Madison Cooper House, located at 1801 Autis Avenue in Waco, Texas, was constructed between 1905 and 1907.
This magnificent residence was originally the residence of Madison Alexander Cooper Sr. and his wife, Martha Roane Cooper.
Today, it serves as the headquarters of the Cooper Foundation, embodying the vision of Madison Copper Jr., a notable novelist and philanthropist.
Madison Cooper Jr.
Madison Alexander Cooper Jr., born on June 3, 1894, in Waco, Texas, was a notable American businessman and philanthropist.
He was the son of actress Madison Alexander and Martha Dillon (Roane) Cooper.
After earning an English degree from the University of Texas in 1915, he served as a captain in World War I.
Returning to Waco, Cooper initially worked in the family grocery business, the M. A. Cooper Company for ten years before exploring other ventures.
In 1954, he sold his interests in the Cooper Grocery Company to Milam after a legal battle with J. R. Milam. The business was then renamed the J. R. Milam Company.
After that, Cooper focused on his passion for writing. His literary career peaked with the 1952 publication of Sironia, Texas. This detailed, two-volume novel about small-town life became a New York Times best-seller and won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award.
In 1943, Cooper established the Madison Alexander Cooper and Martha Roane Cooper Foundation with $25,000, aiming to enhance Waco’s community.
Upon his death in 1956, his $3 million estate funded the foundation.
Madison Cooper House in Waco, Texas
The Cooper House is a striking example of early 20th-century architecture.
It showcases a blend of Victorian and Greek Revival architectural styles, representing the finest in turn-of-the-century design.
The house’s intricate design elements and well-preserved condition make it a notable landmark in Waco.
Nowadays, the Cooper House serves as the foundation’s headquarters and is available free of charge to qualified nonprofit organizations to use for board meetings, staff development retreats, strategy sessions, or special events.
The Madison Cooper House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The available space includes a large living room, a parlor, a dining room that seats twelve, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom downstairs, with an additional bathroom upstairs.
The kitchen includes an ice machine, oven, stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pots, disposal, and dishwasher, providing all necessary amenities for hosting events.