Oldham Avenue Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Strickland--Sawyer House
Why it's listed
Oldham Avenue in Waxahachie, about five blocks northeast of the courthouse square, forms a district of 20 frame houses on large, irregular lots. Built mostly between about 1890 and 1925, they show popular late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century styles. Ornate Queen Anne homes dominate, among them the 1897 Strickland-Sawyer House, built by C. W. Thrash, with its corner turret and wrap-around porch. The 1894 Jack Beall House combines a two-story porch with subdued Neoclassical detailing, and a notable bungalow stands at 305 Oldham. The street was part of the city's East End, which competed with the West End during a period of heavy speculation and development around 1900. Its residents included developer E. H. Griffin, attorney W. H. Fears, merchant and banker T. J. McDade, and businessman J. F. Strickland. Development ended by the late 1920s, few changes followed, and all but two properties contribute to the district's historic character.
Significance in brief: The district is a good cross-section of the houses built during Waxahachie's most prosperous period. It drew prominent citizens such as developer E. H. Griffin, attorney W. H. Fears, and businessman J. F. Strickland. It has notable Queen Anne, bungalow and other domestic styles, and most buildings remain largely unaltered.
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 86002461, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Oldham Ave. between N. Jackson and Bethel Sts., Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002461 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899; 1900-1935 |
| Architect / builder | C. W. Thrash (builder of the Strickland-Sawyer House, 1897); other builders not named |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, bungalow, Neoclassical detailing and vernacular house types |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; most houses are occupied, with one vacant property and one work in progress noted. Restoration efforts in recent years have revitalized the neighborhood. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 32.38785, -96.84257 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 86002461.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999690
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.