Davis, George R., House
Also known as: 937
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Why it's listed
This two-story brick house at 718 Victoria in Abilene was built in 1919-1920 for George R. Davis, a rancher from Breckenridge who moved to Abilene as oil was discovered in his hometown. Local architect David S. Castle designed it in the Prairie School manner, and contractor R.C. Lewis built it for $50,000. A low hipped roof, wide eaves and an elongated front porch on brick piers give the house a strong horizontal emphasis. The entrance has a transom and sidelights, and the windows range from 6/1 wood sash to ribboned casements. A two-story brick garage with matching detailing stands to the southwest. The house was listed for its architecture, as one of Abilene's best examples of the style, with a scale and craftsmanship few similar homes matched. It also reflects the way successful cattlemen drawn to Abilene's railroad-fed growth built imposing residences. The house remains virtually unaltered and is still a single-family dwelling.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as an outstanding example of Prairie School-influenced design in Abilene. Its low hipped roof, wide eaves and long front porch emphasize horizontal lines. It is also seen as representative of the grand homes built by prosperous West Texas cattlemen, and it is virtually unaltered.
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 92000237, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 718 Victoria, Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000237 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Castle, David S. |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; described as virtually unaltered and retaining its integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.45741, -99.74579 (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 92000237.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.