Good, Isham Jones, Homestead
Why it's listed
This eight-and-a-half-acre homestead in northern Hays County, Texas, was once part of a larger tract settled in the early 1850s by Isham Jones Good, a Texas War for Independence veteran and early Caldwell County figure. Good was among a small group of pioneers who settled along Bear Creek. Five of the seven resources contribute to the district: a ca. 1860 one-room limestone creamery with built-in troughs for spring water, a ca. 1853 bell-shaped limestone cistern about 50 feet deep, Good's rock-walled grave from 1866, traces of an old road, and a ca. 1930 horse barn. The original family house was demolished, and a 1998 limestone ranch house and a 1999 barn and corrals are noncontributing. The hand-chiseled stonework is described as remarkable for western Hays County in the 1850s. The property was listed for its association with early settlement and for its pioneer architecture, and it retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the homestead holds some of the earliest historic-period resources in western Hays County, tied to Good's pioneer settlement along Bear Creek. The hand-chiseled limestone creamery and cistern are cited as outstanding examples of early pioneer craftsmanship. It is listed under Criterion A for Exploration and Settlement and Criterion C for Architecture.
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 04000896, listed August 20, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 13401 Evergreen Way, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Hays County |
| Listed | August 20, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000896 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1852-1954 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Other |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions are listed as vacant/not in use, along with barn, grave and road. A modern 1998 house and a 1999 barn and corrals on the parcel are noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 8.5 |
| Coordinates | 30.15684, -97.33775 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 04000896.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.