Building at 500-502 East Main
Why it's listed
Built around 1900, this one-story commercial building at 500-502 East Main Street sits in a mixed residential and commercial area east of Waxahachie's central business district. It is a load-bearing masonry structure with a stucco veneer, an open plan, and a flat roof behind a parapet. A stepped cornice runs below the parapet, and piers mark a rhythm along the facade. Wood sash display windows and two single-door entrances face the street, and a three-bay porch with a shed roof extends across the north elevation. The building has been used for commercial purposes from its construction to the present and is recorded in good condition. Its importance lies in Black history: it is one of only a handful of historic commercial buildings left within Waxahachie's old black commercial district, and it is the least altered of those that remain. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The inventory form records the building under Black History. It is one of only a handful of historic commercial buildings remaining in Waxahachie's old black commercial district. It is also the least altered of those that survive in the area.
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 86002440, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 500--502 E. Main, Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002440 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is listed as good, and the present use is commercial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.38397, -96.84255 (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 86002440.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.