Church Street Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Maxey, Samuel Bell, House; Scott--Roden Mansion
Why it's listed
South of downtown Paris, Texas, this 37-acre neighborhood along Church Street, South Main and nearby streets contains 83 properties, most of them houses and two churches. Construction ranges from an 1868 Italianate-detailed house on a Greek Revival plan to Prairie School and Bungalow homes of the 1920s. A fire in 1916 destroyed much of the area, including most of South Main and the 400 block of Church Street, and the neighborhood was quickly rebuilt. The result is a mix of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Jacobethan, Mediterranean, Prairie School and Gothic Revival buildings, held together by similar scale, setbacks, landscaping and a canopy of mature trees. Notable landmarks include the Samuel Bell Maxey house, now a museum, and the Scott-Roden Mansion, which blends Prairie School and Jugendstil styles. The district was listed for its architecture and for its association with prominent citizens of the region, and 67 of its 83 properties contribute to its character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district has the finest concentration of late 19th- and early 20th-century residences in Paris and is one of the most noteworthy neighborhoods in northeastern Texas. It shows a wide range of eclectic architectural styles unified by scale, setback, landscaping and mature tree canopy. It has also been home to prominent regional figures, and most of its buildings remain contributing.
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 88001936, listed October 26, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by E. Austin, 3rd, SE, Washington and 1st, SW Sts., Paris |
|---|---|
| County | Lamar County |
| Listed | October 26, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001936 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1868-1937 |
| Architect / builder | J.L. Wees (Scott-Roden Mansion); A.J. Knapp of Tulsa (J.J. Culbertson House); Thomas and Broad (Central United Presbyterian Church); W.H. Lightfoot (Holy Cross Episcopal Church) |
| Architectural style | Varied eclectic styles including High Victorian Italianate, Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Colonial Revival, Prairie School, Jacobethan, Mediterranean, Bungalow and Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Of 83 properties, 67 are contributing and 16 non-contributing. Uses include private residences, a house museum and a funeral home, and the district is described as retaining its historic character and integrity. |
| Acreage | 37 |
| Coordinates | 33.65679, -101.55572 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 88001936.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000244
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.