History of Bryker Woods

There is no single date marking the beginning of what is now known as Bryker Woods, since the neighborhood is actually a composite of many small subdivisions (and some resubdivisions) which were platted at different times.

The origins of the neighborhood can be traced at least as far back as 1886 when the 14-lot William Theile subdivision was platted within a stone's throw of Shoal Creek. This one block subdivision still exists today as the block between 34th and 35th Streets and Kerbey Lane and Mills Ave.

On the William Theile subdivision plat, West 35th Street is labeled as the "Burnet County Road". By the early 1900's, the Burnet County Rd. had become known as "State Street", perhaps because of the amount of property on the street owned by the State of Texas. Early subdivisions abutting State Street included Camp Mabry Heights (platted in 1913 in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood near the MoPac railroad tracks), and the Ed Seiders Subdivision, immediately to the west of the William Thiele subdivision.

Camp Mabry Heights, obviously named because of its proximity to the National Guard Armory, Camp Mabry, reflected a patriotic theme in its street names: Pershing St. and Funston St. names after American Generals Pershing and Funston, and Jefferson Ave., Harrison Ave., and Madison St. named after U.S. presidents.

The Ed Seiders Subdivision references the proximity of the neighborhoos to the old Seiders Spring, located on the banks of Shoal Creek near the present day Shoal Creek Hospital.

Taken from Bryker Woods Neighborhood Association website http://www.txinfo.com/brykerwoods/History