Rogers-Bell House
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 at 1001 East 8th Street, this raised brick house in the Eastlake style sits on a prominent corner lot beside the French Legation. Its load-bearing brick walls, fishscale pressed-tin roof with scroll-shaped hip knobs, brick arches and rusticated limestone sills make it unusual in a neighborhood of smaller, later wood-frame homes. Martin E. Rogers, a railroad bridge foreman who later became Superintendent of Buildings and Bridges, built the house and lived there until his death in 1942. In 1943 it was bought by L.D. Lyons, a grocer, church lay leader and well-known Black community figure, and his widow later married Jerry Bell, a longtime chauffeur for Governor Allan Shivers. Alterations made around 1969, including an enclosed porch and rear addition, were reversed or reworked in a 1987 restoration that rebuilt the front porch from photographic evidence. The house was recognized as a locally important example of masonry Victorian architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a locally important and distinctive example of a masonry Eastlake cottage. Its age, detailing and solid brick construction set it apart from the smaller, later wood-frame houses nearby. It also links to the history of the neighborhood through owners including railroad man Martin E. Rogers and prominent Black Austin citizen L.D. Lyons. Reversible alterations from about 1969 were undone in a 1987 restoration.
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 88000703, listed June 24, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1001 E. Eighth St., East Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | June 24, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000703 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Unknown |
| Architectural style | Eastlake (Victorian), with Italianate influence in interior fireplaces |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition good; exterior restoration completed 1987; described as occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.26674, -97.73119 (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 88000703.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002337
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.