Williams, B. F., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1909, this two-story wood-frame house at 401 E. Murray in Victoria, Texas, was constructed by lumberman Benjamin F. Williams for his own use. Williams, a Mississippi native, came to Victoria in 1882 and founded his lumberyard in 1896. He also served in the Texas House of Representatives, as Victoria's Chief of Police and later as a deputy sheriff of Victoria County. He died in 1916. The house is a Neoclassical Revival design with a truncated hip roof, a denticulated cornice and a three-bay, two-story inset porch on the north side. Two-story fluted Ionic columns, clustered in threes, flank the entry, which has beveled and leaded glass detailing. Turned balusters line the porch, and a widow's walk sits atop the roof. The house was recorded as being in good condition and in residential use, and it is valued for its classical detailing and fine craftsmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites architectural significance, describing the house as an opulent Neoclassical Revival dwelling distinguished by classical detailing and fine craftsmanship. It is also tied to Williams, a Victoria lumberyard founder, legislator and law officer.
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 86002607, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 E. Murray, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002607 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | B. F. Williams |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and still in residential use, as in its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79285, -96.98339 (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 86002607.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318322
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.