O. Henry Hall
Encyclopedia
O. Henry Hall, also or formerly known as the U.S. Post Office and Federal Building, is an historic building located at 601 Colorado Street in Austin
, Texas
. It is located within the Sixth Street Historic District in Downtown Austin
.
Completed in 1881 under the supervision of architect Abner Cook
, the District Court met there from then until 1936. One of its most noted trials occurred in February 1898, when William Sidney Porter - the man who later became known under the pen name of O. Henry
- was tried and convicted of embezzlement
there. After its acquisition by the University of Texas, it was renamed for the author, who had previously resided nearby in what is now officially called the William Sidney Porter House
, but is better known as the O. Henry House.
It previously served as a post office
and a courthouse
for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
. It is currently owned by the University of Texas, and serves as the administrative headquarters for the University of Texas System
. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is located within the Sixth Street Historic District in Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin is the central business district of Austin, Texas. Downtown is located on the north bank of the Colorado River. The approximate borders of Downtown include Lamar Boulevard to the west, 11th Street and sometimes Martin Luther King, Jr...
.
Completed in 1881 under the supervision of architect Abner Cook
Abner Cook
Abner Hugh Cook was a self-taught Texas architect and general contractor responsible for the design of several historic and notable buildings in Texas, particularly Austin, such as the Texas Governor's Mansion...
, the District Court met there from then until 1936. One of its most noted trials occurred in February 1898, when William Sidney Porter - the man who later became known under the pen name of O. Henry
O. Henry
O. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:...
- was tried and convicted of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
there. After its acquisition by the University of Texas, it was renamed for the author, who had previously resided nearby in what is now officially called the William Sidney Porter House
William Sidney Porter House
The William Sidney Porter House or O. Henry House is a historic structure in Austin, Texas. William Sidney Porter, better known as the author O. Henry, lived there between 1893 and 1895....
, but is better known as the O. Henry House.
It previously served as a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and a courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
The United States District Court For the Western District Of Texas is a Federal district court. The court convenes in San Antonio with divisions in Austin, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos, and Waco. It has jurisdiction in over 50 Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Hill Country counties of the U.S....
. It is currently owned by the University of Texas, and serves as the administrative headquarters for the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970.