Aston Building
Why it's listed
Just southeast of the town square in Farmersville, Texas, the Aston Building is a two-story commercial row building finished in 1888 for merchant W.S. Aston. Contractor W.S. Flynn of Honey Grove built it with a heavily rusticated limestone front, three round-arch ground-floor entrances, and a tin cornice that carries the Aston name in raised letters. The design blends the Italianate entablature with the rough-cut stonework of Romanesque Revival. Aston planned a store on the ground floor and a residence above; the upper level later became two apartments, and the ground floor housed a bowling alley and a plumbing and sheet metal shop. Aston also served as a bank director and as a board member of the Looney-Dowlin Male and Female Academy. The building is regarded as one of the most intact High Victorian commercial structures in town and closely resembles the nearby Times Building, also built in 1888. It remained in the Aston family until 1978 and was awaiting rehabilitation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of the most intact and sophisticated High Victorian commercial structures in Farmersville, combining Italianate and Romanesque elements. Its rock-faced limestone facade and original tin cornice bearing the Aston name make it a distinctive link to the town's early prosperity. It is also tied to W.S. Aston, a locally prominent merchant and bank director.
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 83003131, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 113 S. Main St., Farmersville |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003131 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1888) |
| Architect / builder | Builder, W.S. Flynn |
| Architectural style | High Victorian commercial, with Italianate and Romanesque elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied and used for storage; in need of repair but appears structurally sound. Rehabilitation plans were prepared but work had not begun. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Farmersville Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.16288, -96.35967 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83003131.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000394
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.