Morrison, William J., Jr., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1912, this 1-1/2 story frame house at 710 North Olive Street in San Antonio faces west across Dignowity Park. It has a pyramidal metal roof, a centered gable dormer and a colonnaded porch that wraps around the southwest corner, with fluted columns and Corinthian capitals. Inside, a bungalow-style plan carries Classical Revival details such as decorative swags, crown molding and two Ionic columns framing the dining room opening. Emmy Friedrich Morrison, daughter of the founder of the Friedrich Refrigeration Company, received the lot in 1912, and she and her husband William J. Morrison Jr. had the house built. The house was altered with kitchen, sun room and laundry additions, then rehabilitated in the 1980s using investment tax credits. It was recognized for its architecture, being the only well detailed and intact Classical Revival example in the Dignowity Hill Historic District and a good illustration of how the style spread through pattern books and prefabricated parts.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion C as a well detailed, popular interpretation of residential Classical Revival architecture. It is described as the only well detailed and intact example of the style in the Dignowity Hill Historic District. It also illustrates how the style was popularized in the early 20th century.
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 90001078, listed July 12, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 710 N. Olive St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | July 12, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-family dwelling and rented as such; restored using investment tax credits, with the restoration being completed at the time of the nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.42819, -98.47142 (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 90001078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000832
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.