Kone-Cliett House
Why it's listed
Perched on the bluff above San Marcos, this two-story frame house at 724 Burleson Street was built for Judge Edward R. Kone and rebuilt in 1902 after a fire. Its asymmetrical plan, double gallery with turned posts and sawn brackets, pyramidal metal roof and generous beaded woodwork reflect Victorian-era design carried into the twentieth century. Inside, a double stair with carved newels converges on a shared landing. Outbuildings survive on the deep, wooded lot, including servants' quarters, a well house, a garage, a stable and an outhouse. Kone arrived in Hays County as a child in 1851 and became county attorney, sheriff, County Judge, the county's first superintendent of education and, in 1908, State Commissioner of Agriculture. He and his wife acquired the property in 1881. In 1914 it passed to Oran W. Cliett, a cotton breeder and later postmaster. The house is recognized for its architecture and its link to Kone's career in law.
Significance in brief: The house is noted as one of the fine homes on the bluff created by the Balcones Fault, rebuilt in 1902 in a design carried over from the Victorian period, with lavish interior details, an asymmetrical plan and a double porch. It is also tied to its first owner, Judge Edward R. Kone, who served as County Judge and State Commissioner of Agriculture.
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 83003795, listed December 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 724 Burleson St., San Marcos |
|---|---|
| County | Hays County |
| Listed | December 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003795 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architectural style | Victorian (asymmetrical plan with double gallery) |
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition good, altered but on its original site, with a renovation program begun to correct surface alterations. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 29.88111, -97.95086 (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 83003795.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000412
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.