Old Rock Saloon
Why it's listed
Built in 1876, according to its cornerstone, this two-story limestone building at 58 W. Elm in Hillsboro began as a saloon and is probably the oldest commercial structure in the city. It is also the only surviving limestone building in the central business district. The walls are limestone rubble and large cut blocks, partly covered with stucco on the facade. Three upper windows have bracketed hood molds and stone sills, and a gabled roof rises behind a built-up parapet. The saloon once had a bar running the length of the ground floor, a cockfighting pit at the rear and a gambling hall upstairs. J. E. Ballard, who served as mayor from 1889 to 1893, owned it for a time. Later tenants included a confectionery, tailor, pool hall, sewing machine shop and hamburger stand. Restored in 1980-81, it was the first building restored under the Texas Main Street Program and now houses an office.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving limestone structure in Hillsboro's central business district and is probably the oldest commercial building in the city. It also has a colorful commercial history, including ownership by a later mayor, and was the first building restored under the Texas Main Street Program.
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 84001881, listed March 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 58 W. Elm St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Hill County |
| Listed | March 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001881 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular commercial |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1980-81; condition described as good and used as an insurance and real estate office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.01048, -97.13059 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 84001881.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107319715
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.