National Compress Company Building
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Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This is a massive one-story cotton compress at 503 S. Flat Street in Waxahachie, Texas, dated to about 1894 with additions around 1920. Built of frame with corrugated metal sheathing, it is covered by a continuous series of six larger and five smaller gabled roofs. A two-story tower with a pyramidal roof rises east of a brick section. A primary loading dock with extended eaves faces west and south, with secondary docks on the other sides and abandoned railroad tracks along the south side. The compress stood in a warehouse and rail shipping area just south of downtown. It was in operation by 1895 with S. P. Locke as president and ran as the National Compress Co. from the 1890s into the 1970s. It is one of only two intact cotton-related structures left in the city, and its operation contributed to Waxahachie's rapid growth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It still functions as a cotton compress.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under commerce and industry. It was in operation by 1895 with S. P. Locke as president and is one of only two intact cotton-related structures still standing in Waxahachie. Its operation contributed to the city's rapid growth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
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 86002400, listed September 11, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 503 S. Flat, Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 11, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86002400 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; the building still functions as a cotton compress, and the railroad tracks on its south side are abandoned. |
| Acreage | 8.3 |
| Within district | Ellis County Courthouse Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.38114, -96.84602 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 86002400.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000719
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.