AUSTIN, Texas — On Sunday, a new commemorative marker was unveiled at the Walsh Boat Landing near the Tom Miller Dam on Lake Austin.
The boat landing is named after William Walsh, who used to own much of the land west of Downtown Austin, including much of what is now known as Tarrytown and Davenport Ranch.
Walsh was born in Ireland, but left his home country during the Great Famine. Following a number of years of service in the British Navy, Walsh came to the U.S. just before the Civil War and joined the Union Navy.
Afterward, he assisted in building federal forts in Texas, including Fort McKavett and Fort Clark. Later in the 19th century, Walsh’s company produced limestone for structures throughout Texas, including many buildings at St. Edward’s University, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Texas Capitol. His limestone was known to be so pure that it won the Gold Medal at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
“He was real charitable, a devout Catholic, and gave so much to St. Ed’s and St Mary’s Cathedral,” Cathy Munson, a descendent of Walsh, said at Sunday’s unveiling. “He just wanted to be known in Austin for being such a helper to all the people.”