Crescent Laundry
Why it's listed
Crescent Laundry is a group of three commercial buildings on East Ferguson Street at the east edge of downtown Tyler, Texas. A laundry plant went up in 1927, a domed dry cleaning building followed in 1928, and a small office building dating to about 1935 was later folded into the operation. Tyler architect Roy T. Nunamaker designed the dry cleaning building, and the Tyler firm of Campbell & White built it for owner Walter P. Jones, Sr. and his partners. Its tan brick walls, cast stone trim, horseshoe-arched entry and colorful tile with a crescent moon and stars make it the only known Exotic Revival style building in the city. The tile motif refers to the company name. The complex was built as Tyler's population and prosperity grew, and it served residential and industrial customers until the business closed in 2000. It is recognized for its architecture and its link to the city's economic development between 1927 and 1952.
Significance in brief: The complex is argued to be significant under Criteria A and C at the local level. It reflects Tyler's agriculture, manufacturing and oil-boom economy and the community's growth in the 1920s and after. The domed dry cleaning building is the only known Exotic Revival (Moorish Revival) style building in Tyler, and the complex is the only surviving laundry facility in the city to retain its integrity.
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 02000644, listed June 14, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 312-320 E. Ferguson St., Tyler |
|---|---|
| County | Smith County |
| Listed | June 14, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000644 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Nunamaker, Roy T. (architect); Campbell & White (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: Moorish Revival (Exotic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The business closed in 2000 and the property is vacant and for sale. The domed dry cleaning building is in excellent condition with a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.35157, -95.29742 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 02000644.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000077
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.