Baker House
Also known as: Charles A. and Elizabeth C. Baker House; Nannie Ray Baker Hou
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 at 211 Pecan Street in Yoakum, this one-story wood-frame house shows the Queen Anne style through its steeply pitched hipped roof with cross gables, a half-timbered sunburst gable, varied widths of wood siding, a bay window and a carved wood arch at the entry porch. Inside, details include bulls-eye molding, a built-in china cabinet and twelve-foot ceilings. A garage and laundry room were added about 1950, but the house keeps a high degree of integrity. It was built for Charles and Elizabeth Baker during Yoakum's early growth as a railroad town. Their daughter Nannie Ray Baker was born there in 1896 and lived in it nearly her whole life. She taught in the Yoakum schools for 48 years, from 1919 to 1967, sponsored student activities and took part in church and civic organizations. The house was listed for its architecture and for its link to her work in education and community life. The architect is unknown.
Significance in brief: The house is considered one of the oldest surviving residences in Yoakum and a fine local example of late 19th century Queen Anne architecture. It was also the lifelong home of Nannie Ray Baker, a Yoakum teacher for 48 years and an active community leader.
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 98001345, listed November 5, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 211 Pecan St., Yoakum |
|---|---|
| County | Lavaca County |
| Listed | November 5, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001345 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1948 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as social/civic; a second porch that was enclosed in the 1930s was a work in progress to be restored to its 1895 appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.28886, -97.14046 (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 98001345.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001266
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.