Cunningham, Captain James & Susannah, Homestead
Also known as: Mountain Creek Ranch
Why it's listed
Set in a valley along Mountain Creek about twelve miles south of Comanche, Texas, this homestead consists of a one-story dogtrot house built in 1855 and a limestone kitchen added in 1873. The house has two pens flanking a central breezeway, oak framing, cedar rafters, pine clapboard siding, and limestone chimneys. The kitchen's boxed eaves and gable returns give it a Greek Revival look. Captain James and Susannah Cunningham built the home and lived there until their deaths in 1894 and 1899. During their years here, the house served as a school in 1862 and 1863 and as a refuge for neighbors during Native American attacks. The couple's landholdings grew to 9,000 acres, yet they stayed in the modest house. Later owners added siding, a metal roof and other changes, but a 1986 rehabilitation by a Cunningham descendant removed much of that work and restored the earlier look. The property is still used as a home and includes a historic hand-dug well.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of a pre-railroad double-pen dogtrot with Greek Revival touches, and it was restored in 1986 to its Cunningham-era appearance. It is also tied to the Cunninghams, early Comanche County settlers who prospered, served the community, and founded a family that still holds annual reunions. The document gives the period of significance for the well as 1855-1873.
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 12000999, listed December 5, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 19601 TX 16 S., Comanche |
|---|---|
| County | Comanche County |
| Listed | December 5, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000999 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-1873 |
| Architectural style | Other: Pre-Railroad: Double-pen Dogtrot (or Center Passage), Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; rehabilitated in 1986 to return it to its Cunningham-era appearance, with modern conveniences added. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.74479, -98.52260 (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 12000999.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002774
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.