Bryson

The home designs available at Bryson, offered by four different homebuilders, are reminiscent of the area’s historic farmhouses.

“Through our ... agreement with the city of Leander, we were able to get an allowance ... to build farmhouse- and craftsman-style homes,” Tucker said.

Bobby Bryson, a great-grandson of J.C. and Nancy, said the decision to use the family’s name for the development has significance because he and his sons are the last of the Bryson family men.

“I [thanked] Tommy [Tucker] … for naming that subdivision Bryson, to carry the ... name on, because it was fixing to die out.”

Born on the family’s property in 1930, Bobby said he remembers what life was like on the farm, where his family raised sheep, hogs and various crops, including cotton once a gin was established north of town.

As a child, Bobby’s responsibilities included caring for the sheep in the wintertime.

“I would put out hay for them,” he said. “Then I’d go around the pasture on my bicycle to make sure all the sheep were in. … I was 9 years old before we got electricity ... We never did have a bathroom in the house. We had one water faucet, in the kitchen,” said Bobby, who still lives in Leander with his wife, Pat.

Pat Bryson served as the mayor of Leander from 1980-90, and dealt with many challenges, including the availability of water for residents.

When she took office, the city’s residents relied on well water, which was unpredictable, Pat said.

In December, Leander ISD purchased land within Bryson for a future elementary school, LISD senior communication specialist Jennifer Bailey said.

“But the timing of when the school will be built all depends on the future growth that takes place in the northern part of the district,” Bailey said.

Getting acquainted with neighbors may look different at Bryson, where activities such as poolside movie nights and wine tastings will be planned for interested residents by a full-time lifestyle director.

But being neighborly is part of the legacy of the land, Bobby said.

“I look at the Brysons as ambassadors of the project,” Tucker said. “From a historical perspective, their input has been invaluable.”

Welcome Center 501 Chitalpa St., Leander 512-259-1035 www.liveatbryson.com www.facebook.com/liveatbryson Hours: Sun. noon-5 p.m., Mon. noon-6 p.m., Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.