Jordan-Koch House
Why it's listed
Located at 307 N. DeLeon in Victoria, Texas, this two-and-a-half-story wood-frame house dates to about 1885 and sits in a residential area in the northeast part of the original townsite, near Memorial Park. It is basically an L-plan dwelling that was later enlarged and modified, then embellished with consoles, turned balusters and jig-sawn details. An octagonal turret marks the northeast corner, and a nine-bay, two-story shed porch wraps around the east and part of the south sides. Chamfered wood posts, scroll brackets, pedimented window facings and double entrance doors with round-arch lights add to its Victorian character. The house was apparently built by stockman W. W. Jordan; after 1904 it belonged to John Koch, who served as alderman for the fourth ward. It was listed for its architecture, as an exceptional blend of traditional form and Victorian ornament. A board-and-batten shed stands at the southwest corner of the lot, and the house remained in residential use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptional example of traditional architectural form combined with Victorian detail. It is an enlarged and modified L-plan dwelling embellished with consoles, turned balusters and jig-sawn details. Its octagonal turret and two-story wraparound porch distinguish it.
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 86002579, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 307 N. DeLeon, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002579 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | N/A; apparently built by stockman W. W. Jordan |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition listed as fair, with work in progress; present use residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80053, -97.00250 (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 86002579.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318326
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.