Matthews-Templeton House
Why it's listed
Built in 1918 at 606 West Denton in Ennis, this two-story frame house follows the bungalow form and was designed by local architect Hix McCanless. It has a gable roof with exposed rafter ends, wood double-hung windows, and a three-bay porch with brick piers across the south side. The entry is flanked by pilasters, and stick detail and imbricated shingles decorate the gable face. The house is regarded as an excellent example of the two-story bungalow, a type McCanless handled with skill. Its set-back second story is described as one of his trademarks, and the traditional bungalow details are combined into an imposing, irregular composition. It was built for Pearl C. Matthews, co-owner of the McKinney-based Matthews Brothers Department Store. E.K. Atwood bought it in 1921 and sold it in 1924 to W.R. and Metca Templeton, he being a banker and cotton buyer. Garner Dunkerly, Jr., of the Ennis Tag & Printing Co., purchased it in 1948. The house remains residential and is in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an excellent example of the two-story bungalow form that McCanless was skilled at designing. Traditional bungalow details are worked into an imposing, irregularly massed composition topped by a set-back second story, which is called a McCanless trademark.
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 86002410, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 606 W. Denton, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002410 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Hix McCanless |
| Architectural style | Bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.32921, -96.63545 (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 86002410.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.