Harrison, Gerard A., House
Also known as: Site No. 278
Why it's listed
This 1 1/2-story frame house at 209 East Caney Street in Wharton, Texas, is topped by a massive pyramidal roof and rests on brick piers. An inset porch with Doric columns and full-height brick piers wraps the south and east sides, and a pair of gable-front dormers joined by a shed-roofed dormer marks the front. It was probably built in the late 19th century, possibly for Dr. J. Phillips, a local doctor with a drug store on the courthouse square. Gerard A. Harrison bought it in 1907 and lived there with his second wife until his death in 1924. Harrison managed his father's farming and ranching holdings in Wharton County, expanding them from about 3,000 to over 7,000 acres, and took part in local institutions such as the county fair association and a bank board. The house is the last property tied to him and is regarded as the finest local example of a Lower South pyramid-roof house, with echoes of Louisiana plantation architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is the last remaining property associated with Gerard A. Harrison, a prominent Wharton County landowner and farmer whose agricultural business contributed to the town's growth. It is also considered the finest example of a sophisticated pyramid-roof house reflecting Lower South architecture 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 93000112, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 209 E. Caney, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000112 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1907-1924; ca. 1875 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Pyramid-roof House |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling and described as retaining a high degree of integrity; it remains in the Harrison family. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31082, -96.09571 (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 93000112.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318098
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.