Sims House
Also known as: Heritage House
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 for Jimmy Ochiltree Sims, this frame house in Orange, Texas, is a 2½-story example of early twentieth century vernacular design. It rests on brick piers and is clad in cypress siding over pine shiplap, with a U-shaped front porch, upstairs porticos, five porches and 52 windows suited to the warm, humid climate. A major 1919 addition, designed by W.R. Griffin, added a kitchen, bathrooms and sun porches. Sims was born in Orange in 1874 and spent about 75 years at First National Bank, retiring as Chairman of the Board. His house represents the middle-class homes built as the local lumber industry flourished, using easily obtained native pine and cypress. In 1977 the house was moved one block, from Front Street to Division Street, to make way for a road-widening project. It has since been largely restored and serves as the Heritage House museum within a downtown arts and civic district.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of the few remaining turn-of-the-century middle-class residences in Orange. Its pine and cypress construction reflects the lumber boom that shaped southeast Texas. It also represents the lives of business people whose professions grew from the lumber industry. The house is part of a downtown revitalization and arts center effort.
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 80004143, listed March 26, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 905 Division St., Orange |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | March 26, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004143 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect unknown; 1919 additions by W.R. Griffin |
| Architectural style | Early twentieth century vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored about 95 percent, in excellent to good condition, moved in 1977 and used as a museum (Heritage House). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.08978, -93.73839 (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 80004143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001289
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.