Texas Textile Mills-L.L. Sams Company Historic District
Why it's listed
Eight industrial buildings on the east side of Waco, beside the Baylor University campus, make up this district. They were built between 1919 and 1957 and are plain, utilitarian structures of brick, concrete, clay tile and metal, with large steel sash windows, loading docks and a tall brick smokestack. Brothers Clarence, Byron and E. Burnie Miller began the Texas Textile Mills here in 1919, and a neighboring twine mill was added by the late 1920s. Later the L.L. Sams and Sons Church Furniture Company used the site, growing into the largest church furniture maker in the country. The complex is considered important as one of the last reminders of the cotton processing industry that once drove the economy of Waco and McLennan County. Two rooftop company signs remain local landmarks. After industrial use ended in 1997, the buildings were rehabilitated between 2000 and 2002 as loft apartments and offices, keeping many original industrial features.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant under Criterion A in the area of industry. It is one of the last remaining properties in Waco tied to the cotton processing industry that once dominated the local economy. It also housed L.L. Sams and Sons, which became the largest church furniture manufacturer in the United States. The buildings are largely intact and retain 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 03000807, listed December 13, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2100 River St., Waco |
|---|---|
| County | McLennan County |
| Listed | December 13, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03000807 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1919-1957 |
| Architectural style | No style; Modern Movement/Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Industrial use ended in 1997. The buildings were rehabilitated in 2000-2002 as loft apartments and offices, and the apartment units were fully leased. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 31.54490, -97.10867 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 03000807.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999731
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.