McCroskey, John, Cabin
Why it's listed
Built around 1824 in the coastal lowlands of Brazoria County, this double log house follows a plan common in early Texas settlement: a room on each side of an open central hall, called a dog trot, under one split cedar roof with a loft above. Its first owner, John McCroskey, a tanner, received a league of land in 1824 as one of Stephen F. Austin's original 300 colonists. Over the following decades a succession of owners added lean-to rooms, a porch, a brick cistern, factory-made doors and siding, and later two-over-two windows, as the farm grew into a cotton and sugar cane plantation. A cotton gin and brick sugar mill were added nearby. Owners included Oliver Jones, designer of the Lone Star flag, and R. J. Townes, the county's first district judge. The house has been lived in continuously since it was built, and the original rabbeted cedar log walls remain beneath later siding.
Significance in brief: The cabin is presented as representing the development of an early Texas farmstead from a wilderness foothold into a prosperous cotton and sugar cane plantation. Its first owner, John McCroskey, was one of Stephen F. Austin's original 300 colonists. Later owners included several figures tied to Texas history, among them Oliver Jones, designer of the Lone Star flag.
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 75001958, listed August 28, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. NE of Cedar Lake on Stringfellow Ranch, Cedar Lake |
|---|---|
| County | Brazoria County |
| Listed | August 28, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001958 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John McCroskey (first owner, likely original builder) |
| Architectural style | Double log house with central dog trot, typical of early Texas settlement |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good. The form says the house has been occupied continuously since it was built and has always been a dwelling. The owner planned to restore it as his residence. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 28.93963, -95.61521 (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 75001958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001696
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.