House at 512 North Resident
Also known as: Site No. 820
Why it's listed
Built around 1919, this 1 1/2-story bungalow at 512 North Resident in Wharton is unusual for its load-bearing concrete block walls, cast with a faux-stone finish. A multi-gabled roof with fiberglass shingles covers the house, and metal shingles clad the gables, dormers and porch soffit. The west facade has a balanced arrangement of three gables, with a smaller fourth gable over the central entry. The inset porch has a balustrade of square concrete balusters, tiered piers and columns. A stuccoed chimney rises through the eave. Sanborn maps show the house on the site by 1919, and oral history suggests a local builder named Ford constructed it. The house was listed for its architecture. Bungalows are common in Wharton, but this concrete-cast example is one of the most distinctive, and it keeps a high degree of integrity. A modern garage and shed on the property do not contribute to its significance.
Significance in brief: The house is a good example of local bungalow architecture and is notable for load-bearing concrete walls, which are rarely seen on bungalows. It is one of the most unusual bungalows in Wharton and retains a high degree of integrity, with few alterations.
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 93000103, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 512 N. Resident, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000103 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1919 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition with few alterations; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31532, -96.09558 (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 93000103.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.