Bernstein, Moses, House
Also known as: Site No. 665
Why it's listed
This two-story stucco house at 1705 North Richmond in Wharton was built in 1930 for Moses Bernstein, who bought the lot in 1929 and contracted for construction the following year. The builder is unknown. Bernstein and his family were prominent dry goods merchants with a store in the central business district, operating into the 1970s. The house rests on a brick foundation with load-bearing masonry walls and a low-pitched side-gabled roof. Its east facade shows the style most clearly, with arched windows and doors of irregular size and placement, a heavy timbered two-story inset porch, and extensive wrought-iron grillwork. A one-story addition with multi-light windows projects at the northeast corner. A small wood-frame garage from about 1940 is the only noncontributing resource. The house sits on a level lot set back from the road at the edge of town, which suits the style. It is regarded as one of the few Spanish Colonial Revival examples in Wharton and retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in Wharton, and one of few examples of the style there. It retains a high degree of integrity with few alterations. It is listed under Criterion C for architecture.
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 93000116, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1705 N. Richmond, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000116 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling, as in its historic function. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.32618, -96.09713 (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 93000116.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002545
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.