Old Town Hutto
After the storm, Hutto rebuilt north of the tracks. Fire, water, and electricity shaped the town that incorporated in 1911.
After the 1886 devastation of the south side of Hutto, the International and Great Northern Railroad decided to develop the 50-acre plot, north of the tracks and west of FM 1660 North, they had bought from James Emory Hutto in 1877.
The 1888 plan included ninety-six commercial lots between North Front Street (U.S. Hwy 79) and south side of Pecan Street. Forty-one residential lots were laid out on the north side of Pecan Street and along both sides of Live Oak Street with the largest, premium lots along the north side of Live Oak.
East-west streets were named Farley Street and Pecan Street. The north-south streets, from west to east, were Short Street, West Street, Main Street, and East Street. The train depot was across U.S. Hwy 79 at the south end of Main Street. By 1892, both sides of East Street became the primary business district of the growing town.
In 1890 Thomas S Megee, an Austin developer, created a plan for 15 acres on the north side of Taylor Street to the south side of Live Oak Street. Live Oak Street was extended east to Cottonwood Creek to run continuously through Hutto. Churches and many notable citizens of Hutto lived in this addition. A multiple-acre lot was set aside for a new school.
In 1893, three sons of James Emory Hutto with Joseph Metcalfe created more residential lots in the Metcalfe Addition. It included land north of the Railroad Addition and west of FM 1660 North. Metcalfe Street was created and Main Street and East Street were extended through the addition.
By 1900 the town of Hutto had 18 merchants, 9 schoolteachers, 9 blacksmiths, 6 bankers and accountants, 4 medical doctors, 4 ministers, 4 cotton buyers, 3 carpenters, 3 millers, 2 tinners, and 2 ginners. Service occupations included shoemaker, hotel/boardinghouse keeper, dentist, tailor, dressmaker, jeweler, butcher, restaurant keeper/cook, insurance agent, barber, druggist, teamster, and newspaper editor.
The First and Great Hutto Fire was in 1901. It burned much of the east side of East Street. In 1902, a second fire destroyed more of the businesses on the east side of East Street.
In 1908, local lawyer and insurance agent REL Miller created a plan for the north side of Live Oak Street east of FM 1660 North. The development of Old Town Hutto was now complete.
Swedish immigrant Carl Evald “Charley” Hanstrom, Sr. (1878-1928) and Scottish immigrant and business partner, James Dobie Tinning (1873-1938) played a pivotal role in the development of early Hutto. In 1910, they purchased a drilling rig and opened Hutto’s first deep-water well. Prior to this Hutto residents mostly used small wells dug on their own property.
Hanstrom also built Hutto’s first power plant, installing utility poles, electrical lines, and wiring homes throughout the town. Their vision, innovation, and determination transformed the town from a small, rural, and mostly agricultural settlement into a progressive and thriving modern town.
On July 17, 1911, Hutto was officially incorporated with a population of about 800 residents. This action allowed residents to establish a formal local government, pass ordinances, and provide municipal services. The first mayor was Willis Dandridge “WD” Holman (1859-1943).
