Lee, Walter J., House
Also known as: #12
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at 804 North College Street in Belton, this 1 1/2-story frame house follows the foursquare plan in a form often called a pyramid house because of its steep hipped roof. Gabled wings project from the north and south sides, breaking the symmetry, and a large hipped dormer with three windows faces the front. Horizontal v-groove siding and decorative shingles cover the walls, and a broad porch with box columns sits beneath an extension of the roof. Local contractors Ben D. Lee and his son Walter J. Lee built it for themselves. Ben Lee had also been the contractor for the Curtis House, one of the town's cotton-baron mansions. They chose a patternbook design that would have looked modern then, and added prominent finials with a touch of Queen Anne character. The house was listed for its architecture, as an intact example of a house type common in Belton during the cotton boom. The exterior remains in good condition, though the interior has been altered.
Significance in brief: The house is considered a good, intact example of the dwarf foursquare type known as a "pyramid house," which was common in Belton in the early twentieth century. It reflects the town's growth during the cotton boom years and the arrival of patternbook designs. It is significant locally under architecture.
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 90001877, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 804 N. College St., Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001877 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Walter J. & Ben D. Lee |
| Architectural style | Foursquare Plan (pyramid house), with Classical Revival detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current use is a single dwelling; the exterior is in good condition with minor alterations, while the interior has been altered more extensively. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.06468, -97.46396 (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 90001877.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000864
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.