Turner-White-McGee House
Also known as: Bridges House
Why it's listed
Set in a wooded, hilly tract with springs, old oaks, beech, pine and magnolia, this one-story wood frame house near Roganville was built around 1840 for Ruffin C. Turner, who received a league of land in 1835. A window sill carved "1838" may mark the start of construction, and the family reportedly moved in during 1840. The five-bay south front has a wide inset gallery with six square, chamfered columns, a central door with sidelights and transom, and nine-over-six sash windows. Brick chimneys rise on the east and west sides, and the front rooms keep classical mantelpieces. The house later passed to the White family, then to L. H. McGee in 1866, and in 1938 to Mr. and Mrs. Bridges. The 1940s enclosure of a rear porch and passage and a tin roof are the main changes. It was listed as a well-preserved example of Early Texas frontier building tied to the county's settlement.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Texas' best preserved examples of an Early Texas vernacular frame house and an important link with Jasper County's settlement period. It keeps its original form and much of its original materials. Its forested setting, which includes the nation's largest Eastern Red cedar, adds to its value as a picture of a frontier dwelling.
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 79002984, listed June 19, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off U.S. 96, Roganville |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County |
| Listed | June 19, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002984 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Early Texas vernacular frame house (Early Texas frontier house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, privately owned, in good condition and altered; used as a private residence. Alterations include enclosed rear porch and passage (1940s) and a corrugated tin roof. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.80484, -93.91442 (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 79002984.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001233
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.