Disambiguation: Austin's "Butler" Place Names

Wikipedia introduced me to a charming word: "disambiguate." Let's use it to clarify "Butler," a name attached to many Austin places.

Unlike "Moody," which honors one philanthropic family, "Butler" refers to 3 prominent, but unrelated, Austin clans:

Michael Butler & Family: Austin's Brick Builders

Irish immigrant Michael Butler's skill? Making bricks from Colorado River clay. His business boomed, supplying bricks for many 19th-century Austin buildings.

Sites:

• Butler Metro Park: West of S. First St, east of S. Lamar Blvd, north of Barton Springs Rd. Includes Vic Mathias Shores, Long Center, Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, etc.
• Butler Shores: Extension of Butler Park across S. Lamar Blvd. Features Zach Theatre, sports fields, and a scenic hike/bike trail.
• Butler Pitch & Putt: Beloved golf park with a twist of history—a 1951 murder due to a romantic quadrangle.
• Butler Window: Remnant of the ornate Butler Mansion, now preserved in Zilker Botanical Gardens for Instagrammable moments.

Ann & Roy Butler: Friends of the Johnsons

Ann & Roy Butler: She's a patron of causes. He was a car dealer-turned-Austin mayor (1971-1975). Close friends of the Johnsons, they led efforts to clean up the Colorado River, transforming it into a green oasis.

Sites:

• Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail: A 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake, upgraded over 50 years. Born from Ann's chat with Lady Bird in London, overlooking the Thames.
• Ann Showers Butler Pavilion at Seton Medical Center: A five-story patient pavilion, opened in 2008.

Ernest & Sarah Butler: Guardian Angels of the Arts

Ernest, an ENT doctor, and Sarah, prefer staying out of the spotlight. They've quietly donated $100M+ to the arts, influenced by their studies with creativity philosopher Paul Baker at Baylor.

Sites:

• Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music: The Butler family donated $55M to name the music school at UT, including the gem-like Bates Recital Hall.
• Butler Dance Education Center: Ballet Austin owns prime real estate thanks to the Butlers. Catch performances in the Austin Ventures Studio.
• Butler Opera Center: UT's top-ranked opera training academic program, producing shows in the McCullough Theatre.

The Butler sites, stemming from these 3 families, enrich Austin's culture and history.

Source: mbarnes@statesman