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In the heart of Travis Heights sits a home known by many names.
Some call it the Mather-Kirkland House, a nod to two of its most prominent owners. Others know it as "The Academy," the name it earned after serving as a military school in the 1920s and the title under which it is recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. Those drawn to the paranormal may know it as the "Howling House," though they'll likely be disappointed to learn the home's eerie sound comes not from restless spirits, but from the wind vibrating against the doors' weather stripping.
Though its name may vary, one thing about 400 Academy Drive is undeniable: the estate has carved its place in Austin history.
The 137-year-old house's legacy stands as tall as its silhouette. Rising above the treetops, a rebuilt belvedere crowns the three-story Victorian. Walls of pink granite left over from the construction of the Texas Capitol give the estate a sense of permanence - fitting, considering it managed to survive generations of change.
After four decades of meticulous restoration by the late Hugh and Claudette Lowe, the mansion has returned to the market and is currently listed by Kathryn Scarborough Real Estate Group at $7.9 million. The listing offers buyers a chance to own one of Austin's best-known historic landmarks - one that has served as a private home, military academy and even a doctor's office in the shadow of the city's growing skyline.
Historic property with ties to prominent Austin figures
The residence was commissioned in 1889 by Myron D. Mather, president of Austin Water, Light & Power Co., during a period when Austin was rapidly expanding after the construction of the Texas Capitol in 1888.
Mather lived in the home until 1893, and it was eventually acquired by Texas Supreme Court Justice Leroy G. Denman.
In the 1920s, the main home became the Austin Military School, earning the name "The Academy" that remains attached to the property today.
The estate entered yet another chapter when Roy and Elithe Kirkland purchased it in the 1940s. Roy Kirkland, an osteopathic surgeon, converted the living room into an examination room, while Elithe - a former newspaper reporter who later became a historic novelist - lived and wrote there.
The Kirklands helped cement the home's reputation as the "Howling House," as passersby claimed to hear women crying out from inside as Roy Kirkland assisted mothers through natural childbirth.
By the time Hugh and Claudette Lowe purchased the home in 1982, it had fallen into severe disrepair.
The original belvedere had long since disappeared. Water damage had spread throughout portions of the structure, windows were broken and previous renovations had covered original plaster with sheetrock. The house had started sagging toward its center.
Over the next four decades, the Lowes painstakingly restored the landmark, stripping layers of paint from the original longleaf pine woodwork and sourcing replacement majolica tiles for damaged fireplaces.
The couple's signature achievement came when they reconstructed the rooftop belvedere using historic photographs as a guide. Completed about 18 years ago, the restored structure is still topped with a praying mantis weather vane given to Hugh Lowe upon his retirement.
The home became designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 1985, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 , and is also a designated Austin Landmark.
Stepping inside today
The home's craftsmanship becomes apparent almost immediately after stepping through the front door. Skeleton-key locks, original window latches and stained-glass windows rising alongside a restored staircase reflect both history and an artistic vision for the home's interior.
"This craftsmanship, you just don't see very often anymore," said May Wong, marketing director for Kathryn Scarborough Real Estate Group. "To endure all this time, it's pretty amazing."
Inside are five bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms and a remarkable collection of preserved details: longleaf pine flooring, cypress doors, original Victorian hardware and five majolica-tiled fireplaces. A full-size peacock mural hides in the foyer's half-bath. Although much of the 4,354-square-foot home dates back to the late 19th century, those features are balanced by modern plumbing, updated electrical systems and energy-efficient improvements that make the landmark as livable as it is historic.
Climb into the attic, and there, a narrow staircase - more like a ladder - leads to the belvedere lookout, where panoramic views stretch across Travis Heights toward downtown Austin. The breeze provides a welcome reprieve from the Texas heat.
Outside, mature trees surround the approximately one-acre property. A detached garage and historic chicken coop serve as reminders of a time when the estate occupied significantly more land than it does today.
The adjacent duplex at 316 Le Grande Ave. is also available for purchase. Acquiring both plots would create a roughly 1.26-acre property, according to the listing.
- Staff writer Nicole Villalpando contributed to this report.
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