Horn-Polk House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1858 at 717 West Columbia Street in San Augustine, this one-story frame house was the home of Ransom H. Horn, a cabinetmaker, gunsmith and master carpenter whose firm, Horn and Brother, was among the most prosperous in antebellum East Texas. The house follows a Greek Revival plan with three rooms on each side of a wide central hall, but its north facade is unusual: two gabled end bays flank a recessed porch, and the entrance has sidelights, a nine-light transom and a fluted wooden keystone. Horn made much of the furniture, exterior mouldings and mantels himself. In 1901 Judge Harry Kinsey Polk bought the property, and his wife, Ella Burleson Polk, painted floral designs and mourning scenes on the parlor and bedroom walls and ceilings. These paintings survive and are the only known hand-painted interiors of their kind in the San Augustine area. A kitchen wing was added later.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a unique example of early Greek Revival architecture in Texas, with two projecting gabled end bays flanking an inset porch. Its detailing and furnishings show the craftsmanship of Ransom H. Horn, a prosperous East Texas cabinetmaker. It is also tied to the Polk family, and it holds the only surviving hand-painted interior decoration in the San Augustine area.
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 76002064, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 717 W. Columbia St., San Augustine |
|---|---|
| County | San Augustine County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858 |
| Architect / builder | Ransom H. Horn |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as remarkably well preserved, with a later kitchen wing and a small interior alteration to the Saddle Room. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 31.53176, -94.12041 (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 76002064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321789
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.