Roselle-Smith House
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 at 301 E. Commercial in Victoria, Texas, this two-story wood-frame house is regarded as an excellent local example of an I-house. Its plan is actually L-shaped, with a full two-story rear ell. The north and west elevations are symmetrical five-bay facades, and two-story hipped-roof porches with chamfered posts, jig-sawn brackets and balusters, and segmental arched openings wrap those sides. Box eaves with scroll brackets, two-over-two wood windows with shutters and a brick pier foundation complete the design. A weatherboard shed with a gable roof stands at the south end of the lot. The house was reportedly constructed with lumber from a house damaged in Indianola, a port city destroyed by an 1886 hurricane. Johnson Roselle built it for his wife and their eleven children. Charles Lemaster Smith bought the property in 1942, and his mother lived there until 1966, running it as a boarding house through World War II. The house has since been restored and remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an excellent local example of an I-house, with an L-shaped plan, modest Italianate details and sawn fretwork porches. It is reportedly built from lumber salvaged from a house damaged in Indianola, a port destroyed by an 1886 hurricane. Later it served as a boarding house.
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 90001050, listed July 5, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 E. Commercial, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | July 5, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001050 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular I-house with modest Italianate details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition good; recently restored. Still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80119, -97.01027 (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 90001050.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.