Templeton, Judge M. B., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1903 at 203 N. Grand in Waxahachie, this two-story frame house follows a four-square plan and is considered one of the city's finest examples of Neoclassical Revival design. The style was widely accepted across Texas between about 1900 and 1910, and this house shows a regional adaptation of it. Fluted Ionic columns stand on high pedestals to reach the full two-story height, with paired modillions above them and a pediment that emphasizes the center bay. The massing is rectangular and symmetrical, with a truncated hip roof that includes a roof deck, brick chimneys, and double-hung wood windows. The house was built for M. B. Templeton, who served as Ellis County Judge in the 1880s and sat on the boards of several local companies. By 1918 it was owned by J. H. Miller, the local postmaster. The architect and builder are unknown. The property remains residential and is in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the city's finest examples of Neoclassical Revival architecture, a style widely accepted in Texas from about 1900 to 1910. Its two-story porch, entry, details and massing show a regional adaptation of the style. It was also built for M. B. Templeton, who served as Ellis County Judge in the 1880s and was a prominent businessman.
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 86002402, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 203 N. Grand, Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002402 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.39819, -96.86220 (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 86002402.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001969
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.