Paillet House
Why it's listed
Built around 1895, this one-story frame house at 800 S. College in Waxahachie follows an L-plan, a form that became popular during the Victorian period when asymmetrical designs were in favor. It has weatherboard siding, a hip roof with gables, and wood double-hung windows with two-over-two lights. A four-bay porch under a shed roof sits within the front-projecting wing, with turned wood posts, jig-sawn brackets and spindle work in the frieze. Classical detailing surrounds the doors and windows, and the gable ends show imbricated shingles and simple bargeboards. The house has been moved and now stands in a residential area south of the central business district. It was listed because it is considered one of the most representative and intact examples of a plan type built in great numbers and variety. City directories indicate it was probably built for A. H. Paillet, a blacksmith, who owned it until 1920. The house remains in residential use and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as one of the most representative and intact examples of the L-plan house, a type built in great numbers and variety. The L-plan first appeared in the Victorian period, when asymmetrical forms were favored. The house was probably built for A. H. Paillet, a blacksmith, who owned it until 1920.
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 86002339, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 800 S. College, Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002339 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | L-plan (Victorian-era plan type with Eastlake-influenced porch detailing) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and in residential use; the house has been moved from its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.37805, -96.85502 (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 86002339.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001997
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.