McFaddin, James, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 for cattleman James A. McFaddin and his wife Margaret, this two-story Victorian house sits at the northwest edge of downtown Victoria, Texas. The wood-frame dwelling has weatherboard siding, an asymmetrical plan, a hip roof with gable extensions, and three brick chimneys with corbeled caps. Turned porch posts on paneled pedestals, two rounded bays flanking the north entry, an octagonal corner bay and a fan light over the entrance give it its Victorian character. McFaddin was among the earliest successful cattlemen on the Gulf coast and introduced barbed wire and Brahma cattle to the region. A fire around 1929-30 damaged the second story and roof, which were rebuilt in a form similar to the original; the turrets that topped the rounded bays and the cupola were not replaced. Interior moldings, stairways and doors survive, and the 1930 repairs are now regarded as historic alterations. Descendants of McFaddin have owned the house since his death.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its Victorian architecture and for its link to James McFaddin, one of the earliest successful cattlemen on the Gulf coast, who introduced barbed wire and Brahma cattle to the area. The reviewer accepted it under criteria B and C. A 1929-30 fire damaged the upper floor and roof, but most original fabric remains, and the repairs are considered historic alterations.
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 86002506, listed March 24, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 207 W. Commercial, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | March 24, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86002506 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; in residential use. Some original detail was removed after a 1929-30 fire, and the two turrets and cupola were not rebuilt. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80204, -97.00657 (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 86002506.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002435
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.