Hill, R.J., Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 on a corner lot at Commerce and 4th Streets in Palacios, Texas, this two-story commercial building was constructed for merchant Robert J. Hill to replace his earlier wood frame general store. Contractor J.G. Bontrager built it of rock-faced concrete blocks cast on site, combined with red brick arches and decorative brickwork in a Richardsonian Romanesque manner. Round-arched storefronts, a corner entrance beneath paired arches, and a cast concrete sign reading R.J. Hill 1910 mark the main facade. The ground floor held retail space and the upper floor was a residence. Over time the building served as a general store, doctor's office and beer parlor. It is regarded as one of the oldest commercial buildings in town and reflects Palacios' growth in the early 1900s, when promoters marketed the bayside community to settlers. Its intact design and unusual construction material led to its recognition. It is now being renovated as a local historical museum.
Significance in brief: The building reflects Palacios' early 20th-century economic growth, when the town was promoted as a seaside resort, and is argued to be significant locally under Criterion A for Commerce. It is also considered a good local example of Romanesque stylistic influence in a commercial building, notable for cast concrete blocks made on site.
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 09000840, listed October 14, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 Commerce St., Palacios |
|---|---|
| County | Matagorda County |
| Listed | October 14, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000840 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-1946 |
| Architect / builder | J.G. Bontrager, general contractor. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing exterior restoration and interior renovation for use as a local museum; the interior has been gutted for conversion into gallery, office and storage space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.70198, -96.21559 (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 09000840.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7273714
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.