Imagine a small cabin. It is a humble structure that witnessed the unfolding of history. This is the story of the Henry G. Madison Cabin Plaque.
The Henry G. Madison Cabin stands as a testament to the life and legacy of Henry Green Madison. He was a pioneering Austin civic leader. Madison built this cabin around 1863. It was originally located at 807 East 11th Street. This cabin was home to Madison, his wife Louisa Green, and their nine children.
Madison eventually built a larger home around the original cabin. It was rediscovered by a demolition crew in 1968. The cabin was then donated to the City of Austin. It was reassembled in Rosewood Neighborhood Park in 1973. A Texas Historical Marker was placed here in 1974. It became a City of Austin Landmark in 1976.
Madison was a Unionist. He served as president of the Austin chapter of the Union League. He actively participated in post-Civil War Reconstruction. Madison was appointed an assistant at the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1868-69. He also served as a captain of an African American unit in the Sixth Regiment of the Texas State Guard.
On February 1, 1871, Governor Edmund J. Davis appointed Henry Madison as city alderman. He held this office until November 28, 1872. He served on the committees for streets and cemeteries. Madison introduced ordinances pertaining to the city water supply. He voted to ban lotteries. He voted to raise the salaries of the city police and the city attorney.
Madison volunteered as a registrar of voters in Travis County in 1871. This was a very dangerous assignment for a Black man in Reconstruction-era Texas. Later, he served as a policeman and a porter. He worked in a bank and the Texas House of Representatives.
Henry G. Madison died on May 31, 1912. He is buried in Austin at Oakwood Cemetery. Today, the Henry G. Madison Cabin stands as a symbol of resilience and community. It quietly sits under oak trees near the Rosewood pool and splash pad.
The Austin Parks Foundation and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department are leading the restoration of the historic log cabin. The structure needs architectural and structural improvements. This includes window and door restoration and repairs to log walls. The roof will be replaced. There will be lighting improvements and site and landscape improvements. These improvements will address Texas Accessibility Standards and ADA compliance.
The Henry G. Madison Cabin Plaque stands as a reminder of Austin’s complex history. It honors a man who dedicated his life to public service. It also acknowledges the struggles and triumphs of the African American community in Austin. It is a place to reflect on the past and look forward to a more inclusive future.