Barclay-Bryan House
Why it's listed
Occupying half a city block at the corner of South 25th Street and Avenue H in Temple, this red brick Colonial Revival house was built about 1913-1915 for William Anderson Barclay. Barclay was a wealthy businessman whose ventures included mercantile stores, ranching, banking, land development and mining. The house cost $65,000 to build, with each giant column costing $1,000. Its most distinctive feature is a set of giant-order porticos with paired Doric columns on three sides, set against cream-colored cement trim and a red tile roof. The interior remains largely unaltered, with oak flooring, original brass hardware, a massive brick living room fireplace and an open-well oak stair. Early conveniences included a cistern, a central telephone system and a central vacuum. A two-story carriage house/garage of matching materials is included in the nominated property. The designer is unknown. The house is considered one of the most significant Revival buildings in Bell County and one of only two large Temple residences using classical forms.
Significance in brief: The house is a boldly designed example of Colonial Revival architecture with an uncommon use of giant-order Roman porticos on three facades. It reflects the wealth and social standing of Barclay, a Temple entrepreneur with area-wide business interests. It is one of only two large residences in Temple to use classical forms and details, and is ranked among the most significant Revival structures in Bell County.
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 84001572, listed May 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 804 S. 25th St., Temple |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | May 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001572 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-15 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of the form the house was being rehabilitated for residential use; the carriage house upper level serves as an apartment, and five 1940 cottages on the property are rental units outside the nominated boundary. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.09205, -97.35742 (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 84001572.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000403
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.