Fain House
Why it's listed
Built in 1909, this two-story frame house at 403 N. Preston in Ennis combines two popular house types of its era. Its basic plan follows the four-square form, while the detailing comes from the bungalow tradition: exposed beams, decorative extended rafter ends, braced supports and broad, low porches. A porte-cochere on the north side and a sun room wing treated differently from the rest of the house add to the horizontal emphasis. The hip roof has gables and composition shingles, and the walls are covered with wood siding. Windows are wood double-hung sash with multiple lights in the upper sash, and the porch has stuccoed brick piers. A garage apartment and a greenhouse stand on the lot. The house was moved to its present residential area northwest of downtown and remains in good condition and residential use. It was listed because it is regarded as one of the city's best examples of a four-square house blended with bungalow detailing. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites architectural significance. Bungalow details such as exposed beams, decorative rafter ends, broad low porches and a porte-cochere are combined with a four-square plan. The reviewer judged it one of the city's best examples of a four-square house melded with bungalow detailing.
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 86002501, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 403 N. Preston, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and in residential use; the house has been moved from its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.32844, -96.63292 (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 86002501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001936
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.