Downes-Aldrich House
Why it's listed
Set on an elevated lot less than three blocks from the Houston County Courthouse in Crockett, Texas, this two-story wooden Victorian house combines Queen Anne and Eastlake design. Its north facade features deep galleries, an octagonal corner tower with an ogee dome, a bracketed gable and a horseshoe-arched bay with spindle detailing. Interior walls and ceilings on the ground floor are panelled in curly pine. An octagonal springhouse built in 1893 stands behind it. Merchant James Elbert Downes began construction in 1891 and finished in 1893, ordering stained glass and fine millwork. Downes had petitioned for a new courthouse after the Civil War and let the county use the upper floor of his store as a temporary courthouse. In 1911 the house passed to Armistead Albert Aldrich, descended from early county settlers. Aldrich served as county judge and state representative, compiled a county history published in 1943, and helped establish a local museum and historical monuments.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved late Victorian residence blending Queen Anne and Eastlake styles, with Moorish-influenced details and curly pine interior panelling. It is also tied to J. E. Downes, a merchant involved in the county courthouse effort, and to A. A. Aldrich, a lawyer, legislator, county judge and local historian who bought it in 1911.
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 78002957, listed April 19, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 206 N. 7th St., Crockett |
|---|---|
| County | Houston County |
| Listed | April 19, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002957 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne and Eastlake Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as sound, continuously occupied and maintained since it was built; used as a private residence and nearly unchanged except for an enclosed gallery and screening on the springhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 31.31979, -95.45478 (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 78002957.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321612
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.