The Astin Mansion was built
in 1924 by Roger Q. and Nina Heard Astin. A paragon of the
grand nineteen-twenties style, this architectural gem has
been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Astin family was a prominent Bryan family who owned
Rivermist, a cotton plantation. Nina Heard Astin came from
a prestigious background in McKinney, Texas. Nina’s
husband, Roger Astin died at age 39, leaving her widowed
with 2 small children, John Heard Astin and Nina Bess Astin.
Neither of the Astin children had children, so there were
no heirs to the Astin estate. Nina Heard Astin, who was
well known for her generosity and community involvement,
outlived both of her children and bequeathed her estate
to this community in the form of the Nina Heard Astin and
Nina Bess Astin charitable trust. The trust continues to
support several of Mrs. Astin’s favorite organizations,
including the Boys and Girls Club, as well as scholarships
and other causes.
Astin Mansion was designed by architect Hal B. Thomson,
designer of many of Texas’s finest homes, including
many in Dallas’s Highland Park. The Georgian Revival
home has 96 windows and 16 sets of French doors. It also
has the original slate roof and many original fixtures and
detail, including fine craftsmanship in wood, stone, and
iron.
The ironwork is be lived to be Weigl Iron from Austin.
Fortunat Weigl and his sons Herbert and Lee often worked
with Mansbendel. Please check thier website www.astinmansion.com
