Terrell-Reuss Streets Historic District
Why it's listed
Northwest of downtown Cuero, this 65-acre neighborhood of houses along Terrell, Reuss and North Indianola streets preserves the city's best collection of homes built before 1936. Most date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Cuero's most prosperous citizens settled here, so the houses tend to be larger and more elaborately detailed than those elsewhere in town. The district includes the city's finest Queen Anne houses, the Hermann Curlin House at 408 N. Terrell as its premier bungalow, Colonial Revival and Prairie School homes, and many vernacular L-plan dwellings. Architects Atlee B. Ayres, A.O. Watson and Jules Leffland designed some of them. Some houses were moved here, including the Wofford House from Lindenau and the Reiffert House from Indianola after the hurricane that destroyed that town. Few buildings have been added since 1936, and most houses have kept their historic character. The district was recognized for its architecture and its connection to local commerce between 1873 and 1936.
Significance in brief: The district is described as containing Cuero's most cohesive and best preserved residences built before 1936. It holds the city's finest Queen Anne houses, its premier bungalow, and Colonial Revival and Prairie School examples, some by regionally prominent architects. Many of the town's most successful and affluent citizens built here, so the houses are larger and more detailed than those elsewhere.
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 88001997, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 300 to 900 blks. of Terrell, 500 to 900 blks. of Indianola, and 200 blk. of W. Reuss to 400 blk. of E. Reuss, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001997 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1873 to 1936 |
| Architect / builder | Architects Atlee B. Ayres, A.O. Watson and Jules Leffland; contractors include Finck and Feuss and Bailey Mills |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Prairie School, bungalow, and vernacular types such as L-plan and center-passage houses |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most houses are well maintained and retain integrity, though some are severely altered; a small number of post-1936 buildings are present. Present use is listed as private residences, vacant and commercial. |
| Acreage | 65 |
| Coordinates | 29.09575, -97.28856 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 88001997.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7703389
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.