Polhemus, Joseph O., House
Also known as: Site #6
Why it's listed
Located at 912 East 2nd Street in Austin, this one-story brick house dates to about 1901. It has a T-shaped plan, a gabled roof, a projecting front bay and a mansard roof topped by a stepped brick parapet. The red brick walls have very thin mortar joints, and split, rusticated bricks form a belt course at the floor line and inset medallions on the front facade. Rusticated stone appears in the lintels, sills and porch coping, and Doric columns on plinths support the porch roof. The most distinctive features are the stepped parapet walls at each gable end, corbeled to receive the eaves, with an arched window in each gable. The house was listed because it is considered the best and most finely crafted early twentieth-century brick residence in East Austin. It was probably built by its first owner, Joseph O. Polhemus, a contractor and bricklayer. It remains in residential use and in excellent condition, with a frame addition at the rear.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the best and most finely crafted example of an early twentieth-century brick residence in East Austin. Its refined brickwork, rusticated stone details and stepped parapet gable ends set it apart. Polhemus was active in Austin as a contractor and bricklayer.
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 85002299, listed September 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 912 E. 2nd St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | September 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002299 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Probably built by its first owner, Joseph O. Polhemus, contractor and bricklayer |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is excellent and the house is still in residential use; a frame rear addition partially obscures the original plan. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.26172, -97.73437 (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 85002299.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000421
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.