{"nrhp_refnum":"82004508","name":"Grierson-Sproul House","other_names":["Sproul House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Court Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Fort Davis","county":"Jeff Davis County","state":"TX","lat":30.590573633000076,"lon":-103.90509090899997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1982-08-11","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story, ell-shaped vernacular stone residence on about four acres at the western edge of Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, Texas, completed in 1908 and rebuilt in 1914 after a fire.","why_significant":"The nomination presents it as a good example of early twentieth century stone masonry vernacular architecture in Fort Davis, built during the town's brief construction boom and echoing the military architecture of the nearby fort. It is also linked to B. H. Grierson, Jr., and to rancher and sheriff Franklin Lee Sproul, whose household was a hub of local social life.","narrative":"Built in 1908 at the western edge of Fort Davis, Texas, this one-story, ell-shaped house is made of pink limestone laid in a random ashlar pattern, set on a gray granite foundation. B. H. Grierson, Jr., a local investor and rancher, built it during the town's single construction boom, in a style recalling the buildings of nearby Fort Davis. A fire in 1912 badly damaged the house, and in 1914 rancher Franklin Lee Sproul bought it and directed a reconstruction. The interior was rebuilt around a central hall, and the porch and entrances were altered. Sproul served as county sheriff from 1914 until his death in 1933, and his wife later filled out his term. The house became a gathering place for the small circle of ranching families, including reading and cultural clubs. The original garage, carriage house and water tank tower survive. Restoration to the 1914 appearance is under way.","period_of_significance":"1900- (specific dates 1908 & 1914)","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Vernacular with minor Bungalow influence","criteria":[],"status_note":"Fair condition and in the process of being restored to its 1914 appearance; unoccupied for a number of years before the 1979 purchase, and listed as occupied private residence.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:18.90482-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/68/9726/40972668/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/82004508.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40972668","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grierson-Sproul_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30625526"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/texas/jeff-davis-county/grierson-sproul-house-82004508/"}