Hamilton, Joseph Andrew, House
Also known as: Site No. 656
Why it's listed
Facing east on Richmond Road in Wharton, this two-story house combines two periods of construction under one large pyramidal roof. The upper story, clad in weatherboard with 6/6 windows, dates to about 1875. Around 1910 the original building was raised about twelve feet on railroad ties and jacks, and a new brick first floor with round-headed multi-light windows and arches was built beneath it. A two-story porch with Classical Revival columns and a balustrade spans the front. Joseph Andrew Hamilton bought the house and eight acres in 1885 and later served as County Clerk, District Clerk, Tax Assessor and Collector, Justice of the Peace and School Board president. He is believed to have hired a Houston architect named Green in 1907 to enlarge it for his growing family. The house was listed for architecture as an unusually upscale example of the pyramid-roof house type, with both building phases clearly visible on the front facade.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of an upscale version of the vernacular pyramid-roof house type. It is also significant as a late 19th century dwelling adapted and updated in the early 20th century while keeping its vernacular character. It is described as one of three premier examples of the upscaled pyramid-roof form in Wharton.
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 93000106, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 325 N. Richmond, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000106 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1875, ca. 1910, ca. 1925 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (a Houston architect named "Green" is believed to have been hired in 1907) |
| Architectural style | Other: Pyramid-roof House |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling and remains in the Hamilton family; the form says it retains a high degree of integrity despite some alterations and additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.30519, -96.10245 (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 93000106.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002547
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.