Bay City USO Building
Also known as: Bay City Service Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1941 at 2105 Avenue M in Bay City, Texas, this U.S.O. building was one of 16 recreation buildings erected for servicemen that year in Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. Houston contractor Thomas Bate and Son constructed it from a modified standardized military plan, using Federal and community funding. The buff brick veneer structure combines a flat-roofed one-story section, with ribbon-like banks of windows recalling International Style design, and a front-gabled two-story auditorium. It contains a reception room, kitchen, meeting rooms, offices and a stage. It opened in February 1942 and served military personnel, many from nearby Camp Hulen, until 1946, when the landowning Pierce Estate deeded it to American Legion Post #11, which has run it as a community center since. Original oak furniture stamped with Federal markings remains. It is the only survivor of five U.S.O. buildings built on the Texas Gulf Coast in 1941, and it is listed for its role in local social history and recreation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion A for its role in the social and recreational life of Bay City and the surrounding area during World War II and the following decade. It is the only survivor of five similar U.S.O. buildings erected on the Texas Gulf Coast in 1941. It retains a high degree of integrity.
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 06000512, listed June 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2105 Ave. M, Bay City |
|---|---|
| County | Matagorda County |
| Listed | June 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000512 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1942-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Builder: Thomas Bate and Son |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and still serving as a community center, operated by a local American Legion post. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.98485, -95.96238 (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 06000512.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002637
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.