Caldwell House
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 at 619 Maury Street in San Marcos, this one-and-a-half-story house follows a simple L-shaped plan but carries a wealth of wooden Victorian detail. A three-bay porch with turned posts, drilled and jigsawn brackets and spindle rails fronts a steep hipped roof with a cross gable. A smaller ell porch, peaked molded window frames, fishscale shingles and an Eastlake door add to the facade. J. Pierce Caldwell, a local contractor, bought the hillside in 1893 and built the house for himself, evidently taking great care with its details. The house is considered the only well-preserved example remaining in San Marcos of the typical one-story L-shaped Victorian dwelling. Later owners added bathrooms, a storage area, a den and an attic stair, but these are removable and do not seriously harm its integrity. One local anecdote ties an early owner's family to a church dispute over an organ in the early 1890s.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the only well-preserved example left in San Marcos of the typical one-story, L-shaped Victorian house. Its jigsawn porch brackets, small ell porch and peaked hood molds give it an articulated facade, and its porch trim is described as among the most delicate and attractive in town.
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 83004491, listed August 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 619 Maury St., San Marcos |
|---|---|
| County | Hays County |
| Listed | August 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004491 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | J. Pierce Caldwell, contractor |
| Architectural style | Victorian (L-form house with Eastlake and wooden Victorian detail) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition good, with some alterations including rear additions and an attic stair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.88355, -97.95156 (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 83004491.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000450
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.