Brooks, Jennie, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1890 at the southwest corner of Walnut and Hill Streets in Bastrop, this modest residence reflects the vernacular Greek Revival tradition. It is a five-bay, symmetrical house with board-and-batten walls, a central door flanked by two windows on each side, a rear ell, a tin gable roof and an end-wall chimney. A gallery was later removed, and the house was recorded in fair condition and still in residential use. Its importance lies in the story of its builder. Jennie Brooks, an early Bastrop settler, was the daughter of a slave and was probably the slave of Gus Hubbard. She bought the lot and built the house herself. It is considered one of the oldest houses in Bastrop built by a Black family. Her daughters were skilled musicians, and her son ran a cafe, giving the house a place in the local Black community's history.
Significance in brief: Jennie Brooks, an early Bastrop settler, was the daughter of a slave and was probably the slave of Gus Hubbard. She bought the lot and built the house around 1890. It is described as one of the oldest houses in Bastrop built by a Black family.
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 78003317, listed December 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1009 Walnut, Bastrop |
|---|---|
| County | Bastrop County |
| Listed | December 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003317 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; condition fair; the gallery has been removed. |
| Coordinates | 30.10836, -97.31612 (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 78003317.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001484
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.