Rawlins, Capt. R. A., House
Why it's listed
Built between the summer of 1869 and the summer of 1870, this ten-room frame house in Lancaster, Texas, was raised by Captain R.A. Rawlins with help from family and neighbors. Timbers from his earlier 1854 homestead on the same site were reused, and the siding, doors and windows were made by hand on site. Chimneys were built with brick and lime quarried and burned on the property, and the foundation uses stone from Winifred Branch. The plan and symmetry follow Greek Revival lines, but three gabled dormers across the west facade set it apart as a rural vernacular design. The house stood beside the old Texas Central Highway, a route between Waxahachie and Dallas, and became known as the Halfway House. Rawlins, a Confederate cavalry captain, lived there until 1910. His family were among the first Anglo settlers of the area. In 1976 it was recognized as the oldest house in Dallas County still owned and occupied by the original owner's heirs. A smokehouse and small barn also survive.
Significance in brief: The house is a good example of rural vernacular building in North Texas in 1870, with a Greek Revival plan and symmetry and three distinctive gabled dormers on the west facade. It is also significant for its occupants' contribution to the area's history, and it served as the 'Halfway House' on the Texas Central Highway between Waxahachie and Dallas.
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 78002921, listed November 15, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2219 Dowling St., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | November 15, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002921 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | R.A. Rawlins |
| Architectural style | Rural framed vernacular with Greek Revival plan and symmetry |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, recently refinished close to the original, and occupied by Rawlins' descendants as a second home and family gathering place; the house is virtually unaltered apart from an upstairs bathroom and a rear addition. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 32.58041, -96.75627 (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 78002921.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001840
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.