Fisk, Greenleaf, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1878 at 418 Milton Avenue in Brownwood, this nearly square house is made of load-bearing rough sandstone with tooled sandstone quoins, lintels, sills and door surrounds. A pyramidal roof with three projecting gables covers the building, and the lot also holds a brick and concrete lined well. It was the last home of Greenleaf Fisk (1807-1888), a veteran of the Texas Revolution who served in several county offices and settled in Brown County in 1860. Fisk donated land for the Brownwood townsite, the county courthouse, a college and a cemetery, and he came to be called the Father of Brownwood. Streets nearby carry names tied to his family. The house is the only surviving building linked to his life and is among the oldest dwellings in the city. Alterations since his death appear limited to the front porch and roofing, and much original material remains, including wide interior wood planks. It is listed for local significance in community development and for its link to Fisk.
Significance in brief: The house is the only extant building associated with Greenleaf Fisk (1807-1888), known as the 'Father of Brownwood' for donating land for the townsite, county purposes and a cemetery. It is nominated under Criterion A for Community Planning and Development and Criterion B for its association with Fisk, at the local level. It is also one of the oldest surviving dwellings in Brownwood.
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 04000103, listed February 25, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 418 Milton Ave., Brownwood |
|---|---|
| County | Brown County |
| Listed | February 25, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000103 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1878-1953 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed as single dwelling, not in use. A June 2003 storm caused roof leaks and water damage and repairs were underway; the house is described as in very good condition overall, with city plans for the Coliseum parking lot or a greenbelt threatening the neighborhood. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.72039, -98.97753 (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 04000103.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001184
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.