Reichardt-Low House
Also known as: #160
Why it's listed
Built about 1880 by the Will Reichardt family, who ran a hardware store in downtown Brenham, this one-story frame house at 609 South Austin Street is a Victorian L-plan dwelling, since modified to a rectangular plan. It has clapboard siding, a hipped roof, a brick pier-and-beam foundation and narrow 2/2 windows. A polygonal bay with a center gable dominates the west facade, and an inset porch has chamfered columns and a sawn balustrade. Double front doors carry Eastlake trim. Its design blends Queen Anne massing, Italianate windows and Eastlake detail. In 1929 T.A. Low II bought it for his son T.A. Low III, later appointed local postmaster in 1933. Interior changes included lowered ceilings and added bedrooms, but the exterior was little altered apart from a metal porch canopy. Three outbuildings contribute to the property. It was listed for its architecture as one of Brenham's finest Victorian L-plan houses, with a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: It is considered locally significant under Criterion C as an excellent, well-preserved example of a Victorian L-plan house in Brenham. Its design combines Queen Anne, Eastlake and Italianate influences. It also relates to the local context of community development and regional expansion, 1870-1941.
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 90000455, listed March 29, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 609 S. Austin, Brenham |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | March 29, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000455 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1880 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as being in good condition with a high degree of integrity; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.16262, -96.39861 (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 90000455.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000829
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.