Strickland-Sawyer House
Why it's listed
Rising from a large corner lot at 500 Oldham Street in Waxahachie, this two-and-a-half-story frame house is an exuberant example of Queen Anne and Eastlake design. Its octagonal three-story tower with a bellcast spire, undulating bay windows, fishscale shingles and two-tiered curved porch with paired Doric columns give it a nearly sculptural quality. Work began in 1888 on a modest frame cottage, and in 1897 contractor C.W. Thrash added the six-room front block that defines the house today. J. Frank Strickland, a merchant and later a founder of the Texas Power and Light Company, lived here until moving to Dallas in 1904. His other homes were altered beyond recognition or demolished, making this the strongest surviving tie to him. Druggist J.W. Sawyer and his family owned it from 1914 to 1945. Conversion to apartments caused minor damage, mostly corrected by restoration in the 1970s.
Significance in brief: The house is an exceptionally exuberant example of Queen Anne/Eastlake design in a city known for Victorian architecture. It was also the home for about 15 years of J. Frank Strickland, a founder of the Texas Power and Light Company. His later homes were altered beyond recognition or demolished, so this house is the strongest surviving link to him.
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 84000168, listed October 18, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 500 Oldham St., Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | October 18, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000168 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | 1888 - unknown; 1897 - C.W. Thrash |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; restored in the 1970s after conversion to apartments, and in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Oldham Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.38738, -96.84183 (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 84000168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321275
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.