and highly sought after area located between Lamar Boulevard on the east, and to the west is Loop One, also called MoPac, which was named after the Missouri Pacific rail line that runs directly alongside the freeway. West 24th Street borders the neighborhood to the north and Enfield Road to the south. All of these borders are considered major thoroughfares, making the neighborhood easily accessible and its proximity to downtown, which is only a five to ten minute drive away, adds to the enjoyment of living in this beautiful neighborhood.
Old Enfield was originally part of a 320-acre land grant granted to CS Parish in 1841 by the Republic of Texas during the presidency of Mirabeau Lamar. At the center of the neighborhood you’ll find the historic Pease Mansion at 6 Niles Road. It was built in 1853 by Abner Cook, builder of the Governor’s Mansion. The outgoing governor, Elisha Pease, purchased the 350-acre estate in 1857 for her family, who resided in the mansion for 100 years. General Custer and his men are said to have camped on the mansion grounds in 1865. At some point, the acreage was divided and the mansion now occupies just over 4 acres.
In 1910, the Old Enfield neighborhood was subdivided by the Enfield Realty and Home Building Company. In 1957, Pease Mansion was purchased by Governor Allan Shiver, who later turned the property over to the University of Texas, which was later sold to the State of Texas. You can expect to find almost every garden in Old Enfield perfectly manicured, with freshly cut green lawns and neat and tidy flower beds. It’s the historic charm of colonial-style homes with magnificent towering oak trees that draw people to this neighborhood. However, the diversity of smaller cabins and bungalows scattered among gigantic historic mansions allows for a diverse mix of young families, students, and professionals.
Although some of the historic mansions were built before the Civil War and have been very well maintained, most of the homes were built between 1910 and 1950. Many families have resided here for a quarter of a century or more. You will find some properties that have been passed down from generation to generation.
