Thomas, Oscar P., House
Also known as: 1034
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Why it's listed
Built about 1905 for Oscar P. Thomas, this two-story frame house at 210 Clinton Street sits in a mostly residential area a few blocks west of Abilene's central business district. It has a boxy form, a low-pitched hipped roof with extended eaves, weatherboard and wood shingle siding, and a symmetrical east facade with a three-bay porch, squared columns, and a small balcony. Its details draw mainly on Prairie School architecture, with some Classical Revival elements. A two-story garage/apartment stands to the north. The house was restored to its 1920 appearance using a historic photograph. It matters as one of the earliest local examples of Prairie School-influenced housing, a style promoted through magazines, pattern books and mail-order companies. It also reflects Abilene's move from rough boomtown building to more refined homes. Thomas served as secretary and treasurer of the 25,000 Club, a local group promoting steady growth and a more diversified economy.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as a good local example of Prairie School-influenced design, with some Classical Revival elements. It is described as one of the earliest local illustrations of this trend in residential architecture. It also reflects Abilene's shift from boomtown building to more finely detailed homes, and Thomas served as secretary and treasurer of the 25,000 Club, a booster group.
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 92000203, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 210 Clinton St., Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000203 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1905 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, retaining integrity, virtually unaltered, and restored to its 1920 appearance based on a historic photograph; current use is single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.45183, -99.74489 (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 92000203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000893
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.