Norwegian immigrant John L. Buaas moved to Austin in 1839 and in 1871 was appointed city alderman by Reconstruction governor E.J. Davis. In 1875 he built a mercantile store here. The two-story Italianate commercial structure was designed with two facades, one facing Pine (5th) Street, and the other on Pecan (6th) Street. Buaas sold the building in 1879, and since then it has been used for various commercial establishments and is now part of the revitalization of Old Pecan Street. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1983