Consider a time when horse-drawn carriages lined the streets of Austin. That time gave rise to the Goodall Wooten House. This house stands as a testament to a prominent doctor and his family. It is a landmark of architectural grandeur.
Goodall Harrison Wooten was born in Paris, Texas. He was the son of a Confederate veteran. The veteran was Dr. Thomas Dudley Wooten and his wife Henrietta Goodall Wooten. Goodall Harrison Wooten pursued higher education. He earned degrees from the University of Texas. He also attended Columbia University. There he got a medical degree in 1895.
Dr. Wooten established his medical practice in Austin. In 1897, he married Ella Newsome. Their union marked the beginning of a new chapter. It led to the creation of the Goodall Wooten House.
Construction on the Goodall Wooten House began in 1898. It finished in January 1900. Dallas architect Charles O’Connell designed it. The house quickly became an Austin landmark. People knew it for Ella Wooten’s extensive gardens. These gardens added to the home’s beauty.
In 1910, the Goodall Wooten House underwent significant renovations. These renovations transformed the simple house. It became a grand Classical Revival mansion. To this day, it remains a premier example of that style in Austin.
The Goodall Wooten House boasts handsome brick and stonework. It features a wraparound gallery and balustrade. Massive two-story paired columns with Ionic capitals adorn the house. These features exemplify the large-scale homes built in this neighborhood. This happened at the turn of the century.
The Wooten family owned this house until 1944. Dr. Goodall Wooten died in 1942. His wife Ella sold the house two years later. The house then changed hands and purposes several times.
Originally, the address was 700 Magnolia Street. Later, Magnolia Street became 19th Street. Then it was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The house’s address changed to 1900 Rio Grande. Rio Grande was originally called San Bernard.
Over the years, the Goodall Wooten House has served many roles. It has been a student residence hall. It has also been a chemical dependency treatment center. For a time, it was a luxury hotel. It was called “The Mansion at Judges’ Hill.” Today, it operates as a boutique hotel. Its name is “Hotel Ella.”
The Goodall Wooten House earned recognition over the years. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1975. In 1990, it was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
The Goodall Wooten House stands as a reminder of Austin’s past. It reflects the lives of those who shaped the city. It is a testament to architectural beauty. It is a symbol of transformation. It is a cherished landmark for generations to come.