Old Pierce House
Also known as: John Pierce House
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Why it's listed
Magnolia Hall, also known as the Pierce House, is a Greek Revival raised cottage at 303 North Columbus Street in Marshall, Texas. Deed records indicate it was built in the 1850s, and its design is attributed to local builder Colonel W. R. D. Ward. The nearly square frame house sits on brick piers, so it is about a half story above ground at the front and two full stories at the rear. A small columned porch shelters the double entrance doors, which lack sidelights and a transom, an unusual choice for East Texas. The roof is truncated and hipped. Inside, four main rooms open off front and rear central halls, each with a fireplace. John H. Lee bought the property in 1865, and his descendants held it for over a century. After standing empty for 26 years, it was bought in 1966 and restored over about two years, with modern improvements confined to secondary lower-level spaces. It is valued as a well preserved example of East Texas Greek Revival design.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of mid-19th-century residential architecture and among the best preserved East Texas Greek Revival raised cottages. It also notes an unusual entrance without sidelights or transom and a truncated hipped roof. A careful restoration in the late 1960s left the principal rooms unaltered.
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 73001965, listed April 13, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 303 N. Columbus St., Marshall |
|---|---|
| County | Harrison County |
| Listed | April 13, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001965 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Colonel W. R. D. Ward (attributed), local builder |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival raised cottage |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and unaltered, in use as a private residence. It stood unoccupied for 26 years before being restored over about two years. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.54696, -94.36479 (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 73001965.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001007
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.