Pierson, Ole and Ann, Farm
Why it's listed
This farm lies about 8.5 miles west of Clifton in Bosque County, Texas, in the Gary Creek valley near the base of Rattlesnake Mountain. The main building is a two-story stone house set roughly 200 feet north of the creek. Its asymmetrical plan includes a two-tiered porch across the south front, stuccoed stone walls within the porch area, and an exterior stone chimney at the west gable end. Around the turn of the twentieth century a two-story frame section was added on the east end; it is now covered with asbestos siding. A garage and connecting hallway followed in the 1950s. About 150 feet south of the house, a small limestone outbuilding stands on the creek bank. The farm was listed because of its link to Ole and Ann Pierson, among the first Norwegian settlers in the county. Present and past owners say the stone portion predates the Civil War, and despite later alterations it retains much of its original character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is significant for its association with Ole and Ann Pierson, two of the original Norwegian settlers in Bosque County. Although more heavily altered than other stone houses in the group, the original stone portion keeps its historic integrity. Owners say it dates to before the Civil War.
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 83003118, listed July 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Clifton, Clifton |
|---|---|
| County | Bosque County |
| Listed | July 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | European, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and used for agriculture; the house is described as being in good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.76050, -97.71823 (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 83003118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001661
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.