Meet Arthur Osborn Watson, Architect of The 1895

A.O. Watson circa 1913

“The 1895” in Rockdale has a significant architectural history which — much like its original Victorian design — had nearly been lost to time.  Its architectural roots are a testament to the importance Rockdale played in connecting the Texas Capital with Rockdale’s agricultural and industrial region which had seen great prosperity at the turn of the century — enough so to attract esteemed architect Arthur Osborn Watson to submit designs to construct Rockdale’s City Hall.

Arthur Osborn Watson (1864-1935) was born in Washington County, Texas.  He attended Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College (present day Texas A&M) in 1881, and moved to Austin after graduating around 1884.  He began practicing architecture in Austin soon thereafter with Jacob L. Larmour as his partner.  The two collaborated on many courthouse and civic buildings.  This partnership lasted from 1887 to 1892 with projects including the Val Verde (1887), Comanche (1890), Grimes (1891), Llano (1892), Haskell (1892), and Milam (1892) County Courthouses. 

In 1892, Watson began his own practice and continued designing courthouses, schools, and churches in Austin and around Texas. Richardsonian Romanesque was Watson’s dominant design style of commercial architecture; and he chose Gothic for churches designed; Italianate, Classic/Greek Revival and Queen Anne styles for houses; and Renaissance Revival for schools. 

His independent works include the Taylor National Bank (1894), DeWitt County Courthouse (1896), Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building (Austin, 1899), All Saints Episcopal Church (Austin, 1899), Austin High School (1900), Christ Episcopal Church (Temple, 1904), State Lunatic Asylum (Austin, 1904), Confederate Woman’s Home (Austin, 1908), Bartlett Grammar School (1909) and Alpine Grammar School (1910). 

Watson married Minnie Pope in 1893 and designed their family home near the Austin Capitol which still stands today. He also designed several other affluent homes such as Caswell House (Austin, 1895) and Gohmert-Summers House (DeWitt County, 1895).

On February 27, 1895, an agreement was signed by the Rockdale City Council with R. G. Scott of San Antonio, contractor, and A. O. Watson, Austin architect, to build the Rockdale City Hall.  The 1895 was designed in Romanesque Revival Style and is believed to be the only City Hall project designed by A.O. Watson.

Watson’s original rendering of The 1895 City Hall

It is Vision Historic Preservation Foundation’s mission to restore The 1895 to A.O. Watson’s original Victorian Romanesque Revival architectural design and transform it into an Arts & Entertainment Center to enrich the arts & cultivate economic development helping to revitalize downtown Rockdale. 

Thank you for supporting our efforts and vision for The 1895 with your generous tax deductible donation.

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