This is the 13th in a series of history articles about our great neighborhood.
Having looked at Highland Park West and Balcones Park, I want to now look at the subdivision known as Colorado Foothills and its developer. Colorado Foothills is a small subdivision on the lower portion of Balcones Dr as well as Foothill Terrace and Foothill Parkway. The land was purchased in 1948 from David Barrow / Austin Corporation for the creation of the Colorado Foothills subdivision and developed by the firm of Walling, Bradfield and Brush. That firm was composed of William Landon Bradfield, Tom Walling, and Harris Brush.
W. L. (“Landon”) Bradfield graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and would enlist and become a pilot, serving in France and Germany for roughly 18 months as first lieutenant in the 24th Aero Squadron in WWI. He returned to Austin in 1919 and shortly became engaged to Nelle Elizabeth Walling, daughter of Tom Walling.
Landon Bradfield photographed at Bull Creek, 1919. Photo courtesy of Mary Ann Bradfield.
Mr. Walling was a successful businessman who came to Austin in 1893 at the age of 25 and started a grocery business but later entered real estate sales and development.[1] Bradfield would go into business with his father-in-law in 1921 (later adding G. Harris Brush in 1927) in the firm Walling, Bradfield and Brush.[2]
Brush was a veteran of both WWI and WWII, a University of Texas graduate, and a 50-year member of the Lion’s Club. He was heavily involved in a number of historical and preservation groups throughout his life.[3]
In the 1920’s they pursued their first major projects: constructing homes in Pemberton Heights – a neighborhood of stately West Austin homes. Pemberton Heights ranked with two other Texas projects – Highland Park in Dallas and River Oaks in Houston and was advertised as “high on the ridge above Shoal Creek Valley, with unlimited outlook in every direction and in the direct path of every summer breeze… two miles from the business center, yet away from the noise and heat of the city, every convenience is here available for your comfort.”[4]
Other subdivisions developed by the partnership at the time included Wilshire Wood (at Airport Blvd and I-35), Vance Park (near MLK and North Lamar), Belmont Addition (near 29th and Oakhurst), Great Oaks Addition (near 45th and Shoal Creek) and Sleepy Hollow on Lake Austin.
[1] T. B. Walling Dies at 91; Rites Today, The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Nov 25, 1959; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Austin American Statesman, pg. 7
[2] Classified Ad 3 — No Title, The Austin American (1914-1973); Jul 27, 1930; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Austin American Statesman, pg. 15
[3] The Austin American Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex. [Austin, Tex]. 20 June 1975: 40
[4] Classified Ad 3 — No Title, The Austin American (1914-1973); Jul 27, 1930; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Austin American Statesman, pg. 15
About The Author
