Western Union Building
Also known as: Windmill Realty Co.
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Why it's listed
This two-story brick and cast-stone commercial building at 107 South Covington Street in Hillsboro dates from 1900 to 1905. Its most noticeable feature is a large Richardsonian Romanesque arch on the ground floor. Above the arch, three windows sit beneath a high triangular gable, and the central section is framed by two tall tower-like buttresses with small round lights at the base and a castellated cornice. Apart from a closed-off transom arch and a later canopy, the building looks much as it did in the early twentieth century. It is considered the finest surviving, relatively unaltered Richardsonian Romanesque commercial building in Hillsboro, with a striking arch and romantic corner turrets. From 1918 until 1956 it served as the Hillsboro Western Union office, which was the center of cotton-trading activity in the county. The building is in good condition and is currently used as a realty office.
Significance in brief: The building is described as the finest surviving relatively unaltered Richardsonian Romanesque commercial building in Hillsboro, notable for its prominent arch and corner turrets. From 1918 to 1956 it housed the Hillsboro Western Union office, which was the hub of cotton-trading activity in the county.
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 84001896, listed March 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 107 S. Covington St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Hill County |
| Listed | March 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001896 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is stated as good; current use is a realty company office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.01190, -97.12929 (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 84001896.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107319720
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.