Potts, Arthur, House
Also known as: #33
Why it's listed
Built in 1929 at 445 North Wall in Belton, this 1 1/2-story beige brick house has an H-plan, a steeply pitched hipped roof and two gabled wings across the front. The entry sits in the right gable beneath a Georgian frontispiece, while Tudor Rose medallions of cast stone mark the gable peaks. Local builder T. Hamp Birdwell constructed it for Arthur Potts, a well-known merchant who owned Potts Hardware Store on Avenue A. It replaced an earlier Potts house destroyed by fire. The house was listed for its architecture as an example of the 1920s revival movement, when patternbooks spread historic styles across the country. Rather than copying one style closely, it combines Tudor and Georgian elements in an unusual hybrid, which the nomination suggests came from the builder borrowing freely from patternbooks. It also reflects the gradual middle-class growth of Belton between the world wars. The house remains in good condition and is still a single-family home.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C in the area of Architecture as an example of a 1920s patternbook historic revival house. It blends Tudor and Georgian Revival details in an unusual hybrid that the nomination describes as awkwardly composed. It also reflects the slow middle-class growth of Belton between the World Wars.
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 90001895, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 445 N. Wall, Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001895 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | T. Hamp Birdwell (builder) |
| Architectural style | Historic revival styles, notably Tudor Revival and Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with its original architectural features intact; still used as a single dwelling. A rear garage is noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.05975, -97.45900 (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 90001895.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001555
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.