Jones, A. T., House
Also known as: 1117
Why it's listed
Built around 1920 at 418 Merchant Street in Abilene, this one-story frame house is an Arts and Crafts influenced Bungalow with a modified square plan, wood shingle walls and a low-pitched hipped roof with broad, curved eaves. The roof suggests a false thatched roof. The front porch has narrow paired columns set deep within the porch ceiling, so the heavy roof appears cantilevered and the horizontal lines are emphasized. A three-sided bay with small vertically divided windows also faces the street. A frame garage stands southwest of the house. Abilene's boom after World War I produced many bungalows, most of them slight variants of one basic form, but this house stands out for its workmanship and detailing. It was listed for architecture as a premier local example of the type. The builder and exact construction date are unknown. City directories list A.T. Jones, who ran a downtown restaurant, as occupant by 1921, and the house was vacant by 1926. It remains in excellent, nearly original condition.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as a premier local example of Bungalow architecture. Few Abilene bungalows show comparable detailing and craftsmanship, and it remains virtually unaltered with remarkable integrity. It is tied to the context of the railroad and Abilene's growth as a wholesale and distribution center, 1881-1939.
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 92000212, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 418 Merchant, Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000212 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1920 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow (Arts and Crafts influenced) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and virtually unaltered; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.45454, -99.74321 (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 92000212.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320221
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.