Witten, Pat, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910, this two-story frame house at 204 Brown Street in Waxahachie stands in a residential neighborhood north of the central business district. It has been moved from its original site. The house has a gable roof with composition shingles, wood double-hung windows, and a single-door entrance with sidelights. An L-shaped porch wraps around the south and west sides, supported by brick piers on the first level and square wood piers on the second, with squared wood balusters. A pedimented dormer breaks the roofline and emphasizes the center bay, and a first-story pent roof is covered with imbricated shingles. The house was recognized as one of the city's best examples of an early twentieth-century dwelling that blends common local building forms with Neoclassical Revival massing, symmetrical organization and detailing. Pat Witten owned the property from at least 1918 until the late 1940s. The architect and builder are unknown. It remains in residential use and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes it as one of the city's best illustrations of an early twentieth-century dwelling that combines common local architectural forms with Neoclassical Revival massing and details. Pat Witten owned the house from as early as 1918 until the late 1940s.
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 86002349, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 204 Brown, Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002349 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival massing and details combined with common local forms |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.39479, -96.84272 (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 86002349.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001966
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.