Burns, Arthur, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 at 130 E. Sarah Street in Cuero, this two-story frame house was constructed for Arthur Burns, son of a prominent DeWitt County cattle rancher. Burns himself held extensive lands in Jackson, Borden and Dawson counties, where he raised livestock. The house reportedly was built by Cate Cudd, foreman of the Burns ranch in neighboring Jackson County. It follows an L plan and has weatherboard siding, a gable roof, and double-hung windows. A two-story, three-bay porch with box columns, turned-wood balusters and a frieze runs along the south side, and a similar porch is at the rear. Other details include art glass in the front entrance, a squared bay on the second floor of the projecting front wing, two brick chimneys with corbeled caps, and cutaway corners on the east side. It is considered a noteworthy local example of Victorian domestic architecture, and it remains in residential use in good condition with minor additions.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a noteworthy local example of Victorian domestic architecture. It is also tied to Arthur Burns, son of a prominent DeWitt County cattle rancher who held extensive lands in Jackson, Borden and Dawson counties.
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 88001987, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 130 E. Sarah, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001987 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; reportedly built by Cate Cudd, foreman of the Burns ranch in nearby Jackson County |
| Architectural style | L-plan dwelling (Victorian domestic architecture) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition with minor additions; present use residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Terrell-Reuss Streets Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.09592, -97.28736 (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 88001987.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001883
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.