On the Historical Marker at the below location:
Monroe Martin Shipe (b. 1847) had this residence built in 1892 in Austin’s Hyde Park, a suburb which he developed on the site of the old state fairgrounds. A man of broad vision, Shipe brought innovative changes to the city’s form of government, its public transportation system and other matters of civic concern. His home, partially constructed of wood from the fair grandstand, stands as a monument to his achievements.
Location. 30° 18.052′ N, 97° 43.853′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Hyde Park. It is at the intersection of Avenue G and East 39th Street, on the right when traveling south on Avenue G. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3816 Avenue G, Austin TX 78701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Mr. Shipe of Hyde Park:
He didn’t have money when he came to Austin in 1889 from Kansas. but he was determined to build a Streetcar that went to an expensive suburb today known as Hyde Park. Mr. Shipe had a vision for the farms and countryside west of Austin near what was and still is the University of Texas at Austin. A suburb, a new American concept. When the streetcar first traversed Austin the thing that people complained about the most was the sound of the bells, deemed to be ridiculously unnecessary. But the bells had a purpose: one Bell meant stop at the next Crossing. If two bells were ringing it meant go ahead. if three Bells rang it meant stop immediately for bells ment back up slow down there’s a cow in the road.
The next thing after the railway was installed was to build the houses. These were upscale homes often catering to the professors at the nearby University of texas. while building the houses he also brought modern electricity to the area. This Modern electricity was possible because of the new hydroelectric dam built on the Colorado River close by.
Still outhouses were utilized because the use of sewers was not enacted until 1913.
Close by the New Hyde Park Subdivision was the insane asylum, Elisabet Ney Museum and the home for confederate women and many other now remembered historic buildings.
