Envision a time when Swedish immigrants sought new beginnings. The Swedish Hill Plaque marks a place rich with their history. Development began in the 1870s. Swedish immigrants built homes near their downtown businesses. S. A. Lundell was the first. Carl John Swahn followed soon after.
The Swedish Hill neighborhood became known as Svenska Kullen. It was originally bounded by Waller Street, Red River Street, 15th Street, and 19th Street. Today, 19th Street is known as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The area is still familiarly called Swede Hill.
These immigrants founded the first Swedish Methodist Church in Texas. They helped establish Texas Wesleyan Academy. It later merged with Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. The college was just north of the University of Texas at Austin campus. Today, the community is an eclectic mix. It includes students and urban dwellers.
Urban development significantly changed Swedish Hill. The construction of I-35 and the Frank Erwin Center shrunk the community. In 1986, what remained was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Swedish Hill Historic District is significant. It represents various architectural styles. Each building exemplifies its style. Styles include vernacular versions of Victorian plans. There are also Cumberland, Pyramidal, and Bungalow plans. Buildings display carpentry ornamentation. You can see porch columns, balusters, and spindles.
The Swedish Hill neighborhood expanded over time. Its boundaries now include 12th Street on the south. It extends to Comal Street on the east. Architecture ranges from historic structures to contemporary designs. The community includes families, professionals, and students.
Two houses gained recognition in the late 1980s. The Blomquist and Anderson homes were designated as historic structures.
The Swedish Hill Historic District includes houses on East 14th and 15th Streets. Olander Street forms the western boundary. Waller Street cuts through it on the east. The district includes 12 residential buildings. Many buildings are well-maintained.
Houses were built between about 1880 and 1938. The structures show consistency in setback and materials. Craftsmanship is evident throughout the area. The Swedish Hill Historic District is the best example. It represents a late 19th and early 20th-century residential neighborhood.
Though Swedish Hill has evolved its historical essence remains palpable. The Swedish Hill Plaque serves as a reminder. It honors the legacy of those early Swedish settlers. Their contributions shaped this part of Austin.