Austin: Neill-Cochran House Museum - Double Parlor (Front Parlor)
Austin hosted its annual Museum Day on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Mike and I took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy free admission to several museums and historic homes. Our third stop was the Neill-Cochran House Museum (2310 San Gabriel St.).
In 1855, Washington and Mary Hill commissioned master builder Abner Cook to construct a Greek-Revival-style house northwest of downtown Austin. The Hills never lived in the house; its current name refers to two families who lived here after the Hills built it. Colonel Andrew and Jennie Chapman Neill purchased the house in 1876, and it was later sold to Judge Thomas and Bessie Rose Cochran in the 1890s. It was subsequently acquired by the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Texas in 1958 and converted into a museum.
Today, the first floor reflects the Neills' occupancy during the Victorian era, while the second floor reflects the Cochrans' residency. Here, you can see a view of the home's Double Parlor. This shot shows the more formal front parlor, where several ladies in Victorian-style gowns were engaged in needlework. A small booklet provided a few details on this room and its furnishings:
Double Parlor
The double parlor was a common feature of American homes during the Victorian era. Typically, the more formal parlor was in the front, and a more casual back parlor connected to it but could be closed off via pocket doors. This house is unusual for not having pocket doors -- the rubble limestone design of the structure makes pocket doors impossible. Instead, the house features large hinged doors.
The furnishings of these rooms are eclectic, mirroring the eclecticism of the Victorian era. Furnishings include:
Mahogany secretaries (c. 1790–1820).
Hepplewhite/Federal oval gilded and carved mirrors (c. 1800). The mirrors feature delicate gilt leaf and flower designs.
Miniature fall-front chest (c. 1800). Rosewood, with ivory and tortoiseshell inlay.
Mahogany stick barometer (c. 1830). Features intricate Amboyna wood inlay.
Melodeon (c. 1860). This American invention is based on the design of a pump organ and has cast-iron knees and legs. Melodeons were extremely popular during the mid-19th century.
Firescreen (c. 1845). Made of rosewood with needlepoint movable screen.
Empire-style mahogany sofa (c. 1820–1850). Vernacular craftsmanship with carved swan motif.
Portrait of George Malcolm Miller (c. 1910). Portrait by Ailsie Miller. George Miller died of typhoid fever at age 9.
Austin: Neill-Cochran House Museum - Double Parlor (Front Parlor)
Austin hosted its annual Museum Day on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Mike and I took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy free admission to several museums and historic homes. Our third stop was the Neill-Cochran House Museum (2310 San Gabriel St.).
In 1855, Washington and Mary Hill commissioned master builder Abner Cook to construct a Greek-Revival-style house northwest of downtown Austin. The Hills never lived in the house; its current name refers to two families who lived here after the Hills built it. Colonel Andrew and Jennie Chapman Neill purchased the house in 1876, and it was later sold to Judge Thomas and Bessie Rose Cochran in the 1890s. It was subsequently acquired by the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Texas in 1958 and converted into a museum.
Today, the first floor reflects the Neills' occupancy during the Victorian era, while the second floor reflects the Cochrans' residency. Here, you can see a view of the home's Double Parlor. This shot shows the more formal front parlor, where several ladies in Victorian-style gowns were engaged in needlework. A small booklet provided a few details on this room and its furnishings:
Double Parlor
The double parlor was a common feature of American homes during the Victorian era. Typically, the more formal parlor was in the front, and a more casual back parlor connected to it but could be closed off via pocket doors. This house is unusual for not having pocket doors -- the rubble limestone design of the structure makes pocket doors impossible. Instead, the house features large hinged doors.
The furnishings of these rooms are eclectic, mirroring the eclecticism of the Victorian era. Furnishings include:
Mahogany secretaries (c. 1790–1820).
Hepplewhite/Federal oval gilded and carved mirrors (c. 1800). The mirrors feature delicate gilt leaf and flower designs.
Miniature fall-front chest (c. 1800). Rosewood, with ivory and tortoiseshell inlay.
Mahogany stick barometer (c. 1830). Features intricate Amboyna wood inlay.
Melodeon (c. 1860). This American invention is based on the design of a pump organ and has cast-iron knees and legs. Melodeons were extremely popular during the mid-19th century.
Firescreen (c. 1845). Made of rosewood with needlepoint movable screen.
Empire-style mahogany sofa (c. 1820–1850). Vernacular craftsmanship with carved swan motif.
Portrait of George Malcolm Miller (c. 1910). Portrait by Ailsie Miller. George Miller died of typhoid fever at age 9.