Wyatt-Hickie Ranch Complex
Also known as: Hickie Ranch; Wyatt--Boyd Farmstead Complex
Why it's listed
Located about a mile northwest of Stephenville, this ranch complex centers on a one-story, two-room limestone house built around 1871 in the Cumberland plan. Nearby are two stone barns, a dugout set on a stone base, and the base of an elevated cistern. The land was part of the James C. Corbin Survey and was sold in 1872 to James J. Wyatt, who farmed and raised livestock there until 1886. The Boyd family later added a two-story board-and-batten section, and later owners made stone additions in the 1940s. A fire in the early 1960s destroyed the additions and damaged the original house, which was restored and partly reconstructed in 1984-1985 using historic photographs and surviving evidence. A 1984 survey of much of Erath County found no other nineteenth-century stone rural residence of this kind. The house, outbuildings and setting together represent a complete Cross Timbers farmstead.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the stone Cumberland-plan house may be the only such rural residence still standing in Erath County, based on a 1984 survey. Together with its outbuildings it is described as an unusually complete nineteenth-century Cross Timbers agricultural complex. The site also has potential to yield research on Cumberland house forms in the region.
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 85003162, listed December 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off US 281 NW of TX 913, Stephenville |
|---|---|
| County | Erath County |
| Listed | December 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003162 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Cumberland-plan, rusticated stone vernacular house |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house was damaged by a fire in the early 1960s and was restored and partly reconstructed in 1984-1985; the other features are described as well maintained and in unrestored, nearly pristine condition. The form lists the property as occupied, with work in progress. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.14429, -98.15248 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 85003162.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000166
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.