Van Pelt House
Also known as: Van Pelt - Campbell House
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at 209 Tenth Street in Ballinger, this two-story frame house was constructed by J.W. Whitt for Alvin H. Van Pelt, a hardware merchant who arrived when the town was founded in 1886. Its exterior is a West Texas version of the Queen Anne style, with a corner tower, novelty siding, bay windows and decorative lintels. A classical veranda with fluted Corinthian columns was added in 1911. The house later served as a rooming house, funeral home, apartments and nursing home, and was abandoned by the late 1960s. Its ground floor was heavily altered, though the second floor kept much of its original detail. After a 1974 purchase, the owners began rehabilitating it as a single-family home, rebuilding interior walls and removing unsympathetic additions. It is regarded as perhaps the oldest surviving substantial residence in Ballinger and a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it perhaps the oldest surviving substantial residence in Ballinger and a town landmark since it was built. It is described as a good West Texas example of the Queen Anne style, built for one of the town's first settlers and a prominent businessman and civic leader. It is also noted as a pilot restoration project after years of neglect.
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 80004146, listed December 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 209 10th St., Ballinger |
|---|---|
| County | Runnels County |
| Listed | December 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004146 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | J.W. Whitt |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; undergoing gradual restoration after years of alterations, vandalism and abandonment. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 31.73875, -99.95258 (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 80004146.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320295
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.