Croom, Wiley J., House
Also known as: Site No. 366
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at 205 East Milam in Wharton, this two-story frame house shows the Queen Anne style in an asymmetrical plan and facade. It sits on a brick foundation under a combined hipped and gabled roof, with weatherboard siding, a wraparound two-story porch, and a tower rising from the southeast corner. Turned columns, jig-sawn balusters, decorative bargeboard and art glass windows add detail. A small frame store at the northwest corner also contributes to the property. Wiley J. Croom, a lawyer and real estate figure who served as county judge from 1886 to 1890, had the house designed by Eugene Heiner, who was also the architect of the new county courthouse in the same period. The house is considered the best Queen Anne residence in Wharton and one of the few architect-designed buildings in the community. It retains a high degree of integrity and remains a single-family dwelling.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the best example of Queen Anne residential architecture in Wharton. It is also one of the few architect-designed buildings in the community, and it retains a high degree of integrity. It is listed under Criterion C in the area of 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 93000099, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 205 E. Milam, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000099 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888 |
| Architect / builder | Heiner, Eugene |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current use is single dwelling; the house retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31070, -96.09859 (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 93000099.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318096
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.