Clarendon Motor Company Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 at the corner of Third and Sully Streets in Clarendon, Texas, this two-story stucco building was designed as a car dealership. Local builder Ed Barnes erected it for J.W. Martin and J.T. Patman, across from the county courthouse on the town's main highway. Its Mission Revival features include an Alamo-style parapet, recessed medallions, brown patterned tiles and red tile canopies, and tile-roofed kiosks recreate the original gasoline pump canopies. The showroom was a grand two-story space set apart from the parts and service areas. The dealership later became a Chevrolet business and kept the Alderson Chevrolet name until recent years. It was listed for its link to the commerce of a ranching town that grew rapidly in the 1920s, and for its refined architecture compared with other local Mission Revival buildings. Careful rehabilitation converted it to offices while preserving original details such as the metal ceiling and tile floors.
Significance in brief: The building reflects the prosperity of Clarendon's ranch-based economy in the 1920s and the early growth of car dealerships. It is also a fine local example of Mission Revival architecture, with an Alamo-style parapet, tile canopies and decorative tilework, and is considered one of downtown's most important buildings.
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 94001309, listed November 10, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 221 S. Sully St., Clarendon |
|---|---|
| County | Donley County |
| Listed | November 10, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001309 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 - 1944 |
| Architect / builder | Barnes, Ed (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Mission Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated and adapted for use as a professional office building; the former dealership use has ended. Integrity is described as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.93788, -100.88943 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 94001309.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320756
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.