Stevens, Elisha, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1896 at 408 E. Prairie in Cuero, this 2 1/2-story frame house was designed and built by local craftsman Joe Hamilton, according to an article in the Cuero Star. It was constructed for Elisha Stevens. The house has an asymmetrical plan, weatherboard siding, and a hip roof with gables. An L-shaped porch wraps the south and east sides, with turned-wood posts, balusters, and a decorative frieze. Two interior brick chimneys have corbeled caps, and two-story gabled wings have angled corners, jig-sawn brackets and pendants. A small inset porch on the south side has a single doorway and elaborate woodwork. The house was listed for its architecture, since this level of Eastlake detailing is quite rare among Cuero residences. It has changed little since it was built. W.C. Booton bought the property in 1906, and it has changed hands many times since. The house remains residential and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its architecture. It has Eastlake detailing, which is quite rare among Cuero residences. It has changed little since it was first built for Elisha Stevens.
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 88001984, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 408 E. Prairie, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001984 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Hamilton, Joe |
| Architectural style | Eastlake influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is described as good and virtually unaltered; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.09570, -97.28407 (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 88001984.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001876
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.