East Ferguson Residential Historic District
Why it's listed
Six small, nearly identical wood-frame bungalows line the south side of East Ferguson Street in Tyler, three blocks east of the courthouse square. Built between 1926 and 1930 for owners L.L. and Catherine Mullins as rental housing for working-class tenants, they are front-gabled, with bevel siding, partial-width porches with red brick columns, and double-hung wood windows. Three shared garages sit between the houses, and a red brick street and concrete sidewalk add to the setting. The last three units were built in 1930 by contractor Lee Grissom for $750 each. Most nearby housing of this kind has been demolished, leaving this group as one of the last intact examples of row-type worker rental housing in the city. The district was listed for its architecture and for what it shows about community growth during the prosperous 1920s and 1930s and the East Texas oil boom. Of 13 resources, 12 contribute; the one exception is a garage rebuilt around 1955.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant for architecture and for community development. It is one of the best-preserved and last intact examples of rare 'row' type worker rental housing in Tyler. It reflects the prosperity and population growth of the late 1920s and 1930s, before and after the East Texas Oil Field discovery.
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 02000647, listed June 14, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 423-513 E. Ferguson St., Tyler |
|---|---|
| County | Smith County |
| Listed | June 14, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000647 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1926-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Lee Grissom (AKA Grisson, Griffon), builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in domestic use as duplex dwellings with garages; the form describes the buildings as in excellent condition with a high level of integrity. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 32.35123, -95.29614 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 02000647.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.