Cloud-Stark House
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Why it's listed
Built about 1885 at 327 South Dixon Street in Gainesville, Texas, this two-story wood frame house reflects the wealth of the city's cattle boom. It was first owned by cattleman Isaac Cloud. Its Victorian Italianate features include a low pitched roof, an off-center cupola, broad eaves and heavy brackets. Between 1902 and 1908 a pedimented two-story portico with Ionic capitals and a columned porch added Colonial Revival character, creating a visible mix of styles. Inside, the central hall has an inlaid wood floor and a spiral staircase with carved woodwork. The house was the birthplace of Rose Lewin Franken, best known for the novel Claudia, whose family lived there from 1891 to 1900. Harlin Walter Stark, a businessman and longtime Texas Christian University trustee, bought it in 1906, and his family kept it for more than seventy-five years. It is considered one of Gainesville's oldest surviving homes and a rare local example of its style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the oldest surviving residences in Gainesville and a physical link to the city's cattle-boom prosperity in the late 1800s. It is a rare local example of Victorian Italianate architecture, with an early 20th century Colonial Revival portico. It was also the birthplace of novelist and playwright Rose Lewin Franken.
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 82004498, listed June 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 327 S. Dixon St., Gainesville |
|---|---|
| County | Cooke County |
| Listed | June 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004498 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Victorian Italianate with Colonial Revival additions |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant at the time of the nomination; the owner planned to rehabilitate it for law offices. Condition is given as fair and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.62136, -97.14052 (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 82004498.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107319167
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.