Woolls Building
Why it's listed
Built between 1873 and 1875 of rough-cut native limestone, this two-story building at the corner of San Antonio Street and Skyline Drive is the oldest surviving structure in Center Point, Texas. George W. Woolls had it constructed as a general store, and stonemason Sam Wellborn did the work. The walls are 24 inches thick and survived a fire in 1900 that destroyed the interior woodwork. Over the years the ground floor housed a general store, a post office, a cooperative mercantile association and later a farm implement business, while the upper floor served as a meeting hall for the Rising Star Masonic Lodge and other community gatherings, including dances and musical events until 1944. Alterations in the 1940s removed the balconies and covered the stone with plaster. A rehabilitation starting in 1999, guided by a circa 1902 photograph, restored the porches, windows and interior stone. It now operates as a bed and breakfast and events venue.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest extant building in Center Point and served as a general store, post office and community meeting hall. The nomination cites Criterion A for commerce and social history, including its use by fraternal groups such as the Rising Star Masonic Lodge through 1944. It cites Criterion C for architecture as the work of master stonemason Sam Wellborn.
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 02000403, listed April 26, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 318 San Antonio, Center Point |
|---|---|
| County | Kerr County |
| Listed | April 26, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000403 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Wellborn, Sam H. |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a bed and breakfast and events hall after a rehabilitation that began in May 1999. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.94475, -99.03723 (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 02000403.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001260
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.