Birge, Capt. Noble Allan, House
Also known as: Capt. Birge House
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Why it's listed
Capt. Noble Allan Birge built this large wood-frame house in Sherman, Texas, in 1896, after the Great Sherman Tornado destroyed his earlier home on the same site. The two-and-one-half story dwelling combines a Queen Anne form, with a pyramidal roof and pedimented bays, and Colonial Revival touches such as a two-story portico with oversized columns and Scamozzi capitals. Inside, many original chandeliers, mantels, moldings, heart-of-pine floors and early electrical sconces remain. Architect John Tulloch was probably responsible for the design. Birge, who came to Sherman in 1874, founded a major cotton brokerage firm and other cotton-related businesses, and eight of his thirteen children built homes nearby. The house is the oldest and largest in its neighborhood and one of only eight or nine similarly styled houses surviving in Sherman. A recent restoration removed most later modifications, though a 1955-56 breakfast room and a 1984 water closet remain at the rear.
Significance in brief: The house is an unusual, flamboyant example of transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival architecture, of which few examples survive in Sherman. It is also tied to Capt. Birge, an early industrial developer who founded a large cotton brokerage firm, a compress company and cotton oil mills.
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 86002187, listed September 18, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 727 W. Birge, Sherman |
|---|---|
| County | Grayson County |
| Listed | September 18, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002187 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | John Tulloch (attributed) |
| Architectural style | Transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; recently restored, with most 1940s and 1950s additions removed and the condition rated excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.64522, -96.61819 (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 86002187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.