Ferguson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 518 North 7th Street in Temple, this frame house is an example of early twentieth century vernacular architecture with a Queen Anne-style asymmetrical plan. Upper and lower galleries wrap the front and southern corner, supported by Doric and Ionic columns. Original features include beveled glass doors, pine panelling, lattice garden walls and the staircase. A carriage house of similar character stands on the property. The house was built by James Ferguson, who founded the Texas State Bank of Temple that year. He and his wife Miriam, both raised in Bell County, later became Texas governors. They were the first husband and wife elected to a governorship, and Miriam was the first woman elected governor of Texas. The family lived here between political offices and kept the house as rental property until selling it in 1941. It was divided into apartments in the 1950s and was being restored as a single-family home when nominated.
Significance in brief: The house was the residence of James and Miriam Ferguson, known as "Pa" and "Ma", whose Populist political style shaped Texas government for about twenty-five years. They were the first husband and wife elected governors of any state, and Miriam was the first woman elected governor of Texas. The nomination states that no other site has a strong association with them.
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 78002888, listed December 8, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 518 N. 7th St., Temple |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 8, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002888 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907-1932 |
| Architectural style | Early twentieth century vernacular, with Queen Anne influence in its asymmetrical plan |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Divided into apartments in the 1950s; at the time of nomination it was being restored as a single-family residence, and the condition was marked good. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 31.10306, -97.34340 (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 78002888.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001540
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.