Mathis, T. H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1867 at 612 Church Street in Rockport, this one-story frame house is described as a very refined late Greek Revival residence. It rests on a brick arcaded basement about seven feet above grade, and a flared staircase leads to a central entrance portico with two pairs of square fluted wooden columns. Bracketed, panelled cornices, pilasters, and a doorway with sidelights and a transom add classical detail. The main block has a low hip roof, and the interior follows a central-hall plan with two rooms on each side of the hall and a rear service ell. The house was built for Thomas H. Mathis, a Tennessee-born educator and Confederate veteran who settled at the site of Rockport after the Civil War. He became a rancher, a partner in a large pasture company, a road and bridge builder, and president of the National Bank of Rockport. The house has remained unaltered in the same family and is well maintained.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house as a very refined late Greek Revival residence with classically balanced massing and a Palladian sense of scale. It is also tied to Thomas H. Mathis, a successful rancher, banker and businessman who helped develop South Texas. The form checks architecture and commerce as areas of significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000918, listed June 21, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 612 Church St., Rockport |
|---|---|
| County | Aransas County |
| Listed | June 21, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000918 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1867 |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, in use as a private residence and kept in pristine repair. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 28.02177, -97.06110 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000918.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q54871503
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.