Odom, Addie L. and A.T., Homestead
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Why it's listed
Built in 1922 near Burkeville in Newton County, Texas, the Odom Homestead is a one-story wood dwelling with a central hall plan and Craftsman-influenced details such as exposed rafter ends and porch vents. Carpenter and contractor Alvah Troga (A.T.) Odom built it for his family using lumber salvaged from his late parents' abandoned home. It sits on 6.76 acres in Shankleville, a freedmen's community, land that was once part of a larger tract acquired by his great-grandfather, community founder Jim Shankle. A smokehouse, chicken house and large storage building remain on the property. The house is larger than most homes in the community from the 1920s and is the only surviving example of its plan type there. A.T. and Addie Odom were leaders in Shankleville. He built houses and churches for Black and white clients and taught carpentry at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The property was recognized for its connection to his life and work during the Jim Crow era.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the homestead is a rare, intact early 20th-century dwelling in the African-American community of Shankleville, larger than most homes of the 1920s. It reflects the carpentry skill and economic standing of A.T. Odom. He and his wife Addie L. Odom contributed to community institutions and life during the Jim Crow era. It is nominated locally under Criterion B in Ethnic Heritage: Black.
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 12000197, listed April 10, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 194 Cty. Rd. 1040, Burkeville |
|---|---|
| County | Newton County |
| Listed | April 10, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000197 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-1962 |
| Architect / builder | Alvah Troga Odom, builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th C. American Movements: Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is described as in good condition with moderately high integrity, though the form lists its current function as single dwelling and 'not in use'. |
| Acreage | 6.8 |
| Coordinates | 30.97154, -93.70664 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 12000197.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002775
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.