Schuerenberg, R. A., House
Also known as: Wilder,Donald,House; #612
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at Brenham, Texas, this 1 1/2-story frame house was the primary residence of R.A. Schuerenberg, a prospering local businessman. He and his brother took over their father's blacksmith shop and farm implement business in 1884 and expanded it to sell carriages, hardware, guns, china and later Ford and John Deere products. The house was moved about 1910 from a site half a block north. It rests on brick piers beneath a standing seam metal roof and shows Queen Anne character through its asymmetrical plan, corner tower with finial and balcony, and fishscale shingled gable. The wraparound porch, with Corinthian-capital columns and a turned balustrade, reflects early twentieth-century Classical Revival influence, likely added when the house was moved. Few alterations have occurred, and the house retains a high degree of integrity. It was recognized for its architecture as a clear example of the shift from Victorian to Classical Revival domestic design.
Significance in brief: The nomination finds it eligible under Criterion C as a good example of Victorian Queen Anne architecture later modified with Classical Revival details. It is described as an excellent representation of the turn-of-the-century transition in domestic architecture and retains a high degree of integrity. It is also tied 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 90000463, listed March 29, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 703 S. Market, Brenham |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | March 29, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000463 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Victorian (Queen Anne) with Classical Revival elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, with few alterations or additions; a noncontributing garage is on the property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.16254, -96.39467 (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 90000463.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002488
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.