Pela House
Why it's listed
Built around 1885, this two-story wood-frame house at 309 E. Santa Rosa in Victoria, Texas, follows a modified L-plan with a rear ell. It has weatherboard siding, a hip roof of standing seam metal, and box eaves with cornice molding. Three interior brick chimneys with corbeled caps rise above it, one of them in the rear ell. A three-bay, two-story porch is set into the northeast ell, with capped box columns and jig-sawn balustrades. Doors on both floors have sidelights and transoms, and windows and doors are framed by pedimented facings with crown molding, all Greek Revival details. Windows are wood sash, double hung, with six-over-six lights. The house was recorded as one of Victoria's premier examples of a two-story, L-plan residence, and its inset porch and molded window trim are cited as marks of fine craftsmanship. It remains on its original site in a residential area east of downtown, was in good condition when surveyed, and is still used as a home.
Significance in brief: The inventory form cites architecture as the basis of significance. It describes the house as one of Victoria's premier examples of a two-story, L-plan residence. The inset porch with jig-sawn balusters and the molded window trim mark it as finely crafted.
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 86002552, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 309 E. Santa Rosa, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002552 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular dwelling with Greek Revival details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and in residential use; the form notes it is on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79713, -97.00400 (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 86002552.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000685
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.