Let’s step back in time to Round Rock in the late 1800s. This is where our story of the Nelson-Crier House Plaque begins. The Nelson-Crier House Plaque commemorates a home with a rich history. It involves Swedish immigrants, architectural transformations, and a family’s lasting legacy.
The Nelson family, Swedish immigrants, settled in Williamson County in 1854. Andrew J. Nelson was a hard-working man. He was influential in the Round Rock community. After his death in 1895, his family began building a house. They hired the Page Brothers, Austin architects. The same architects also built the Williamson County Courthouse. The Nelson-Crier House was completed in 1900.
Originally, the Nelson-Crier House was a Victorian-style mansion. It featured a steep roof, many gables, and chimneys. A three-story circular tower stood on the northeast corner. The tower was topped by a conical roof.
After Nelson’s wife died in 1923, her sons lived in the house. Thomas, Edward, and Carl Nelson worked in banking, agriculture, and commerce. They even started the first commercial cheese factory in Texas. In 1931, the brothers renovated the house. They hired Dallas architect Wilson McClure. Their goal was to transform the Victorian facade to a Neo-Classical style. Victorian houses were out of style in the 1930s. Remodeling was common across Texas. The family removed the tower. They replaced the original Victorian facade with a neoclassical one.
In the 1960s, Eugene N. and Jean Crier Goodrich bought the house. Jean was an artist and antique collector. She directed an eight-year remodel. Four additional bedrooms were added to the third floor. The grounds were completely refurbished. Jean’s granddaughters, Dee Andra Crier and Nina Helburn, grew up playing at the mansion. They loved the Easter egg hunts. They played croquet every time they visited.
The Nelson-Crier House has seen many changes. It went from Victorian to Neo-Classical. It reflects the changing tastes and times. The Nelson-Crier House Plaque marks a home that has been a private residence since 1900. It stands as a reminder of the families who shaped Round Rock. The Nelson-Crier House Plaque honors the Nelson family. It also recognizes the Crier Goodrich family. It is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 1973.