Naismith, Robert, House
a.k.a. #26
440 N. Penelope St., Belton, TXThe Naismith House, built in 1876, is an example of the vernacular center-passage house common in Central Texas in the mid to late 19th century. Contextually, the property relates to community and Regional Development, specifically to the growth of Belton during the last years of the cattle boom. The house meets National Register Criterion c, significant in the area of Architecture, as a representative example of the evolutionary center-passage house.
The Naismith House was built in 1876, probably for Primus Crawford. It was purchased in the late century by Robert Naismith whose family and descendants have occupied the house for many years. Naismith was born in Scotland and moved to Belton with his wife around 1892. He founded the Central Manufacturing Company, a large machine and blacksmith shop.
The house is significant as an illustration of the center-passage vernacular house form and its adaptation with stylistic decoration that later became popular and widely available in Eastlake fashion. This house retains most of its original architectural features and is a good surviving example of its type.
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.