Epperson-McNutt House
Also known as: House of the Seasons
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Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 409 South Alley Street in Jefferson, Texas, is an Italian Villa, a type the nomination calls rare in the region. It shows the shift from Greek Revival to Victorian design. The east facade has five bays, a segmental-arched entrance with double doors, transom and sidelights, and a one-story porch across the front. A five-sided bay extends on the south side. A cupola with a widow's walk rises from the nearly flat tin roof. Its windows hold blue, green, yellow and red glass for the four seasons, which gave the house its name, House of the Seasons. Inside, a central hall has two rooms on each side, and the open stair hall rises to the cupola. Four Italian marble mantels and frescos survive. The house is also linked to Benjamin H. Epperson, who moved to Jefferson in 1871. He was a lawyer, state representative and early president of the Memphis, El Paso, and Pacific Railroad. He represented Texas in Texas vs. White.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the few Italian Villa houses in the region and an excellent example of the transition between Greek Revival and Victorian styles. It is also tied to Benjamin H. Epperson, a lawyer, legislator and railroad promoter who represented Texas in the Supreme Court case Texas vs. White.
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 69000207, listed October 28, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 409 S. Alley St., Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | October 28, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000207 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa, transitional between Greek Revival and Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in fair condition on its original site, occupied and used as a private residence; designated a Texas historic landmark in 1965. |
| Within district | Jefferson Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.75753, -94.35187 (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 69000207.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002263
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.