Singleton, Capt. William E., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 at 204 North Soda Street in Jefferson, Texas, this two-story frame house reflects an early Texas residential type that developed from frontier dog-trot buildings. It has two large rooms on each floor, wide central halls, a fireplace in each room, and an attached two-story porch whose gable forms a pediment. Paneled double doors with sidelights and transoms open onto the porch at both levels, and a developed entablature runs along the roofline. The builder is unknown, though a former owner, Buckner Abernathy, may have built it. The Singleton family acquired the property in 1885. Captain William E. Singleton, a Confederate officer who came to Texas from Missouri, worked as a merchant and held several law-related posts, including sheriff of Harrison County. His son was a Jefferson postmaster and an organizer of the Republican Party in Texas. The house is the only one of its type in Jefferson and remains in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as one of the more outstanding nineteenth-century homes in Jefferson and as a fine example of a standard Texas design: a two-story symmetrical frame house with a double porch and pediment. It is the only example of this type in Jefferson. It is also tied to Captain William E. Singleton and his prominent family, who have owned it since 1885.
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 70000757, listed August 25, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 204 N. Soda St., Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | August 25, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000757 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1870) |
| Architectural style | Early Texas residence type evolved from the dog-trot house, with Greek Revival doors |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and unaltered except for a later rear lean-to addition; in use as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.76029, -94.35597 (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 70000757.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002270
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.