Swenson, A. J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1905 at 511 E. Oliver in Stamford, this two-story wood-frame house was the residence of A.J. Swenson, a ranch manager who helped create the town. It has a nearly pyramidal roof, two-story hipped bays at the rear corners, and a gabled dormer with a bracketed roofline and a Palladian window. A full-width porch with Ionic columns, a balustrade, dentil molding and a semicircular entry feature gives the front its Classical character. Swenson, nephew of SMS Ranch owner S.M. Swenson, arrived in Jones County in 1889, took over the Ellerslie Ranch in 1894, became superintendent of all SMS holdings in 1897, and managed the Swenson Land and Cattle Company from 1922 to 1946. The house raised his five sons. After his death in 1953 it changed hands and suffered neglect, though it keeps its early twentieth-century appearance. It was recognized for its architecture and its ranching associations.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its unusual blend of Queen Anne and Classical architecture and for its association with A.J. Swenson, who rose from SMS Ranch worker to manager of the Swenson Land and Cattle Company. It was built by a leading citizen of the town he helped create. The form rates its significance at the state level, under architecture and ranching.
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 86002395, listed September 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 305 E. Oliver, Stamford |
|---|---|
| County | Jones County |
| Listed | September 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002395 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne massing with Classical features |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as altered and in fair condition; alterations are mostly at the rear, and the house has suffered from neglect since 1953. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.94799, -99.79717 (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 86002395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320159
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.