Terrell Times Star Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 at 108 South Catherine Street, this small one-story brick building in downtown Terrell measures about 25 by 40 feet. It was constructed to house the Terrell Times Star, a newspaper edited and published by Oscar Branch Colquitt, who later became a state senator and Governor of Texas. It is the only surviving Terrell building linked to him. Its facade combines orange-red and oxblood brick with corbeled and recessed patterns, a zig-zag cornice, four pairs of doors and cast-iron columns. Construction is attributed to local brickmasons John McGraw and R.J. Drumgold. Terrell grew rapidly in the 1890s as the county's largest city and a trade center for five counties, and few buildings from that period remain. Over time the building held a drug company lease, a law office, retail shops, a fish market and a real estate office. After years of vacancy it was rehabilitated in 1984 for retail use.
Significance in brief: The building was commissioned by O.B. Colquitt to house his newspaper, the Terrell Times Star, and is the only surviving Terrell building associated with the future Texas governor. It is also one of very few structures surviving from the city's 1890s boom and stands out for its unusual brick detailing.
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 85000923, listed May 2, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 108 S. Catherine St., Terrell |
|---|---|
| County | Kaufman County |
| Listed | May 2, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000923 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | McGraw and Drumgold |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and deteriorated before being purchased in 1984 and rehabilitated for retail use; the form describes it as in good condition and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.73595, -96.27760 (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 85000923.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002259
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.