Sebastopol
Also known as: Zorn House
Why it's listed
Sebastopol is a one-story Greek Revival house in Seguin, Texas, built between 1850 and 1855 of poured concrete. Colonel J. W. Young conceived it for his sister, Catherine LeGette, and hired Henry Erkel, John Wesley Reagan and Dr. Richard Parks to help build it. Erkel produced the walnut woodwork, Reagan oversaw the limestone work, and Parks supplied the concrete formula, for which he later received a patent. The main level is T-shaped, with inset galleries and eight squared porch columns. The flat roof is lined to hold a shallow water reservoir, which Young believed would keep the interior cool in summer. Windows are nine-over-nine double-hung sash, and door and window frames follow a LeFever-type design. Later owners included Joseph Zorn, founder of the town of Zorn, and the Seguin Conservation Society. The house received an Award of Merit in 1930 and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964. It is valued for its unusual design and early use of poured concrete.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an unusual flat-roofed Greek Revival house and an early use of poured concrete. Its flat roof held a water reservoir meant to cool the interior. Its design is credited to Colonel J. W. Young, who built it for his sister with several named collaborators.
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 70000751, listed August 25, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE corner of W. Court and N. Erkel Sts., Seguin |
|---|---|
| County | Guadalupe County |
| Listed | August 25, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000751 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850-55 |
| Architect / builder | Colonel J. W. Young (originator); Henry Erkel (walnut woodwork); John Wesley Reagan (limestone construction); Dr. Richard Parks (poured concrete formula) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and used as a museum; owned by the Seguin Conservation Society. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 29.56949, -97.97288 (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 70000751.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7442726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.