House at 730 N. Beal St.
Also known as: #6
Why it's listed
Built in the 1870s, this one-story frame house on North Beal Street in Belton follows the center passage plan, a common dwelling type in nineteenth-century Texas. It has a side gable, lapped wood siding, and a rubble limestone foundation and chimneys at both gable ends. A gable wing was added off the rear. The front porch has two boxed columns supporting an entablature and a shed roof, a modest nod to Greek Revival style. Windows are symmetrically arranged six-over-six wood sash with simple hood moldings. The house was listed for architecture. It shows how local builders adapted high-style details to a practical vernacular form, and it dates to the cattle boom that followed the Civil War. Similar houses were once common in the region, but most have been demolished or significantly altered, which makes this largely intact and well-preserved example notable. It remains a single-family home in good condition with only minor alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of the center passage house, once a very common dwelling type in 19th-century Texas. It reflects Belton's growth during the post-Civil War cattle boom. Its modest Greek Revival-style porch shows how vernacular builders borrowed from high styles. Most similar houses in the region have been razed or heavily altered, so it is a significant survivor.
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 90001936, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 730 N. Beal St., Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001936 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1870 (corrected from the originally stated c. 1870-1900) |
| Architectural style | Center Passage (Other); Greek Revival influences |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with only minor alterations; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.06261, -97.45707 (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 90001936.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000878
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.