NAS Chase Field-Quarters R
Also known as: Commanding Officer's Quarters
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Quarters R is a one-story frame house on Essex Street at the former NAS Chase Field near Beeville, Texas. Built in 1943 when the naval auxiliary air station opened, it housed the commanding officer. Robert & Company of Atlanta designed it, and Brown Bellows & Columbia, a consortium of three Houston-based firms, built it. The house has a modified rectangular plan, a pier-and-beam foundation, wood-frame construction, galbestos siding, a flat roof with extended eaves, and a brick interior chimney. A small detached garage stands to the southwest. The house has no distinctive style, like most wartime buildings at the base. Its significance rests on its role in the base's earliest construction phase. It was one of only two single-family dwellings built there during the war, despite a 1942 austerity program, and it reflects the esteem given to the commanding officer. It remained the commanding officer's residence until the base closed in 1993, and its exterior has changed very little.
Significance in brief: It was part of the earliest and most important construction phase at the World War II naval auxiliary air station. It is one of only two single-family dwellings built at the base during the war, an exception to the austerity program for base construction. It also served as the home of the base's highest-ranking officer. It is nominated under Criterion A at the local level.
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 94000055, listed February 23, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Essex St. 0.43 mi. SSW of the jct. of TX 202 and Independence St., Beeville |
|---|---|
| County | Bee County |
| Listed | February 23, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000055 |
| 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) | Listed as vacant/not in use as its current function. The building is described as in good condition and virtually unaltered, with minor changes such as partial enclosure of the front porch. The base closed in 1993. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.37441, -97.66419 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 94000055.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000910
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.