Jolesch House
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 504 W. Knox in Ennis, Texas, this one-and-a-half-story frame house follows a modified L-plan under a gable roof. Its wood double-hung windows have one-over-one lights, and a single-door entrance with a transom is marked by a polygonal tower at the juncture of the two ells. A four-bay porch runs across the southeast elevation, with turned wood posts, jig-sawn brackets and turned spindles. The house was listed for its architecture. It is described as a Victorian elaboration of a traditional L-plan dwelling, and its porch trim and decorative gable treatment make it an outstanding local example of a plan type that was once abundant in the region. It was the home of Ike Jolesch, vice-president of the First National Bank of Ennis and proprietor of a dry goods store on South Main West known as the Big Store. The house remains residential and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The form cites architectural significance: an octagonal second-story tower marks the entry and the junction of two ells in a Victorian elaboration of a traditional L-plan house. Its turned porch trim and decorative gable treatment set it apart as an outstanding example of a once-common plan type in the region. It was also the home of Ike Jolesch, a bank vice-president and dry goods merchant.
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 86002452, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 504 W. Knox, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002452 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Modified L-plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good, and the present use is residential. The form notes the relationship to its site as moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.32680, -96.63212 (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 86002452.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001941
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.