Martin-Fiek-Thumford, Vera, House
Why it's listed
This one-and-a-half-story Victorian house at 507 N. William in Victoria, Texas, was built in 1904 by contractor O. R. Cox for Charles Martin, a cattle inspector for the Cattle Raisers Association of Texas. The wood-frame dwelling has weatherboard siding, a composition shingle roof, and a modified L-plan under a hip roof with gables. Decorative features include turned posts with jigsawn brackets, turned balusters, a spindle frieze, and a projecting bay on the east elevation with jigsawn bargeboard, imbricated shingles and an attic window. A gabled dormer carries paired windows and a pent roof. Vera Fiek purchased the property in 1924. She later married George Tumforde, and the couple lived there until 1981, altering its character very little in over sixty years. A gable-roofed, weatherboard-sheathed shed stands at the southwest. The house is listed for its architecture and remains in good condition, with some additions at the rear.
Significance in brief: The house is recorded as significant for its architecture, as a Victorian dwelling with well-preserved period details. It was built for Charles Martin, a cattle inspector for the Cattle Raisers Association of Texas. Vera Fiek bought it in 1924, and she and her later husband lived there until 1981, changing its character little over sixty years.
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 86002597, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 507 N. William, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002597 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Contractor O. R. Cox |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is good, with early and recent additions to the rear and some decorative work added. Present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80270, -97.00267 (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 86002597.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002410
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.