Bolton-Outlar House
Also known as: Site No. 658
Why it's listed
Located at 517 North Richmond in Wharton, this two-story frame house began around 1893 as a Pyramidal-roof dwelling with Queen Anne influence. About 1910 it was remodeled with a two-story pedimented portico carried on oversize Doric columns, along with a wraparound second-story porch with a wood balustrade. The side elevation still shows its original character, including a projecting three-bay window and decorative bargeboard. The house sits on brick piers under a hipped roof with lower cross gables. H. J. Bolton, a local merchant and later first president of the Wharton National Bank, acquired the lot in 1893 and probably built the house soon afterward. Dr. L. B. Outlar, a physician and drugstore owner, bought it in 1919, and his family kept it until 1973. The house is valued for architecture, as an example of two stylistic influences combined, and as one of the finest Classical Revival buildings in Wharton.
Significance in brief: The house is considered one of Wharton's largest and most intact late-19th and early-20th century dwellings. It mixes Queen Anne and Classical Revival features, and the 1910 remodeling has gained significance as part of its evolution. 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 93000108, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 517 N. Richmond, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000108 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival (with Queen Anne influence) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; a modern frame garage on the lot is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Linn Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.31598, -96.10091 (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 93000108.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002526
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.