Starr House
Also known as: Maplecroft
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Why it's listed
Maplecroft, the James F. Starr House at 407 W. Travis Street in Marshall, is a two-story frame residence built in 1870-71. Its U-shaped plan grew from an original rectangular block with a central hall and two rooms on each side. Details include a five-bay front, a one-story porch, a gabled dormer, bracketed cornices typical of late Greek Revival work in Texas, and four corbel-capped chimneys. Inside, the house retains mahogany newel woodwork, heart pine floors, marbleized iron mantels and original interior shutters. Shipwrights brought from New Orleans built it on land given to James F. Starr by his father, Dr. James Harper Starr, a physician, land commissioner and Treasurer of the Republic of Texas. The two men later founded Marshall's first bank in 1872. Outbuildings include a former residence of a freed slave named Tempe, later used as a school and laundry, and one surviving room of the earlier Rosemont house. The property passed to the State of Texas in 1976.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent example of a late Greek Revival residence in Marshall and one of the most significant homes in Harrison County. It was built on land given by Dr. James Harper Starr, a prominent figure in Republic of Texas politics. The house is also tied to the Starr family's land business and to Marshall's first bank, founded in 1872.
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 79002972, listed December 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 407 W. Travis St., Marshall |
|---|---|
| County | Harrison County |
| Listed | December 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002972 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by shipwrights (imported from New Orleans) for James F. and Clara Starr |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and well cared for, with alterations limited to plumbing, wallpapering and refurbishing. Deeded in 1976 to the State of Texas for Parks and Wildlife Department use, with a life estate retained by the then owners. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.54203, -94.37057 (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 79002972.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.