Ley, Valentine, House
Why it's listed
Located at 206 E. Newman in Cuero, this 1 1/2-story frame house dates to about 1880 and was part of a citywide group of historic resources documented in 1986. It follows a center-passage plan, with weatherboard siding, a gable roof covered in asbestos siding, and double-hung wood windows with six-over-six lights. A three-bay porch is inset across the south elevation, supported by box columns with molded caps. A bird's-eye map of Cuero shows the house in 1881, and tax rolls record Valentine Ley as owner from 1880 to 1903, which places it among the city's oldest residences. Its significance rests on architecture: few alterations detract from its historic integrity, and it remains an excellent local example of a plan type that was common in Cuero in the late 19th century. A rear addition is the only noted change, and the house is in good condition and still used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites architecture as the basis of significance. A bird's-eye map shows the house in 1881, and tax rolls show it was owned by Valentine Ley from 1880 until 1903, making it one of Cuero's oldest residences. Few alterations detract from its integrity, and it remains an excellent local example of the center-passage plan, a common late 19th-century type in Cuero.
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 88001979, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 206 E. Newman, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001979 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Center-passage dwelling |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good, with a rear addition; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.08641, -97.29183 (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 88001979.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000802
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.