Sparks House ❖ 1927

Address: 1510 West Avenue

Historic Designation: Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (2016)

The original Hutchings-Sparks House at 1510 West Avenue was built in 1891 and razed in 1927, with Sam Sparks listed on a 1928 water service permit for the current structure.

The Sparks House was built in 1927 for former state treasurer Sam Sparks and his wife, Bertha May "Polly" Jones Mulkey Sparks. Austin-based firm Page Brothers, architects of many homes, schools, and the 1930 Travis County Courthouse, designed this house in the Spanish eclectic style. The house was built of brick, limestone, cast concrete, and tile. Features of note include an elaborate bas-relief around the front windows, multiple arched doorways, a decorative fan above the north entry, stone sills, and Weigl Ironwork. Early occupants included Effie Dignan and her brother-in-law Henry Hutchings, a notable Texas politician, adjutant general, and newspaper publisher, who lived there from 1891 to at least 1904. Sam Sparks, a prominent banker and businessman, lived in the home from 1910 until he died in 1933, followed by his descendants, including U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks. The property reflects a long lineage of historically significant Texans associated with politics, military service, and business leadership.