Kennard House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 for James Blake Kennard and his wife, this Gonzales residence is a late and unusual example of Queen Anne architecture, one of the few of its type left in Texas. The frame house rises two and a half stories under a high hip roof with gabled ells. A bold corner tower with an open arcade and six-sided pyramidal roof stands beside a two-story porch whose first level has shingled Romanesque arches and whose upper gallery is open and colonnaded. Its gables are covered with mosaic of bright glass and pottery chips, and the pediment holds a Palladian-derived stained glass window. Inside, the windows include French beveled and Tiffany leaded glass, and the floors are inlaid wood, some of it reportedly sent by friends of Kennard, a lumberman, from across the country. The exterior is painted green. Recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967, the house has been carefully restored and remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine late Victorian residence and a late example of the Queen Anne style, one of few of its type remaining in Texas. It is unusual for gables covered in mosaic of bright glass and pottery chips, and for its tower, Romanesque shingled arches and fine interior glass and wood work.
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 71000937, listed January 25, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 621 St. Louis St., Gonzales |
|---|---|
| County | Gonzales County |
| Listed | January 25, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000937 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Built by Mr. and Mrs. James Blake Kennard |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (late Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site; carefully restored and used as a private residence, with preservation work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 29.50618, -97.46968 (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 71000937.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318594
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.