Potton-Hayden House
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at the southwest corner of Gregg and 2nd Streets in Big Spring, this one-story house of native red sandstone shows how Queen Anne styling could be applied to a modest residence. Its picturesque roof has many flared gables finished with finials and lightning rods, a large hipped dormer, and three brick chimneys. The front gable holds a Palladian window, the construction date, and a galvanized tin barge-board stamped with the Star of Texas. A porch with cast iron columns on sandstone piers wraps around the house, and an iron fence with sandstone gateposts surrounds the lot. Joseph Potton, master mechanic for the Texas and Pacific Railroad's shop at Big Spring, began construction. He rented the house out at first, and his daughter and son-in-law, Henry R. Hayden, and their children later lived there. The property was recognized for its architecture and its link to the town's railroad era, and the city planned to turn it into a house museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a good example of Queen Anne style applied to a simple one-story residence, with an irregular plan, many flared gables, and stamped tin detailing. It is also tied to Big Spring's railroad history, since builder Joseph Potton oversaw the Texas and Pacific shop there. The state rated its significance as local.
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 75001992, listed April 14, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW corner Gregg and 2nd Sts., Big Spring |
|---|---|
| County | Howard County |
| Listed | April 14, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001992 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1999 (specific date 1901) |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Potton (builder) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition; the form describes it as unoccupied and says the city was negotiating to acquire it for a house museum. A later grant document describes adaptive re-use as a community center. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.25026, -101.47873 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 75001992.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24260824
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.