Beaumont Commercial District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Downtown Beaumont's commercial core gained ten more buildings through this boundary expansion, which also lengthens the district's timeline to 1958 and adds a second period, 1962-1963. The additions fall in three areas next to the original district and include shops, a department store, a parking garage and a church. Among them are the 1940 White House, a Streamline Moderne former department store, the Coale Building of about 1927, and the 1923 Antioch Baptist Church, which broaden the district's link to the city's African-American businesses and congregations. The centerpiece of the later period is the 1963 First Security National Bank, a five-story modernist building by Beaumont architects Pitts, Mebane & Phelps, with a sculptural concrete screen and glass walls. A 2005-2006 resurvey also revised the status of many earlier properties, counting buildings once judged too young or altered as contributing. The district reflects the city's timber, rice and oil-boom prosperity.
Significance in brief: The amendment extends the period of significance to 1958 and adds a second period, 1962-1963, to cover the 1963 First Security National Bank, described as exceptionally significant mid-century modern architecture. It also adds buildings tied to the city's African-American business community and to 1940s growth, and it re-evaluates the status of earlier properties.
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 07000892, listed March 4, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Willow, Neches, Gilber and Main Sts., Beaumont |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | March 4, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07000892 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | Through 1958, with a second period of 1962-1963 |
| Architect / builder | Stone & Pitts (The White House); A. Babin (Antioch Baptist Church, Fertita Building); Llewellyn W. Pitts of Pitts, Mebane & Phelps (First Security National Bank) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th century revivals (Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Beaux Arts); Modern Movement (Art Deco, Art Moderne, New Formalism); one-part and two-part commercial block |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Mixed: most buildings are in use for business, office, municipal court, museum and other functions. The Fertita Building is vacant. The First Security National Bank was vacant from 1993 to 2006 and is being rehabilitated and partially occupied. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Within district | Beaumont Commercial District |
| Coordinates | 30.08287, -94.09855 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 07000892.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4877550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.