Guerra, Fred and Nell Kain, House
Also known as: 268
Why it's listed
Built around 1928 at the western entrance to Rio Grande City, this two-story whitewashed brick house was commissioned by banker Fred Guerra and designed by the Mission firm of Decker & Tanner in an eclectic Spanish Colonial Revival style. Its asymmetrical mass includes a porte cochere on the west, a flat-roofed portico on the east, a clay tile roof, wrought-iron balconies, lanterns and window grates. A one-story brick garage-apartment sits at the rear of the lot. The house was listed for its architecture at the local level, as a fine example of the style and as evidence of development along U.S. Highway 83 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Sited on a rise at a curve in the road, it served as a dignified gateway to town. The property has stood vacant for roughly fifty years, yet the mild climate has left the building largely original, with most brickwork, massing, roof tile and ironwork surviving.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Spanish Colonial Revival style as handled by local Valley architects, and is eligible under Criterion C at the local level for architecture. It also reflects urban development along U.S. Highway 83 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It was commissioned by Fred Guerra, a prominent local banker.
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 05001400, listed December 6, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 800 Blk. W Main, Rio Grande City |
|---|---|
| County | Starr County |
| Listed | December 6, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001400 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Decker & Tanner, Mission, TX |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and unmaintained for about fifty years; the house is largely intact with no alterations, though windows and some doors are lost and the garage is in poor but stable condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 26.38204, -98.82936 (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.
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 05001400.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.