Woods, Perry M., House
Also known as: Old Ligon Place
Why it's listed
This small frame house at 502 Walker Street in Jefferson, Texas, also called the Old Ligon Place, is noted for its fine detailing. It has a central hall and four rooms in a rectangular plan, though the roof is framed as if a central block met two end pavilions. The steep gable ends have festooned bargeboards and a round window with elaborate molding. The entrance has a pair of finely carved Second Empire doors, with a transom and full-height sidelights, beneath a flat-roofed portico on paired square wooden columns. Tall, narrow four-over-four windows run from floor to ceiling. Its construction date is unknown. The Alley family, who owned about half the land in Jefferson, first held the property and passed it to their daughter Victoria and her husband, Judge M. L. Crawford. They sold it in 1870 to Dr. Samson Eagon, who probably added to an existing house. It was recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1965 and later listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the house particularly outstanding for its fine architectural detailing, including Second Empire doors, decorative gable ends and tall windows. It is also described as one of few, if not the only, examples of its type in Jefferson. The property is also tied to early landowners, the Alley family, and to later owners. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1965.
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 71000953, listed March 31, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 502 Walker St., Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | March 31, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000953 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Second Empire detailing (pair of carved Second Empire doors) on a small frame residence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and largely unaltered apart from removed grille work and chimneys; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Jefferson Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.75945, -94.35019 (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 71000953.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002272
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.