The next stop on the tour is the front lawn of the Walter Badger House at 42nd and Speedway, built in 1908 as a speculative house by the MKT Land Company. Mr. Badger and his wife Bette bought the property for $3,500. Walter Badger made his fortune with a general mercantile business that grew to become a large central Texas wholesale mountain cedar company. He was very active in local politics and was the chairman of the Austin Citizens Committee, which prevented the removal of The University of Texas from Austin. Owners Susan Moffat and Nick Barbaro have graciously provided a carriage stop here, but you will have to cross Speedway to see the next home.

Halton/Kelley House, 4201 Speedway

    The Halton/Kelley House at 4201 Speedway, a three-story structure of the late Victorian style, stands out as one of Hyde Park's most interesting historic homes. The home is a relative newcomer to Austin since its relocation several years ago from nearby Round Rock. In 1909, John Charles Halton and his wife Lula built the house on the corner of West Liberty and Brown streets in Round Rock. In late 1992, Ricci Shanks bought the then two-story Halton-Kelley house from Nan Kelley and in 1993 moved it to its present location on Speedway. The relocated house filled a space where another house had been demolished to make way for an apartment building. Shanks hired crews to split the first and second story before moving the structure, because of the large trees in Hyde Park. Rich MacKinnon, who has lived in the house for four years, revitalized the yard by planting trees, including a sycamore, pecan, red bud and Mexican olive tree which blooms all year round. This home will feature a photographic exhibit of Elisabet Ney and her Friends.