Sanger Brothers Building (1925)
Also known as: Meacham's Department Store
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Why it's listed
Built in 1928-29 at 410-412 Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth, this five-story reinforced concrete building was designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick as a second downtown store for Sanger Brothers, a leading Texas retailer. Its ground-floor storefronts have decorative metal entry canopies, and four upper floors are faced in smooth ashlar with Spanish Colonial Revival details around windows, atop pilasters and at the cornice. It was built during a boom fueled by oil and rail trade, when the city promoted a five-year construction program. Sanger Brothers closed the store in 1931 during the Depression, and the building sat vacant until 1943, when it became a large USO center for World War II servicemen. J.C. Penney bought it in 1946 and operated a store there until 1970. The exterior retains a high level of integrity, and the building is recognized for its role in Fort Worth commerce and as a strong example of its commercial building type.
Significance in brief: The building reflects the economic and physical growth of Fort Worth in the late 1920s, driven by oil and railroad investment, and represents Sanger Brothers, a leading Texas retailer. It is also a well-preserved example of a 2-part commercial block with Spanish Colonial Revival detailing, designed by one of the region's top architects.
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). NRHP reference 14001035, listed December 10, 2014. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 515 Houston St., Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | December 10, 2014 |
| Reference number | 14001035 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1943 |
| Architect / builder | Hedrick, Wyatt C. (architect); Wohlfield and Witt (builders) |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style: 2-part commercial block, with Spanish Colonial Revival detailing |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a department store use; the form states it was undergoing rehabilitation for retail space and multi-family housing units. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.75406, -97.33122 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 14001035.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- Wikidata Q109999987
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.