Higginbotham, J. G., House
Also known as: 1150
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Why it's listed
This two-story house at 2102 Swenson in Abilene was built around 1920 for J.G. Higginbotham, a rancher and vice president of the Abilene State Bank. Architect David S. Castle gave it a Spanish Colonial Revival design with an asymmetrical plan, brick veneer walls, ceramic tile roofs and both gable and octagonal rooflines. The most prominent feature is a two-and-a-half-story octagonal tower at the southeast corner, which anchors a three-bay porch with Tuscan columns, a jigsaw balustrade and a bracket course. Arcaded walls and terraces lead to the corner entrance, and patterned brick window surrounds and tile accents add detail. A matching one-story two-car garage stands at the southwest corner of the lot. Most Abilene houses of the era reflected Bungalow or Prairie School influence, so this one is unusual. When finished, it ranked among the city's finest homes and appeared in Chamber of Commerce promotional brochures. It remains a single-family residence and retains its integrity.
Significance in brief: It is considered one of Abilene's best and most intact examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, a style few local buildings share. Its unusual octagonal tower and detailing set it apart from the Bungalow and Prairie School houses typical of the period. It was designed by David S. Castle, whose firm was Abilene's premier architectural practice for over 50 years.
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 92000236, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2102 Swenson, Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000236 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1920 |
| Architect / builder | Castle, David S. |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; the form says the building retains its integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.47350, -99.74060 (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 92000236.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320234
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.