Leske Bar
Why it's listed
Leske Bar is a two-story wood-frame commercial building at 432 W. Main Street in Cuero, Texas, with an estimated date of about 1890. It has board-and-batten and weatherboard siding, a gable roof covered in standing-seam metal, a three-bay ground floor with two single-door entrances, and a wood canopy. Upstairs are three bays of double-hung windows with six-over-six lights, and a simple cornice with jigsawn brackets. Over time the original facade porch was replaced and a second-floor doorway was turned into a window. Tax rolls are inconclusive, but John Leske owned the property by 1897. Its importance lies in its rarity. Most of Cuero's historic commercial buildings are masonry, so this wood-frame store is an extremely rare local survivor. It serves as a reminder of the frame commercial buildings that lined downtown streets in the 1870s and 1880s before brick buildings replaced them. The building remains in commercial use and is in good condition despite moderate storefront changes.
Significance in brief: The building is a rare surviving example of a 19th-century wood-frame commercial building in Cuero, where most historic commercial buildings are masonry. It recalls the frame stores that lined downtown streets in the 1870s and 1880s before brick buildings replaced them. The reviewer 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 88001969, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 432 W. Main, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001969 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is described as good, with moderate storefront alterations; present use is commercial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.09204, -97.29502 (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 88001969.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001851
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.