Bailey-Ragland House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at 433 W. Washington in Paris, Texas, this asymmetrical two-story frame house blends Queen Anne and Colonial Revival design. A wraparound porch rests on Doric columns set on plinths, an ornamented pediment marks the main entrance, and a curved corner window stands out on the northwest side. A Palladian window sits at the end of a lateral gable projecting from the pyramidal roof, and shallow side wings include a bay window on the west. The house was listed for its architecture, which includes early and important Colonial Revival detailing, and for being one of the more substantial and intact Victorian houses in the city. Its first occupant, Bailey, was a Detroit native who served under Gen. Sam Bell Maxey and managed the Cotton Oil Company in Paris. After his death in 1916 the house sold for $83,000, and Nathaniel Harden Ragland and his wife Jeanie lived there for many years. It remains a residence in good condition with no known alterations.
Significance in brief: The house shows early and important Colonial Revival detailing and remains one of the more substantial and intact Victorian houses in the city. It is also tied to Bailey, a Detroit native who served under Gen. Sam Bell Maxey and managed the Cotton Oil Company in Paris.
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 88001917, listed October 26, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 433 W. Washington, Paris |
|---|---|
| County | Lamar County |
| Listed | October 26, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001917 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne/Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition good; no known alterations; still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.65561, -101.48587 (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 88001917.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321971
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.