Beamer, William, House
a.k.a. #9
1202 S. Beal St., Belton, TXThe Beamer House, built in 1897, is an interesting illustration of the late-19th century vogue for the Second Empire style, which makes it architecturally distinctive in Belton. Contextually it relates to Community and Regional Development, specifically to the growth of Belton at the end of the 19th century. The house is eligible for inclusion in the National Register under Criterion c, significant in the area of Architecture, typifying the Second Empire style as interpreted in domestic architecture in the late Victorian era.
The Beamer House was built in 1897 by William Beamer, a local builder, and owner of the Belton brickyard. This would explain its brick construction and somewhat naive combination of architectural influences. The house is an example of the Second Empire style applied to a modified vernacular form, and one of the few such surviving residences in Central Texas. The style was popular in Texas for high-style homes and public buildings from about 1870 to 1890. This house, built just before the turn of the century, represents a late use of the style, in this case, applied to a common small house form, dressed up with stylistic affectations. It is notable for its full brick construction and its unusual state of preservation.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.