Rackley, J. J., Building
Also known as: Blazer Building
Why it's listed
Located at 118 South Chadbourne Street in downtown San Angelo, this two-story masonry commercial building was constructed by J.J. Rackley between 1888 and 1894. Its Italianate character shows in segmentally arched second-floor windows with cast-stone sills and keystoned lintels, stuccoed brick pilasters, and an elaborate metal cornice with large brackets and finials. Architect Oscar Ruffini is credited with the present front, added about 1900 when the Hagelstein brothers, who ran a hardware store here until 1908, improved the building. It later housed a cafe and other businesses. The city acquired it in 1979 intending to demolish it for parking, but a local preservation group helped prevent that, and a 1980 renovation restored much of its appearance. It now forms a row of three late 19th-century commercial buildings with two Ruffini-designed neighbors to the north, preserving the character of the early downtown streetscape.
Significance in brief: It is an important reminder of San Angelo's late 19th-century commercial district and is representative of architect Oscar Ruffini's work. It is part of a row of three commercial buildings designed or renovated by Ruffini that contribute strongly to the streetscape. It was also saved from planned demolition and rehabilitated.
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 83003163, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118 S. Chadbourne, San Angelo |
|---|---|
| County | Tom Green County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003163 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown/Oscar Ruffini |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated in 1980, which corrected most earlier alterations; the original first-floor front was rebuilt in simplified form and the metal entablature restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.46170, -100.43580 (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 83003163.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001338
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.