Gray Rental Houses
Also known as: #21; #22; #23
Why it's listed
Three nearly identical bungalows stand side by side at 702-708 North Pearl Street in Belton, in a neighborhood of modest houses from around the turn of the century. George Alexander Gray, a local paint store owner, built them in 1913 as rental property after visiting California. Each is a one-story, rectangular-plan house clad in wood shingles, with a hipped roof, a hipped dormer and a flared foundation. The porch is cut into the shingled wall in a semicircular form instead of using chunky columns, and the entry door is set at an angle beside a diamond-shaped window. Much of the lumber and other materials came from the Presbyterian Church on North Pearl, built in 1882 and torn down around the same time. This explains the Queen Anne-style art glass windows, which sit oddly with the bungalow design. The houses were listed for architecture, as quirky local versions of the western shingled bungalow, and as early examples of purpose-built rental housing.
Significance in brief: The houses are significant as local interpretations of the California-popularized bungalow, combining bungalow massing with Shingle Style and Queen Anne details. They are also early examples of houses built specifically as rental property. The listing reflects the growth of the middle class and the demand for modest housing in the early 20th century.
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 90001934, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 702--708 N. Pearl St., Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001934 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913 |
| Architect / builder | George Alexander Gray, builder |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is listed as single-family dwelling, so the houses remain in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.06339, -97.46230 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 90001934.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000129
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.