This house was built for Eugene and Frances Tips around 1928 by master carpenter William E. Parker who also worked on a restoration of Walter Tip Mansion. (now a bank on South Congress Ave.) Eugene Tips was the grandson of Walter Tips, who founded Walter Tips Co. and Tips Iron & Steel Co. (The Tips family is orginally from Elberfield, Germany)
The Walter Tips Building was constructed in 1876 and is located on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. The company has been in continuous operation at that location since its founding in 1857, and was still run by family members into the 1960’s. Walter was a confederate war veteran, succesful businessman, state senator, and served on many boards and commissions for the State of Texas. He was also a member of the Saengerrunde and a member at St. David Episcopal church. Walter’s wife Johanna Mary Jane Pearce and his sister Julia were close personal friends of the noted sculptor Elizabet Ney.
Eugene Tips was born on February 8, 1874 in Austin and was educated at a business college in Poughkeepsie, NY. After graduation he moved to New York City and worked at the well established hardware firms of Wiebush & Hilger and later Hammacher & Schlemmer. He returned to Austin in 1899 and became the Vice-President and Treasurer of the Walter Tips Company. He was married 3 times, including to a Edgina Brown (his second wife), who later longed for Hollywood and became a silent era movie star. In 1917, he married his 3rd wife, Countess Frances Marie Tisseau from Pau, France. Eugene built this home for her to reflect her French heritage.A small plaque with the Tips iron company name was found in the basement during recent renovations and is mounted on the home’s stone gate. This 3 story French Norman Tudor style home features “weeping mortar” brickwork and a steelpy pitched slate-style roof. The home is located in the Old Enfield neighborhood of Austin. A swimming pool and pool house were a recent addition (2008) to the property but blend in nicely with the original structure. Mansbendel’s contribution to the home includes a “Fleur de Lis” shield and scroll work lintel above the mantle that was mortared into place. He also added a picture shelf above the entry to the dining room and abuilt in display case made of walnut and decorated with flowers. F Weigl ironwork is also featured throughout the home.