Ringness, Jens and Kari, Farm
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Neils Creek valley from a gently rising bluff, this farm in Bosque County, Texas, was established by Jens and Kari Ringness, who arrived in 1854 with the first wave of Norwegian settlers. The main house is a large one-and-a-half-story limestone building, once plastered, with a symmetrical five-bay south facade, flat stone arches over the openings and stone chimneys centered in the end gables. Said to have been built in 1859, it is described as an excellent example of the Norwegian Dobbelthus. Its central hallway is flanked by pairs of rooms, though the interior is now gutted because the building serves as a barn. About 100 feet north stands a square limestone blacksmith shop with walls canted inward toward the top, considered among the finest masonry structures in the area. A well and cistern also contribute. In 1867 the house hosted the first Norwegian Lutheran service held in the county, conducted by Reverend Styrk S. Reque.
Significance in brief: Jens and Kari Ringness came to Bosque County in 1854 with the first wave of Norwegian settlers. Their house is described as an excellent example of the Norwegian Dobbelthus, and the blacksmith shop is ranked among the finest masonry structures in the area. In 1867 the first Norwegian Lutheran service held in the county took place in the house, led by Reverend Styrk S. Reque.
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 83003122, 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 on FM 219, Clifton |
|---|---|
| County | Bosque County |
| Listed | July 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003122 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Norwegian Dobbelthus |
| Areas of significance | European, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied, with present use given as agriculture. The house is in poor condition and used as a barn with a gutted interior. The blacksmith shop is in good condition and used for storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.72327, -97.69499 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 83003122.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.