Kohler-McPhaul House
Why it's listed
Built in 1852-53 at 1901 Pecan Street in Bastrop, this 1.5-story wood frame house reflects German building traditions. It has a central door flanked by two windows, a single-room width, an inset front gallery, a steeply pitched roof, square chamfered columns, six-over-six windows, windows in the gable ends and a rear ell. Local recording describes it as the only house in Bastrop with German-influenced proportions. Some changes have occurred over time, including an enclosed rear porch and a removed chimney, and the roof is now tin. The house also has a social history. A Black family, the McPhauls, bought it around the turn of the twentieth century. Annie McPhaul was among the first teachers at the Piney (Negro) School, and her daughter also worked as a schoolteacher. The combination of an unusual architectural type and its connection to local Black education supports its place among Bastrop's recognized historic properties. It sits north of the railroad, facing west on Pecan Street.
Significance in brief: The nomination points to its unique architectural style, as the only house in Bastrop showing German-influenced proportions. It is also tied to a Black family, the McPhauls, who bought it around the turn of the century. Annie McPhaul was one of the first teachers at the Piney (Negro) School, and her daughter was also a schoolteacher.
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 78003275, listed December 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1901 Pecan, Bastrop |
|---|---|
| County | Bastrop County |
| Listed | December 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003275 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Pioneer German |
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as altered: the rear porch was enclosed and the chimney removed. The roof is tin. |
| Coordinates | 30.12116, -97.31767 (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 78003275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001419
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.