Nolte-Rooney House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at the corner of Second Street and Sul Ross Avenue in Alpine, Texas, this one-story adobe house reflects the town's earliest residential growth after the railroad arrived in 1883. F.H. Nolte built it with 20-inch-thick sun-dried adobe blocks on a fieldstone and rubble foundation, then covered the walls with rolled galvanized tin stamped to resemble brick. Queen Anne touches include a tripartite bay window, gable trim with diamond cutouts and cedar shingles. John M. Rooney, an early Brewster County sheriff, bought the house in 1893 and added a bedroom around 1900. A kitchen and bathroom followed around 1920, giving the plan its present U-shape. The house is valued as a local blend of Hispanic building methods and Anglo-influenced Victorian design, and as one of the most intact late 19th-century homes remaining in Alpine. It remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be one of the best and most intact examples of late 19th-century domestic architecture in Alpine. It combines traditional Hispanic adobe construction with Anglo-influenced Queen Anne details and an L-plan form. The adobe is covered in rolled galvanized tin stamped to look like brick, which the form calls somewhat unusual. It is eligible under Criterion C at the local level.
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 97000360, listed April 17, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 307 E. Sul Ross Ave., Alpine |
|---|---|
| County | Brewster County |
| Listed | April 17, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000360 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890; c. 1900; c. 1920 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling; a restoration began in 1990, including a new roof of wood shingles. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.36053, -103.65940 (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 97000360.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107322791
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.