Barnes, W. C., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1893, this two-story wood-frame house at 106 W. Stayton in Victoria, Texas, was constructed by lumberman W. C. Barnes for his family. Barnes later operated the W. C. Barnes Lumber Yard on East Santa Rosa from 1895 to 1912, then ran a furniture store and managed a lumber yard in Inez. The house has an L-shaped plan, a hipped roof with gables, weatherboard and wood shingle siding, and a three-bay, two-story porch in the southeast ell. Its Victorian detailing includes turned posts with jigsawn brackets, turned balusters, a spindle frieze, crown molding on door and window facings, imbricated shingles on projecting bays, and carved doors. The detailing is described as perhaps some of the finest in the city from the late nineteenth century. Reviewers recognized it as a significant example of Victorian vernacular architecture and for its link to an important local business. It remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is considered significant for its architecture and for its builder. Its late nineteenth-century detailing is described as perhaps some of the finest in the city. It is also tied to W. C. Barnes, who ran a local lumber yard from 1895 to 1912. Reviewers cited it as a significant example of Victorian vernacular architecture and for association with important businesses.
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 86002568, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 106 W. Stayton, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002568 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | W. C. Barnes |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good, and the house is still used as a residence and remains in the Barnes family. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80382, -97.00490 (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 86002568.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000658
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.