Hodde Drugstore
Also known as: Site No. 4
Why it's listed
Built in 1920 on Main Street in Burton, Texas, this small frame building served as a drugstore and doctor's office for Dr. Fred Hodde, who had moved to town in 1917. It has a gabled roof hidden behind a stepped false-front parapet, a three-bay facade with paneled doors and paired two-over-two wood windows, and a shed-roofed porch covered in sheet metal. A rear garage is counted as noncontributing because of lost sheathing. From 1920 to 1933 the building hosted Dr. Hodde's practice and minor surgeries, including tonsillectomies performed by his brother Dr. Hermann Hodde of Brenham. Another brother, Dr. Lewis Hodde, worked there as pharmacist. Patients came from as far as Lee County, giving the farm community a convenient alternative to Brenham. Dr. Fred Hodde sold the building in 1933 and moved his practice to Brenham. The building is recognized for its architectural integrity as a local example of the false-front store type and for its role in the town's medical and commercial life.
Significance in brief: It is described as an intact, superior local example of the vernacular false-front commercial store common in Burton in the early 20th century (Criterion C). It also reinforced Burton's role as a trade and service center in western Washington County through the medical practice run there from 1920 to 1933 (Criterion A).
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 91000713, listed June 11, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. SE of Burton St., Burton |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | June 11, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000713 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1920-1933 |
| Architectural style | Other: One-part commercial block (vernacular false-front commercial) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic use was a specialty store; current use is listed as a single-family dwelling. A rear one-car garage is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 30.18077, -96.59353 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91000713.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002466
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.