Spake, Jacob and Eliza, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1889-1890 at 2600 State Street in Dallas, this two-story frame house was a wedding present from builder and contractor Edward T. Overand to his daughter Eliza and her husband Jacob W. Spake. It stands in the State-Thomas District, one of the city's oldest residential subdivisions, and was among the first homes built there. The design mixes Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and American Foursquare influences, with a pyramidal roof, hipped dormers, bracketed eaves, bay pavilions, elaborate window moldings and diamond-pattern leaded-glass transoms. Inside, a central-hall plan keeps original pine floors, stairs, wainscotting and pocket doors. Overand helped open the neighborhood to development by selling family land to other builders and settlers. Jacob Spake worked for the G.H. Schoellkopf leather-goods company, rising to secretary-treasurer. The Spake family lived in the house until about 1920. Because little Victorian-era architecture remains in Dallas, the house has gained importance as a restored survivor amid dense commercial development.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its varied architectural styling, which blends Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and American Foursquare influences. It is also significant for its original inhabitants, since the Overand and Spake families were important to the growth of Dallas. It was among the first houses in the neighborhood and survives in a city with little remaining Victorian-era architecture.
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 85002912, listed November 21, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2600 State St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | November 21, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002912 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Edward T. Overand, Builder and Contractor |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, with Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and American Foursquare influences (some also cite Italianate) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, altered; the original cedar shingle roof has been replaced and the front porch is a replacement built to match a 1908 photograph. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.79536, -96.79979 (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 85002912.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6119498
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.