Allen, I. R., House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 601 N. Dallas in Ennis was built in 1908 by builder Fred Lawson. It has weatherboard siding, a hip roof with gables, stick brackets and one-over-one double-hung windows. A seven-bay porch with fluted Ionic columns and wood balusters wraps around the south and east sides. Two-story entrance porticoes topped with pedimented gables were enclosed at the second story as screened sleeping porches, and corner pilasters and classical window surrounds add detail. The house is considered a fine example of the Neoclassical Revival style, which was moderately popular in Ennis between about 1900 and 1910. Its giant order and large consoles reflect how the style was built throughout Texas. It was the home of Isaac R. Allen, co-owner of Allen & Kendall Furniture Store. The inventory records the property as in good condition and still used as a residence. It is part of a group of Ennis historic resources.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated as a fine example of the Neoclassical Revival style, which gained moderate popularity in Ennis in the first decade of the twentieth century. Its two-story portico, giant order and large consoles show the style as built across Texas. It was also the home of Isaac R. Allen, co-owner of Allen & Kendall Furniture Store.
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 86002387, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 601 N. Dallas, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002387 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Fred Lawson, builder |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.33130, -96.63115 (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 86002387.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000579
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.