Banker, Willie, Jr., House
Also known as: Site No. 753
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 at 401 North Rusk in Wharton, this one-story brick veneer house shows an eclectic design influenced by the Mission style. Its asymmetrical plan is topped by a steeply pitched cross-gabled roof of terra cotta tiles, which sweeps down over a multi-bay inset porch with rounded and elliptical arches. A brick balustrade wraps the east and south sides, and a gabled end on the south helps form a small courtyard. Windows are wooden double-hung sash in single, paired and tripled groupings. On the property stands a contemporary brick garage apartment, counted as contributing, along with a modern frame garage that is not. Willie Banker Jr., a Wharton County cattle rancher, bought the lot from Maggie Heartt in 1929 for $5,500, and Sanborn maps show the house under construction that year. It stayed in the Banker family until 1977. It was listed for its architecture, as a well-preserved local example of the Mission style that became popular in Wharton in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Significance in brief: The nomination finds it significant under Criterion C for architecture as a noteworthy local interpretation of the Mission style, which became popular in Wharton in the late 1920s and 1930s. Its arched inset porch and terra cotta tile roof are characteristic of the style, and it retains a high degree of integrity. It is tied to the context of community development in Wharton, 1875-1942.
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 93000118, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 N. Rusk, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architectural style | 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Mission |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31334, -96.08740 (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 93000118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.