Thiele, J., Building
Also known as: Hotel Miles or Miles Opera House
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 for Joe Thiele, a German-born sheep rancher, this two-story limestone building stands at Robinson and Second Streets in Miles, Texas. Brothers John and Antone Willeke, stonemasons, built it from rough-hewn ashlar blocks quarried on Thiele's land. The ground floor held businesses, while the second floor housed an opera house with a stage, dressing rooms and seating for about 200. The building became the center of town life. It housed Miles' first bank, post office and telephone exchange, and the theater hosted school plays, political rallies, Chautauqua events and other gatherings. In 1930 Henry Bigler converted the upper floor into a hotel, and a dining room operated downstairs into the 1960s. Its chamfered corner entrance, arched openings and cast-iron columns remain, and the roof was restored in 1974. A bank occupies part of the ground floor, and restoration plans were underway at the time of listing.
Significance in brief: The building was the social and commercial center of Miles through the first half of the 20th century. Several firsts for the town happened there, including its first bank, post office and telephone exchange. Its upstairs opera house hosted public, political and social events. The building has changed only slightly, so it remains a link to the town's early history.
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 76002061, listed June 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Robinson and 2nd Sts., Miles |
|---|---|
| County | Runnels County |
| Listed | June 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002061 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-present |
| Architect / builder | John and Antone Willeke (builders) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, Richardsonian and commercial style elements |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Partially occupied, with a bank on the ground floor; plans called for acquisition and restoration to a 1904-1930 period, with the upper floor used again as a theater and the lower level for community activities. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 31.59861, -100.18357 (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 76002061.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001299
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.