{"nrhp_refnum":"80004145","name":"Shelton-Houghton House","other_names":["Houghton House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1700 Polk St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Amarillo","county":"Potter County","state":"TX","lat":35.19519616100007,"lon":-101.83995061099995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1980-08-29","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story brick veneer residence at 1700 Polk Street in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, completed in 1914 to designs by architect Joseph Champ Berry for rancher John Malcolm Shelton.","why_significant":"The house is significant for its architectural quality and its association with cattle and land baron J. M. Shelton. It is described as unusual, if not unique, in Amarillo for its eclectic Prairie style with stylized classical details. It was designed by J. C. Berry, a noted Panhandle architect, and served as a social landmark for decades.","narrative":"Built in 1914 at 1700 Polk Street in Amarillo, Houghton House is a two-story brick veneer residence designed by Panhandle architect Joseph Champ Berry for rancher John Malcolm Shelton, once among the largest cattle operators in the world. W. M. Rice served as contractor. Its design combines Prairie style massing with stylized classical details, including a wrapping loggia, a porte-cochere, limestone trim and a rusticated brick exterior. Inside, mahogany paneling, a grand staircase, and a dining room with classical murals reflect the owner's wealth. The house took its name from Shelton's daughter Martha and her husband Ted Houghton, who managed the family's Panhandle landholdings after Shelton died in 1923. Mrs. Houghton gave the home to the Junior League of Amarillo in 1965. Alterations include a 1935 rear addition, removal of the original clay tile roof, and a modernized kitchen. Most of the house remains open to the public for meetings and receptions.","period_of_significance":"1900-","architect_builder":"Joseph Champ Berry, architect; W. M. Rice, contractor","architectural_style":"Eclectic Prairie style with stylized classical details","criteria":[],"status_note":"Condition rated excellent and altered; most of the house is open to the public for meetings and receptions, and other portions are occupied by public service organizations.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:19.539938-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/82/9731/40973182/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/80004145.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80004145/55126044e3-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80004145/55126044e3-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"BriceWi999","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shelton-Houghton_House_1700_Polk_St._Amarillo_20140916.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">BriceWi999</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shelton-Houghton_House_1700_Polk_St._Amarillo_20140916.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"92000370","name":"Plemons-Mrs. M. D. Oliver-Eakle Additions Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/texas/plemons-mrs-m-d-oliver-eakle-additions-historic-district-92000370/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40973182","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107320584"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/texas/potter-county/shelton-houghton-house-80004145/"}