Thomason-Scott House
Why it's listed
Built in 1894 in the village of Era, Cooke County, this one-story frame cottage reflects late Victorian design with Queen Anne and Eastlake detailing. Builder George Brumbaugh constructed it for Dr. Benjamin Richard Thomason, the first physician in that part of the county, and his wife Mary. It served as both family home and doctor's office. Exterior features include a hip roof with gables, fishscale shingles, turned porch posts with fan-like brackets, and a Chinese Chippendale balustrade unusual for the area. Inside are sliding wood doors, period mantelpieces, and a raised medicine chest for the doctor's supplies. Porch infill and the removal of the chimneys in 1948 are the main alterations, and they appear reversible. The house is the most prominent Victorian building left in Era. It was also the boyhood home of Robert Ewing Thomason, who became Speaker of the Texas House, mayor of El Paso, a U.S. congressman, and a federal judge. A smokehouse and barn also survive on the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a good example of the late Victorian cottage once common in Texas towns, remaining largely unaltered and well preserved. It is the most prominent surviving Victorian building in Era. It was also the home of Judge Robert Ewing Thomason, a legislator and jurist.
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 80004086, listed September 30, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off TX 51 and SR 922, Era |
|---|---|
| County | Cooke County |
| Listed | September 30, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004086 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | George Brumbaugh |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian cottage with Queen Anne/Eastlake detailing |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, occupied as a private residence, with minor additions and a restoration/renovation under way; the smokehouse and barn survive as outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 4.6 |
| Coordinates | 33.49509, -97.28918 (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 80004086.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000092
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.