Beamer, William, House
Also known as: #9
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 at 1202 South Beal Street in Belton, this two-story brick house combines an L-plan layout with a prominent mansard roof that encloses the second story. It was built by William Beamer, a local builder who also owned the Belton brickyard, which helps explain the all-brick walls and foundation. The design mixes influences: Second Empire features such as the mansard roof, fish scale and diamond wood shingles and pedimented dormers appear alongside Italianate details like a chamfered bay and hooded segmental windows. A wraparound porch with Doric columns completes the main facade. The house sits on a large wooded lot filling a city block. It was recognized for architecture because it shows a late use of a style popular in Texas from about 1870 to 1890, applied to a common small house form. It remains one of few such homes in Central Texas and is notably well preserved, apart from a rear extension.
Significance in brief: The house is considered architecturally distinctive in Belton as a late example of the Second Empire style applied to a modest vernacular L-plan form. It is one of few surviving residences of this style in Central Texas and is notable for its full brick construction and unusual state of preservation. It was listed locally significant under Criterion C in architecture.
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 90001875, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1202 S. Beal St., Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001875 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | William Beamer, Builder |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained, in very good condition, with only minor alterations such as a rear extension; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.04501, -97.46427 (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 90001875.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000888
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.