First National Bank Building
Also known as: Butler Abstract Company Building
Why it's listed
Facing the Nolan County Courthouse Square in Sweetwater, this commercial building at 101 East Third combines two eras. Merchants N. I. and J. D. Dulaney built the original stone store in 1886, reportedly the first stone building in town, with a $4,000 loan from Sanger Brothers of Dallas. The First National Bank became principal tenant and owner in 1901. Between 1920 and 1923, as the city prospered, the bank rebuilt the front in the Neo-Classical Revival style, using smooth limestone blocks, five Roman Doric columns, a dentiled cornice and a hand-carved limestone eagle on the parapet. The older stone walls remain inside the new exterior. Much of the 1920s interior survives, including pressed-metal ceilings and vaults. The bank failed in 1931, and the building sat vacant for years before serving as offices, a credit association, and from 1958 an abstract company. Its facade has remained a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building recalls both Sweetwater's pioneer era and its prosperous 1920s. The original 1886 store was reportedly the first stone building in the city. The 1920s Neo-Classical facade, a style favored by Texas banks, became a local landmark on the town square.
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 83003154, listed May 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 101 E. 3rd St., Sweetwater |
|---|---|
| County | Nolan County |
| Listed | May 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003154 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1886, 1922) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (original building built by merchants J. D. and N. I. Dulaney) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical (Neo-Classical Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in work in progress on the form; in use as an abstract company office, with the owners planning to keep the 1920s interior and exterior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.47131, -100.40884 (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 83003154.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000423
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.