Rodgers-Wade Furniture Company
Why it's listed
This two-story brick building at 401 3rd S.W. in Paris, Texas, dates from 1907 and is the sole surviving part of a much larger furniture factory complex. Its masonry walls use common bond brickwork, and the south front is divided by pilaster-like projections into fourteen bays. The flat roof has skylights, and the windows are generally boarded up. It sits beside railroad tracks near the edge of town, beyond the Church Street Historic District. Rodgers & Wade Manufacturing was established in 1856 and grew into the largest furniture maker in Paris and one of the largest in North Texas, employing many workers and producing quality furniture. Historian Lonn Taylor credited founder James Rodgers as one of the men who made Paris the furniture manufacturing capital of Texas, and the company remains the oldest furniture manufacturer in the state. An early downtown warehouse also survives, but this structure has the strongest association with the company. Other parts of the site may have archeological potential.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building represents the largest furniture manufacturer in Paris and one of the largest in North Texas, a major employer producing quality furniture. The company was established in 1856 and is described as the oldest furniture manufacturer in Texas. Founder James Rodgers helped make Paris the furniture manufacturing capital of Texas, and the site may also hold archeological potential.
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 88001919, listed October 26, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 3rd, SW, Paris |
|---|---|
| County | Lamar County |
| Listed | October 26, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001919 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Industrial |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as fair/poor, with boarded windows. Present use is manufacturing/warehouse. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 33.65077, -101.48444 (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 88001919.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001147
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.