Hyer, Dr. Robert, House
Why it's listed
Dr. Robert Hyer House is a one-story, wood-frame dwelling at 904 Ash in Georgetown, Texas, dating to about 1880. It follows a central-hall plan and has weatherboard siding, a gable roof covered in corrugated metal, and wood double-hung windows with two-over-two lights. A one-bay gable-roofed porch on the east front has chamfered wooden supports with molded capitals and stick brackets. Other features include a symmetrical five-bay facade, a rear ell addition and a semicircular vent opening in the gable end. The house is considered a good example of a late nineteenth-century vernacular dwelling and has seen few alterations. It is also tied to Robert S. Hyer, a physics professor at Southwestern University who later served as a Regent. Hyer helped lead the 1910 effort to move the school to Dallas, and when it stayed in Georgetown he moved to Dallas and helped establish Southern Methodist University. Local church historians credit him with designing Georgetown's First Methodist Church. The house remains in residential use.
Significance in brief: It is regarded as a good example of a late nineteenth-century vernacular dwelling with few alterations. It is also associated with Robert S. Hyer, a physics professor and later Regent of Southwestern University who helped establish Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
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 86000175, listed January 14, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 904 Ash, Georgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County |
| Listed | January 14, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is described as fair, with rear additions; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.63538, -97.67340 (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 86000175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002588
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.