Municipal Power Plant
Also known as: Welhausen, Carl and Mary, Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1931-1932 on Front Street in Yoakum, Texas, this one-story brick building was the city's municipal power plant. Measuring about 48 by 80 feet and over 40 feet tall, it has multi-colored brick walls, a stepped front parapet, large metal-sash industrial windows and a gabled clerestory on a metal roof. Inside, an open floor, exposed iron trusses, brick archways and an overhead crane remain in place. Yoakum already had electricity from a private company, but its commissioners chose to build a municipal plant, working with Montgomery and Ward Engineers and Fairbanks, Morse and Company. The city acted well before the Lower Colorado River Authority became its power supplier in 1938. The plant later served as a backup source and then as the city machine shop from 1964 to 1989. It was adapted as the Carl and Mary Welhausen Library in 1990 with only a small added rear window. It was listed for its architecture as a local example of an early industrial energy facility.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a well-preserved local example of an early 20th-century industrial energy facility, with its open interior, overhead crane, iron trusses and clerestory. It also reflects Yoakum's early modernization and electrification, since the city built its own power plant without help from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
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 96001356, listed November 15, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 810 Front St., Yoakum |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | November 15, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001356 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931-1932 |
| Architect / builder | Montgomery and Ward Engineers, Wichita Falls (architects); Fairbanks, Morse and Company, Dallas (builders); F.O. Crawford, Yoakum (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: Industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to the Carl and Mary Welhausen Library; described as in excellent condition and retaining a high degree of historic integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Yoakum Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.28595, -97.15142 (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 96001356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001848
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.