Colwick, John and Mary, Farm
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Set atop a hill above the Neils Creek valley southwest of Clifton, this Bosque County farm centers on a one-and-a-half-story frame house with a modified T-shaped plan. Descendants of the Colwicks say Norwegian carpenter Johan Nordahl built it in 1889, and it is believed to be the first of at least six structures he erected. Its completion drew a community-wide celebration reported in a Meridian newspaper that August. The house faces east, with a double-door entrance, sidelights and a transom, and a shed-roof porch screened in about 1937. Some alterations have occurred, including replaced windows, an early dormer and a rear porch added about 1915. A stone-lined cistern lies southwest of the house, and a frame barn clad in corrugated metal stands to the northwest, surrounded by a cedar stake fence typical of Norwegian farms in the county. The property is regarded as one of the oldest frame houses in the Norwegian settlement and remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the oldest frame houses within the Norwegian settlement of Bosque County. It is believed to be the first of at least six structures built by Norwegian carpenter Johan Nordahl. Its completion in 1889 was marked by a community-wide celebration reported in a local newspaper. The reviewer accepted it under criteria A and C but did not consider the barn contributing because of its metal siding.
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 83003099, listed July 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Clifton, Clifton |
|---|---|
| County | Bosque County |
| Listed | July 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003099 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Johan Nordahl, Norwegian carpenter |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | European, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a private residence and in good condition; occupied. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 31.71040, -97.69760 (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 83003099.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q140166113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.