The Weigel family originally came from Bavaria, Germany, in 1913.
To make the trip, they turned their kitchen table over, nailed boards to the legs, and packed all their belongings into the table. Swiss wood carver Peter Mansbendel, who in 1922 was doing interior decorating work in San Marcos, needed some ornamental iron wall fixtures to incorporate into his project. Fortunat Weigel senior was called upon to fashion the pieces, and he was given sum of $75.38. For his money, Mr Weigel got one forge, one anvil, one vice, and a sack of coal, some flat iron, and one hammer. Mr Weigel made a down payment of $20, and the rest he paid off in three dollar installments. Thus, he began his ornamental iron business.
The original location of their iron business was 1001 E 32nd Street.
Now the sight of a portion of St David’s hospital. From there it moved to the corner of Enfield and Exposition Blvd. Until they lost their lease, the wiggle, continued the business. In the 200 block of West First Street. Fortunate approached his friend, Mayor Tom Miller, who told him about the city having this property available on Waller Creek, where the business stayed until 1977. The fill necessary to build on, and fill in part of Waller Creek came from the state Capitol building when the Capitol was rebuilt.
Their operation moved into this building on Waller Creek in 1935, just in time for one of the worst floods the city has ever experienced.
The second of three dams on Lake Austin was erected at that time, but due to debris fouling the floodgates it was not in full use. Because of heavy rains, the Colorado River began to back up, and all the local creeks began to overflow their banks. On the south wall of the dining area of the Ironworks restaurant is a mark and the words FLOOD STAGE, June 5, 1935. This mark is 7 1/2 feet from the Iron Works barbecue floor. Also in this area you can make out black marks left by an open can of paint as it drifted around the floodwaters inside the building. There are still cutouts in the floor of the restaurant that have pieces of tin covering them. These cutouts were made by the Weigles to scrape Creek mud into the basement of the building. As you leave the Ironworks restaurant, try and imagine the water level covering everything you see outside the restaurant,
That is the only time that Waller Creek has ever overflowed its banks. Even in the heaviest of rains. Undeterred, the Weigles. Consisting of the Father, Fortunate and the 2 sons, Herbert and Lee built many fine pieces of ornamental iron work for the state. Capital, Texas A and M, Laguna Gloria Art Museum and for and for many of the nicer homes in Austin.
Weigel’s sons Herbert and Lee operated the Wieigel Ironworks on this site, the site on Red River at the corner of First Street until 1977.
Examples of the family’s work and some of their tools are still on display inside the building. On the peak of the roof you will see a weather vane crafted by them in 1922. This weathervane has never been lubricated in all the years it has been in service. A tribute to their ingenuity and craftsmanship. The type of ornamental iron that is seen today is not at all the type of work done by the Weigles. Their efforts were true artwork. As an example, fortunate, as part of his master’s work in Germany, was required to make several artistic pieces, including a single perfect rose from wrought iron.
Behind the across the Creek from the hike and bike trail, you’ll see a hand hewn stones used in the dam of a gristmill that operated here in the late 1830s and 1840s., when Waller Creek marked the eastern edge of Austin’s boundary. On his way back from this mill, around 1840,, Swiss immigrant John Wharenberger was attacked by Comanche Indians. The sack of flour he was carrying home from the mill saved Wharenberger’s life when an arrow aimed at his back lodged instead in the flour sack. Though wounded in the arm, managed to struggle home, and where he fell to the floor with the words “Oh mein gott! What a Texas dis is. I think I go to Switzerland”.
The front of the Iron Works barbecue building is covered with branded boards.
This came about as though Weigles made a brand for a customer, They would try the brand out on the boards. There are brands for Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, a profile band of Bob Hope, and many others. Lyndon Johnson and his wife Ladybird were favorite patrons of Weigel ‘s. Lee made a life like mask of Lyndon Johnson out of a hand hammered copper. Mr Weigel, it is said, was able to completely wear out the large hammers he used by terrific power as he was able to apply to iron and the anvil, sometimes causing the anvil to jump up off the floor with his pounding. Because their work was. So time consuming they could not make enough money for what they did. And close their doors in 1977. The conversion of the ironworks to the ironworks barbecue began in 1978. It took six months to convert the shop into a restaurant. A request was made that the State Historical Commission register this property as a state historical site and because this site holds so much history for Austin, and the State of Texas, The request was granted.
