Billow-Thompson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 for Sherman Billow and his wife, this one-story frame house at 402 E. Broadway in Cuero has an elongated L plan. Weatherboard siding covers the walls, and a hip roof with gables covers the house. A five-bay porch on the south side has chamfered posts, turned balusters and jig-sawn brackets. Other details include two-over-two double-hung windows, an entrance with transom and sidelights, a polygonal bay with a flared roof, and a corbeled interior brick chimney. The easternmost room looks like a later addition, but Sanborn maps show it was part of the original house. By 1901 Dr. J.M. Thompson had bought the property. The house was listed as a noteworthy example of late 19th-century domestic architecture in Cuero and one of the best preserved. It may have been moved from Indianola, but that has not been confirmed. It remains in good condition with only minor porch changes and is still used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a noteworthy example of late 19th-century domestic architecture in Cuero and one of the best preserved. Its elongated L plan looks like a later addition, but Sanborn maps confirm it is original. Reviewers recommended acceptance under Criterion C.
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 88001949, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 402 E. Broadway, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001949 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Huck, H.J. & Co. (?) (contractor) |
| Architectural style | L-plan dwelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is good, with minor porch alterations. It remains in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Terrell-Reuss Streets Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.09247, -97.28618 (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 88001949.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001889
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.