Merrell-Roten House
Also known as: Site No. 116
Why it's listed
Built in 1930 at 520 Avenue A in Wharton, this 2 1/2-story brick veneer house reflects the Tudor Revival influence that was popular among the town's professionals in the late 1920s and 1930s. It has a steeply pitched, multi-gabled asphalt shingle roof, half-timbered vergeboard detailing in the gable ends, a round-arched entrance bay, and a prominent brick chimney with elaborate brickwork. Windows are one-over-one wooden double-hung sash. James F. and Lena Merrill had the house built soon after acquiring the property, and John L. Roten bought it in 1932. Roten became one of Wharton's most successful mid-century businessmen, starting with a dry goods store in 1922 and later opening stores in several other Texas towns. The house was listed for its architecture, as a good local example of Tudor Revival design. Its full brick exterior is rarely seen on Wharton dwellings. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The house is considered a good example of an eclectic dwelling showing Tudor Revival influence. It is also one of a relatively small number of Wharton dwellings with full brick exterior construction. It is tied to the context of community development in Wharton from 1875 to 1942, and a later owner, John L. Roten, was a prominent local businessman.
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 93000113, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 520 Ave. A, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000113 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current use are both single-family dwelling; a modern frame garage behind the house is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31486, -96.09086 (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 93000113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000904
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.