Old West Texas Utilities Company
Also known as: Gail's Hallmark Shop
Why it's listed
Located on the town square in Stamford, this long, narrow buff-brick building was constructed in 1928 as the local office of the West Texas Utilities Company. Its concrete frame shows on the exterior through brick-veneered piers with ornamental cast-stone panels. Large wood-framed plate-glass windows light the retail front, and a copper awning shades the McHarg Street entrance. The two east side entrances are the focal points, with cast-stone transom panels, wrought-iron grilles over small niches, and gabled tiled parapets. The building was listed for its architecture and its place in local history. Spanish Colonial Revival was common across the Southwest in the 1920s but uncommon in Stamford. The utility built many stylish buildings in small West Texas towns during its expansion, and this is among the best surviving unaltered examples. After the company sold it in the mid-1970s and a decade of neglect, it was restored for retail use and again serves as a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style, which was rare in Stamford. It is also an early example of West Texas Utilities' 1920s expansion into small West Texas towns, when the company built stylish buildings in Spanish Colonial Revival or Art Deco styles. It is described as one of the best surviving, largely unaltered examples and a local landmark.
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 86002335, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 127 E. McHarg, Stamford |
|---|---|
| County | Jones County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002335 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | West Texas Utilities Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as altered but in good condition; restored after about a decade of neglect and now in retail use as a gift shop. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.94580, -99.80207 (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 86002335.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001241
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.