Waples-Platter Buildings
Also known as: White Swan Building; Waples-Platter Complex
Why it's listed
Two linked industrial buildings on North Lamar Street in Dallas housed the Waples-Platter Grocery Co. The grocery house, a two-story brick building of 100 by 200 feet, was built in 1915. Across the street, the four-story brick-faced, steel-frame coffee roaster followed in 1925, built by the Thomas S. Byrne Co. of Fort Worth. Its irregular plan resulted from a land trade that gave the building enough railroad frontage for a second loading door. Inside, steel columns with cast capitals carry heavy machinery, floor heights vary with the equipment, and a skylight lit the roasting ovens on the fourth floor. A steel bridge joined the two buildings. The company began in 1872 as a railroad commissary and grew into a family-run regional food manufacturer and wholesaler, marketing White Swan coffee. The roaster is the last of its three coffee roasters still standing. The complex was listed for its role in local industry and commerce.
Significance in brief: The buildings represent the growth of the Waples-Platter Grocery Co., a family business that grew from a frontier commissary into a regional food manufacturer and wholesaler. The coffee roaster is a good example of an early 20th century Dallas industrial facility and is the last of the company's three roasters to survive. The complex is judged significant locally in industry and commerce.
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 78002917, listed March 24, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2200--2211 N. Lamar St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | March 24, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002917 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1925 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas S. Byrne Co., Engineers and General Contractors, Fort Worth (coffee roaster); the grocery house builder is partly illegible in the form. |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The coffee roaster was described as in excellent condition and unaltered. The owner planned to convert the roaster to office space and the grocery house to apartments and offices. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 32.78469, -96.80854 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 78002917.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.