Groos, Carl W.A., House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1871 at 228 South Seguin Street in New Braunfels, this one-story plastered brick house was constructed for merchant Carl Groos and his bride Hulda Moureau, reportedly as a wedding gift. It has a center-hall plan, a rear ell, a modest pedimented Classical portico, and a cypress-framed floor on a limestone foundation. The Groos couple moved to San Antonio in 1872 but kept the house until 1879. Later occupants included Adolph Giesecke, mayor of New Braunfels and county judge, merchant Fritz Scholl, and flour miller Hippolyt Dittlinger. The house became commercial property in 1946 and has served as offices since the 1960s. A 1999 renovation preserved the original trim, windows, doors and floors and added a separate square conference-room wing. The house is valued for its link to the German settlers who built New Braunfels into a regional center of trade and manufacturing, and it is one of the few remaining residences on a street now largely commercial.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant under Criterion A in the area of Ethnic Heritage: German. It is tied to New Braunfels' early German settlers and their descendants, who shaped the town's commercial and political life. Owners and occupants included a mayor and county judge, a merchant, and the founder of a major flour mill.
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 00000884, listed August 17, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 228 S. Seguin St., New Braunfels |
|---|---|
| County | Comal County |
| Listed | August 17, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000884 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871-1950 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | European |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as offices since the 1960s; renovated in early 1999 with a new rear addition, and described as being in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Central New Braunfels Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.70143, -98.12391 (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 00000884.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5040913
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.