Urban, Fred, House
Also known as: I-360
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 501 East River in Victoria, Texas, this two-story frame house was constructed by Fred Urban for his own family. Urban was a prominent local builder who erected numerous buildings across the city, including Trinity Lutheran Church. The house follows the American Four Square plan, a square, hip-roofed form that was especially popular at the turn of the twentieth century. It rests on brick piers and is clad in weatherboard, with an asbestos-shingle roof. An inset, L-shaped porch wraps from the east front to the north side, supported by fluted columns with Ionic capitals on the east and Doric capitals on the north. Modest pedimented door and window surrounds add classical touches. Most windows are grouped in threes and are one-over-one. The second-floor porch was enclosed before 1940, yet the building remains in good condition. It was listed for its architecture as a well-crafted local example of a vernacular residence with classical detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-crafted local example of a vernacular residence with classical detailing, eligible under Criterion C for architecture. It uses the American Four Square plan, popular at the turn of the century. Urban was a prominent local builder who erected numerous buildings in Victoria.
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 86002556, listed October 28, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 501 E. River, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | October 28, 1992 |
| Reference number | 86002556 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Urban, Fred |
| Architectural style | Other: Vernacular: American Four Square; Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and retaining integrity; the second-floor porch was enclosed sometime before 1940. Listed use is single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79226, -97.00430 (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 86002556.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000902
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.