Grimes Garage
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 at 110 North Waco Street in Hillsboro, this brick service station and garage served motorists on the main highway between Waco and Dallas. Fred O. Grimes, Sr., a pioneer in automotive service, had earlier opened the first garage in Hill County and improvised the first motorized gas pump in Hillsboro. His first garage, opened in 1906, failed within a year because too few automobiles were in the county; the present business began in 1913 and moved here the next year. Billboards advertised it across Texas, and it was known for glass-tiled lounges and restrooms. Grimes also worked with highway associations to organize early routes and served on the Chamber of Commerce Highway Commission for 35 years. The L-shaped building has a painted white brick exterior with a red stripe, black-and-white ceramic-tile window surrounds, a shaped parapet with limestone coursing, and a tin ceiling inside. It remains largely unaltered and in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The building is significant as one of the earliest and best-advertised gas stations in Texas, built on the main highway between Waco and Dallas. Its builder pioneered automotive service in Hill County and helped organize early highway routes. The garage was advertised on billboards across the state and known for its elaborate glass-tiled lounges and restrooms.
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 84001875, listed March 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 110 N. Waco St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Hill County |
| Listed | March 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001875 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Fred O. Grimes, Sr. |
| Architectural style | Vernacular early-20th-century commercial (service station) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as excellent, with minor alterations (some windows painted over); current use is service station/garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.01227, -97.12992 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84001875.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107319726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.