Worthing, Louis F., House
Also known as: Site No. 857
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 around 1935 at 620 North Walnut in Wharton, this two-story frame house shows the Tudor Revival style that was popular in the town during the late 1920s and 1930s. Brick and stucco veneer cover the walls, and faux half-timbering decorates the gables and upper story. A steeply pitched wood-shingle roof combines front-gabled and hipped forms. The west facade is dominated by a single front gable with elaborate brick infill. The entrance sits in a small porch with paired square columns and its own half-timbered gable. Windows are multiple-light metal casements, and an exterior brick chimney rises on the south side. A one-story shed-type addition on the north side does not harm the house's integrity. Louis F. Worthing, president of the Security Bank and Trust Company from 1939 to 1960, had the house built. He also served on the Post War Planning Board, which helped promote a college in Wharton County. The house was listed for its architecture and its high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent local example of the Tudor Revival style, which was popular in Wharton in the late 1920s and 1930s. It retains a high degree of integrity with few alterations. It is also tied to Louis F. Worthing, a bank president who helped promote a college in Wharton County.
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 93000121, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 620 N. Walnut, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000121 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1935 |
| 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) | Still in use as a single-family dwelling; a one-story shed-type addition on the north elevation is noted as not affecting overall integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31545, -96.09331 (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 93000121.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000906
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.