Blount, Capt. Thomas William, House
Why it's listed
Set in a rural area about two and a half miles west of San Augustine, this plantation house was built around 1854 by Jonas Hail and bought in 1865 by Captain Thomas William Blount. The two-story frame main block sits on brick piers and has a central hall plan, a pedimented entrance portico with simple square columns, and very plain detailing under a box cornice. The nomination describes it as an excellent, unaltered example of vernacular Greek Revival plantation architecture in mid-nineteenth-century East Texas. The site's history reaches back further: John A. Williams settled it in 1822 and built a cotton gin there in 1825, one of the first in Texas. Blount, son of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, served as a Confederate officer, was held prisoner at Johnson's Island, and was elected to the Eleventh Texas Legislature in 1866. He farmed the plantation until 1910, and it has stayed in the family. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1962.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent, unaltered example of vernacular Greek Revival plantation residences built in East Texas in the mid-nineteenth century. The site also has earlier history, including an 1825 cotton gin, and is tied to Captain Blount, a Confederate officer and Texas legislator.
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 73001974, listed March 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. W of San Augustine on TX 21, San Augustine |
|---|---|
| County | San Augustine County |
| Listed | March 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001974 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1854 (19th century) |
| Architect / builder | Jonas Hail (builder) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well preserved and unaltered, in fair condition, occupied as a private residence; the property has remained in the Blount family. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 31.53247, -94.16782 (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 73001974.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321802
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.