Limerick-Frazier House
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at 810 East 13th Street in Austin, this two-story frame house follows the I-plan, with a symmetrical south facade, double-hung wood windows, and two full-length galleries. Immigrant stonemason Joseph Limerick had it built, though he and his wife never lived in it. Later rear additions, completed by the 1930s, give the house an L-shape but are not visible from the street. John W. Frazier, a mathematics teacher and librarian at Samuel Huston College, bought the house in 1905. His wife, Laura Allman Frazier, later ran it as lodging for African American students and travelers who were turned away from white-owned hotels during the Jim Crow era. The house reflects the movement of Austin's Black population into East Austin in the early twentieth century. It is also valued as a well-preserved local example of a late nineteenth-century I-plan house, and it retains historic interior features such as brick fireplaces and carved mantels.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to African American history in East Austin. From 1905 it was home to Professor John W. Frazier of Samuel Huston College, and by the 1930s it served as lodging for Black students and travelers excluded from white-owned hotels. It is also a good local example of a late 19th century I-plan house with an early 20th century full porch.
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 05000238, listed March 30, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 810 E. 13th St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | March 30, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000238 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876-1955 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER/I-plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as retaining a high level of integrity despite minor deterioration and alterations; currently used as a single dwelling and for civic/social purposes. Designated a City of Austin landmark in 1978. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.27525, -97.73098 (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 05000238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002341
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.