Zahn, Herman and Alvina, House
Why it's listed
This one-and-a-half-story wood frame house at 107 S. DeLeon, on the eastern edge of downtown Victoria, is a vernacular I-house with a rear ell. It has weatherboard siding, a gabled composition-shingle roof with box eaves, and wood double-hung windows with six-over-six lights and operable shutters. The symmetrical three-bay east facade has a centered door and an inset porch with wooden box columns and molded capitals, some Greek Revival detailing. Inside, simple moldings and original surface materials remain. A frame shed stands nearby. The house has been moved from its original site, and its porch columns and floor were replaced. Its form is more typical of rural Texas houses and suggests construction possibly as early as the 1850s, though the survey estimates 1870. Victoria pioneer Herman Zahn and his wife Alvina obtained the property in 1860, reportedly with a dwelling already standing, and the family kept it until 1948. It was recognized for its architecture and its early character.
Significance in brief: The nomination treats the house as architecturally significant and calls it one of Victoria's most interesting dwellings. Its basic form is more typical of rural Texas houses and suggests an early construction date. Herman Zahn, a Victoria pioneer, and his wife Alvina acquired the property in 1860, and the family held it until 1948.
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 86002573, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 107 S. DeLeon, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002573 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular dwelling (I-house with rear ell) with some Greek Revival details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use listed as vacant; condition fair, with porch columns and floor replaced. The house has been moved from its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79730, -97.00379 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86002573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002422
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.