Credits
From Deluxe Living
Restored by Austin based award-winning interior designer Mary Bledsoe is an 1887 Greek Revival home listed on the Texas National Register of Historic Places, nestled under old magnolia and oak trees. Originally built for Yeager Hill, one of Smithville’s first settlers whose family established retail commerce along with the town’s first bank, the home boasts modern amenities while preserving its historical charm. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was one of the area’s most admired homes due to the booming downtown district that had developed near the house.
401 Main Street stayed in the Hill family for 133 years before the Bledsoes took interest in it, although no one had lived in it for twenty years. After the Bledsoes purchased it, over a year’s worth of renovations took place. The home was special to the community in Smithville, and the Bledsoes made sure to honor the home’s original aesthetic. After it was complete, they held open houses to reintroduce it to the town and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The four bedroom, four and one-half bathroom residence boasts an expansive kitchen leading to the living and dining areas, a 17-foot kitchen island covered in reclaimed shiplap from other parts of the house, and more. Mary designed shades for light fixtures from 1860s German grain sacks, and picked a French metal train bench from Fredericksburg that exudes history. The exterior boasts rare 19” wide columns, sweeping verandas, wood Dutch lap siding, and meticulously refurbished original windows, some with hand-blown glass.
The property spans three lots within the enchanting Smithville Historic District. What also sets this residence apart is its rare zoning, allowing for commercial use, historic preservation, and residential occupancy, offering a unique canvas for various possibilities.
401 Main Street is listed for $2,400,000 by Douglas Elliman licensed associate Ryan Rogers.