Jones, Roland, House
Also known as: Site No. 108
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 at 141 N. Church Street, about two blocks north of Nacogdoches' public square, this 2 1/2-story wood-frame house shows Queen Anne detailing. It has an asymmetrical plan, weatherboard and wood-shingle walls, a three-story corner tower with a conical roof, and a two-tiered porch with turned columns and spindled friezes. Roland Jones, a Shreveport native who helped establish a local cotton compress business, had it built after an earlier house on the site burned. Architect and contractor Dietrich A. W. Rulfs, a German-born designer, reportedly persuaded the owners to choose an ornate Queen Anne design over a colonial type, and planned the house from the inside out. The house reflects the prosperity that followed the arrival of rail service in 1883, when land north of downtown became the more affluent part of town. Many similar houses have been razed, and it is regarded as the city's finest and best preserved example. It now serves as an office.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is arguably the finest and best preserved Queen Anne-style residence in Nacogdoches, distinguished by complex massing, intricate woodwork and an unaltered condition. It also reflects the late 19th-century growth that followed the arrival of the railroad in 1883.
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 92000007, listed February 14, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 141 N. Church St., Nacogdoches |
|---|---|
| County | Nacogdoches County |
| Listed | February 14, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000007 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | Rulfs, Dietrich A. W. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Formerly a private residence, now used as an office; described as in good condition with few alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Nacogdoches Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.60379, -94.65304 (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 92000007.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321717
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.