McCanless-Williams House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 at 402 W. Tyler in Ennis, this two-story frame house with brick veneer was designed and built by local architect Hix McCanless as his own home. It reflects the Neoclassical Revival style that was popular at the time. Features include a hip roof with a hipped dormer, a three-bay flat-roofed porch with brick piers and squared wood balusters, and segmental arches over the windows. Contrasting brick forms decorative quoins, and a brick belt course and paired modillions under a deep overhanging eave add detail. A wooden shed stands on the property. McCanless was also a surveyor and served as city engineer for many years. His other surviving works include the Knights of Pythias Building, City Hall, the 1905 John Rowe Building and the Telfair House. By 1918 the house belonged to M.B. Williams, who held it through the 1930s. It was recognized as a Neoclassical Revival house designed by a local architect for himself, and its condition is described as excellent.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its architecture. Well-known local architect Hix McCanless built it for himself in 1910 using popular Neoclassical Revival design elements. The reviewer recommended acceptance under Criterion A.
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 86002540, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 402 W. Tyler, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002540 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Hix McCanless |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is listed as excellent, and the present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.33208, -96.63432 (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 86002540.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001932
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.