Barber House
Why it's listed
Set on a wooded bluff along the Balcones Fault, this white two-story frame house at 1000 Burleson Street in San Marcos is an asymmetrical Victorian residence. Its most notable feature is a double gallery across the southeast front and around a five-sided bay, with jigsawn rail panels, chamfered posts and sawn brackets. L.H. and Alice Browne built it between 1895 and 1901, and it was later bought by Will G. Barber. Barber, often called "Judge" Barber, practiced law for 45 years, served on the State Board of Legal Examiners, founded the State Bank and Trust in 1905, and farmed thousands of acres. On the grounds he built a concrete-lined pool that doubled as a water store for livestock and plants. It is described as the oldest swimming pool in San Marcos. A granite wall along the front dates from 1914. The house stayed with the Barber family until 1944 and remains a private home.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine example of the frame Victorian residence favored by prominent Texans near the turn of the century, with a large rounded double gallery of millwork detail. It is also tied to Will G. "Judge" Barber, a leading attorney in southwest Texas and bank president. The pool he built is described as the oldest swimming pool in San Marcos.
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 83004489, listed August 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 Burleson St., San Marcos |
|---|---|
| County | Hays County |
| Listed | August 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004489 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1895-1901) |
| Architect / builder | L.H. and Alice Browne (built the house between 1895 and 1901) |
| Architectural style | Victorian frame residence |
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition described as good, with alterations. The old swimming pool is in poor repair. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 29.87905, -97.95347 (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 83004489.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002242
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.