Hughes, Ed S., Company Warehouse
Also known as: 5318
Why it's listed
This one-story brick warehouse at 135 Oak Street sits in the south part of Abilene's central business district. Built about 1919, it has a rectangular plan, a hidden flat roof and a symmetrical three-bay front facing west, with a wide wood double door for loading in the center. Buff brick near the base and along the three-part parapet forms a cornice-like band with denticulated detail, a modest nod to Classical Revival design. The warehouse served the Ed S. Hughes Company, a hardware wholesaler that grew with Abilene's role as a railroad-linked distribution point for West Texas. Hughes arrived in 1882, built the business from a hardware store, and by the early 1920s the firm owned a four-story building and five warehouses on Oak Street area sites. This is the best preserved of the company's remaining buildings and has changed little over the years. It was recognized for its commercial role, its association with Hughes, and its architecture.
Significance in brief: It is tied to Abilene's growth into a wholesale and distribution center for West Texas after the railroad arrived. It is also linked to Ed S. Hughes, a prominent local entrepreneur. It is the best preserved surviving building once used by the Hughes Company and has modest Classical Revival detailing in its parapet.
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 92000224, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 135 Oak St., Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000224 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1919-1930 |
| Architectural style | Other: vernacular warehouse, Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current use is listed as commerce/trade, warehouse. The building is described as little changed, though one front window opening is covered with plywood. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.44769, -99.74316 (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 92000224.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001326
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.