Gallagher House
Also known as: Gallagher Farmstead, Patterson Ranch House
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Why it's listed
Five miles north of Mineral Wells, in the Union Hill community of Palo Pinto County, sits a stone farmhouse built by Thomas Patrick Gallagher, a first-generation stonemason of Irish descent. Work began in the 1890s and the house was finished in 1901. Its walls are load-bearing Palo Pinto sandstone, quarried and finished on the family property, laid in alternating courses of larger and smaller stones with crisp vertical corners. A steep hipped roof with flared eaves, three dormers and an L-shaped porch complete the one-and-a-half-story form. A stone well and a stone water trough also survive on the site. The Gallagher family lived here for decades, and four unmarried sons farmed the land until 1967. The house was left vacant for about thirty years, then restored from 2003 with matching wood windows, a wood shingle roof and refinished interiors. It is recognized as an unusual rural Texas vernacular house that reflects its builder's craftsmanship and the family's masonry tradition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a unique example of rural Texas vernacular architecture that reflects the skill and masonry heritage of its Irish-descended stonemason builder. It also records the Gallagher family's long role in the Union Hill community. The stonework is described as exceptional, and the house has changed little since 1901.
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 11000232, listed April 27, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2729 Union Hill Rd., Mineral Wells |
|---|---|
| County | Palo Pinto County |
| Listed | April 27, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000232 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Patrick Gallagher (builder/owner, stonemason) |
| Architectural style | Other: Irregular L-plan Cottage; No Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored beginning in 2003 after about thirty years vacant; the form lists current function as single dwelling and secondary structure, and also marks it as not in use. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 32.88262, -98.14771 (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 11000232.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000168
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.