Ploeger-Kerr-White House
Why it's listed
Built around 1863 at 806 Marion Street in Bastrop, this one-story frame house was erected by Michael L. H. Ploeger, a native of Prussia, soon after his marriage. The front has a single central door flanked by two windows on each side, with an inset gallery across the facade under a gabled roof. A one-story ell wing extends at the rear. The house later passed to Robert Kerr, who served as Bastrop's first Black legislator from 1881 to 1883 and was one of the few Black officeholders to serve after Reconstruction. Carrie White lived in the house for 47 years. The property was recorded in 1977 and described as being in good condition. Its importance rests on the combination of its mid-nineteenth-century German immigrant origins and its association with Kerr's role in Texas political history.
Significance in brief: The house was bought by Robert Kerr, the first Black legislator from Bastrop, who served 1881-83 and was one of the few Black officeholders after Reconstruction. It was later the home of Carrie White for 47 years. The form lists themes of settlement and ethnic or social history.
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 78003346, listed December 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 806 Marion, Bastrop |
|---|---|
| County | Bastrop County |
| Listed | December 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003346 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Michael L. H. Ploeger (builder, per the form) |
| Areas of significance | Black, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as good; original use was residence. |
| Coordinates | 30.10914, -97.31152 (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 78003346.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.