House at 304 West Stayton
Why it's listed
This one-story bungalow at 304 West Stayton sits in the northwest part of Victoria's original townsite. It has a wood frame with weatherboard siding, an asbestos shingle roof with a clipped gable, and exposed rafters with stick brackets. An L-shaped inset porch wraps the south and east sides, and two exterior brick chimneys rise on the west and north. Windows are double-hung wood sash with six-over-one lights, and two entrances have transoms. The house was built by stockman T.L. Sterne on the west half of the property that held the Sterne residence, around 1915 by the significance note, though the inventory gives an estimated date of 1920. It is regarded as an exceptional local bungalow. Massive tapered stucco piers and an inventive use of timber braces and brackets distinguish it from other bungalows in the city. The inventory records its condition as good and its use as residential, the same as when it was built.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as an exceptional bungalow of architectural significance. Its massive tapered stucco piers and creative use of timber braces and brackets set it apart from other bungalows in the city. It stands on the west half of the property that held the Sterne residence.
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 86002591, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 304 W. Stayton, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002591 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Stockman T.L. Sterne built the house; architect listed as N/A |
| Architectural style | Bungalow |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and still in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80438, -97.00653 (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 86002591.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000673
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.