Crocheron-McDowall House
Why it's listed
Built in 1857 at 1502 Wilson Street in Bastrop, this two-story Greek Revival house was made almost entirely of Texas cedar milled in local sawmills. Its main facade has a two-story central portico with square wood columns, a symmetrical three-bay layout, and dentil molding around the building. Inside, an unusual reception hall runs the width of the house and opens into two large rooms. The six-over-nine windows and hand-carved walnut bannister were shipped from New York to Galveston, then brought to Bastrop by rail and freight wagon. Henry Crocheron, a merchant and a founder of the Bastrop Steam Mill, had the house built. After his death in 1874 it passed to his niece, Mary Ann McDowall, a music teacher who made it a gathering place for parties, lectures and concerts. The nomination describes it as among the finest Greek Revival houses in Texas. It was still a private residence, with restoration planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in Bastrop and in Texas. It is also tied to Henry Crocheron, a prominent Bastrop entrepreneur and a founder of the Bastrop Steam Mill. Later, under his niece Mary Ann McDowall, it was a social and intellectual center of the town.
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 78003357, listed April 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1502 Wilson St., Bastrop |
|---|---|
| County | Bastrop County |
| Listed | April 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003357 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence at the time of nomination; condition described as good, with plans by the owners to restore it. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 30.11611, -97.32259 (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 78003357.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5187271
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.