Raphael House
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Why it's listed
Located at 500 W. Ennis in a mostly commercial area west of the central business district, this two-story frame house sits along the city's primary transportation route. Built about 1915 for banker and Jewish community leader Edmond Raphael, it is clad in weatherboard and imbricated shingles under a hip roof. A three-bay porch across the south elevation has fluted Ionic columns, and the central columns rise the full two stories on brick pedestals. The front block follows an essentially four-square plan, with a large hipped dormer breaking through the roofline, multiple roof planes and a corbeled interior brick chimney. Reviewers judged it Ellis County's best representation of the regional interpretation of the Neoclassical Revival style, noting its clarity and balanced design. Raphael served as president of the First National Bank in the 1910s and 1920s. The form lists the house as vacant, in good condition, and still part of the family estate.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-executed Neoclassical Revival dwelling that best represents the regional interpretation of the style in Ellis County, with clear, balanced design. It is also tied to Edmond Raphael (1865-1927), a Jewish community leader who served as president of the First National Bank in the 1910s and 1920s.
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 86002428, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 500 W. Ennis, Ennis |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002428 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant in present use, with condition described as good; the house is described as remaining in the family estate. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.32607, -96.63129 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86002428.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321252
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.