Matthews-Atwood House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at 307 N. Sherman in Ennis, this two-story frame house follows a four-square plan under a hip roof with gables. Weatherboard siding covers the walls, and the windows are double-hung wood sash. The entrance has a transom and sidelights. A pedimented two-story porch with fluted Ionic columns emphasizes the center bay, and a one-story hipped porch with similar columns runs across the south elevation. Pilasters mark the corners and finials cap the roof peaks. Outbuildings include a gazebo, a barn converted to a garage, and a greenhouse. Architect Hix McCanless, a locally prominent designer, planned the house, and A. Babb of Lavaca County served as contractor. Pearl C. Matthews, co-owner of the Matthews Brothers Department Store in McKinney, had it built soon after he and his brother opened a branch store in Ennis. He sold it to Harry Atwood, whose son Felix became a prominent Dallas attorney. The house is valued as a good local example of Neoclassical Revival design.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its architecture. Locally prominent architect Hix McCanless designed it, and it shows a convincing familiarity with the Neoclassical Revival style, making it a good local example. It is also associated with Pearl C. Matthews, co-owner of the Matthews Brothers Department Store, and later with the Atwood family.
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 86002537, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 307 N. Sherman, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002537 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Hix McCanless; contractor A. Babb of Lavaca Co. |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| 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. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.32842, -96.63165 (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 86002537.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321253
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.