Wright Building
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Why it's listed
Occupying a full city block face one block south of the Johnson County courthouse square, this two-story brick building in Cleburne, Texas, began in 1893 as a harness and saddlery building built by T. R. James. Andrew J. Wright bought it in 1899 for his dry goods business. In 1916 he purchased the adjacent hotel and doubled the building, adding new brick, windows, a canopy and entrances on Main, James and Caddo Streets, making it the largest mercantile space in the city. Its two-part commercial block form has storefronts below and wide, window-filled upper floors, with load-bearing reddish-brown brick and a stepped parapet. The Wright family ran the store until 1976, and the building later held shops. A 2004 project reversed 1970s alterations, and the interior keeps pressed metal ceilings, original stairs and a freight elevator. It was recognized for its commercial history and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A for its role in Cleburne's commercial history, as the largest mercantile space in town and the base of the locally prominent Wright family business. Under Criterion C it is an excellent local example of an early 20th-century brick two-part commercial block with high integrity from its 1916 remodeling.
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 09000139, listed March 17, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 E. James St., Cleburne |
|---|---|
| County | Johnson County |
| Listed | March 17, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000139 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1959 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition after rehabilitation with federal preservation tax credits; current functions are business and hotel, with small shops and a restaurant bar inside. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Cleburne Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.34815, -97.38624 (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 09000139.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320502
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.