Neal House
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 and now standing at 704 N. Preston in Ennis, this two-story frame house follows a modified L-plan, the most common plan type in the region. It has weatherboard siding, a hip roof with intersecting gables, and double-hung wood windows. A two-bay porch with square wood posts and squared balusters sits within the front-projecting wing, and jig-sawn corner brackets and imbricated shingles in the gable end add modest detail. Interior brick chimneys rise through the roof, and a frame garage and shed stand on the lot. The house was moved to its present residential area northwest of the central business district. It was listed because it is a well-executed, intact example of its type, and its restrained look reflects the decline of ornate Victorian decoration after 1900. It was the home of Fred W. Neal, a conductor for the H. & T. C. Railroad, and remained in his family until 1975.
Significance in brief: The inventory form presents it as a well-executed and intact example of a modified L-plan dwelling, the most common regional plan type. Its austere appearance marks the near end of ornate Victorian embellishment after 1900. It was also the home of Fred W. Neal, a conductor for the H. & T. C. Railroad, and stayed in the Neal family until 1975.
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 86002505, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 704 N. Preston, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002505 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Modified L-plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; present use residential; the house has been moved from its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.33117, -96.63413 (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 86002505.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000581
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.