Williams-Erwin House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1893 for Ed Williams, this 2 1/2-story frame house at 412 W. Marvin Street in Waxahachie is an asymmetrical Victorian residence with East Lake style ornamentation. It rests on brick piers and bois d'arc beams, and its roofline is a mass of projecting gables and dormers with finials. The south facade has a textured rectangular bay, a two-story pedimented portico with stamped woodwork, and an unusual horseshoe arch on the ground floor. Inside, a central-hall plan, wainscoting, marble mantles and a built-in china cabinet with a push-up glass front survive. The house was built in the city's first addition, developed by Williams' father, and is one of only two Williams family homes left there. Three local construction firms completed it in 1893. In 1902 it was sold to cotton businessman R. K. Erwin, whose parties made it a community social center. It reflects the wealth of Waxahachie's cotton trade and has changed little since construction.
Significance in brief: The house reflects the wealth of Waxahachie's cotton merchants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It sits in the city's first addition to the original townsite and is one of only two surviving Williams family residences there. It later served as the home and social center of cotton businessman R. K. Erwin and has remained virtually unaltered since completion.
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 78002926, listed July 7, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 412 W. Marvin St., Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | July 7, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002926 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Contractors Buell and Connelley, H. D. Timmons and C. J. Griggs |
| Architectural style | Victorian, East Lake style ornamentation |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as restored to its original appearance by its owners at the time of the nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | West Marvin Avenue-Patrick Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.39448, -96.84804 (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 78002926.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321274
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.