McDaniel, George W. and Lavina, House
Also known as: 4904
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 at 774 Butternut in Abilene, this two-story frame house with brick veneer was home to hardware and grocery merchant George W. McDaniel and his wife Lavina. It has a low-pitched hipped roof with wide eaves, two interior brick chimneys, and a deep three-bay front porch carried on massive piers. Brick balustrades with cast stone coping flank the central entrance, and the windows have a 9/1 light pattern. These features, along with details emphasizing horizontal lines, mark it as a Prairie School-influenced design. The house was listed as an outstanding local example of that style. During the 1920s oil boom Abilene grew quickly and many homes were built, with bungalows the most common type, while some of the city's most prosperous citizens chose Prairie School-influenced designs. The house is virtually unaltered and retains its integrity. It now serves as the headquarters of the Abilene Junior League.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as an outstanding local example of a Prairie School-influenced residence. It shows typical Prairie School features and is virtually unaltered. It also reflects the 1920s prosperity of Abilene, when prominent citizens built such houses.
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 92000201, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 774 Butternut, Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000201 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained and virtually unaltered; now used as the headquarters of the Abilene Junior League. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.44122, -99.73842 (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 92000201.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320246
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.