NAS Chase Field-Building 1042
Also known as: Brig
Why it's listed
Building 1042, known as the Old Brig, is a small one-story jail at the former NAS Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. Built in 1943 to a standard Navy Yards and Docks plan by Robert & Company, it has a modified T-shaped layout, a concrete-slab foundation, wood-frame walls covered in galbestos siding, and a flat built-up roof. Barred double-hung windows mark the section that held its three cells. The brig housed naval personnel who committed minor infractions, while serious offenses were handled at NAS Corpus Christi. It served as a brig until 1969, when a modern detention center was built and the old building became an armory. The building has no notable architectural ornament, but it has changed very little on the exterior. It was listed because it is one of 30 surviving original resources from the base's 1943-1944 construction and clearly evokes the World War II period and the base's naval training mission. The property is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: It is one of 30 surviving resources from the original 1943-1944 construction of Chase Field and keeps its original appearance to a remarkable degree. It conveys the World War II era and the emergency military construction conditions under which it was built. It is nominated at the local level under Criterion A for its association with the naval auxiliary air station and its wartime mission.
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 94000054, listed February 23, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Ofstie Rd. 0.6 mi. SSE of the jct. of TX 202 and Independence St., Beeville |
|---|---|
| County | Bee County |
| Listed | February 23, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000054 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1943-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Robert & Company/Brown Bellows & Columbia |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is listed as vacant/not in use; the building is in good-to-fair condition and was converted to an armory in 1969. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.37221, -97.66115 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 94000054.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001193
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.