Allen, R. O., House-Allen Academy
Why it's listed
Built around 1915 at 1120 Ursuline in Bryan, this 1 1/2-story frame house sits on the campus of Allen Academy, a long-running private school a few blocks east of the original townsite. It has weatherboard siding, a gambrel roof with shed dormers, box eaves, jig-sawn brackets, and double-hung windows. The main entrance, with a transom and sidelights, sits behind a portico supported by box columns paired with brick piers. A pergola extends the portico to the east, and a sun porch ell projects from the east side. Two corbeled brick chimneys rise offset from center. The house is believed to have been the home of R.O. Allen, brother of the academy's founder and its second headmaster. After his death, his widow and their son William R. Allen, who served as county judge in the 1930s, lived there. It was listed for its architecture, as an outstanding local example of early 20th-century eclecticism combining Colonial Revival and bungalow features. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an outstanding expression of early 20th-century eclecticism that blends Colonial Revival and bungalow elements into a highly successful design. It is also tied to the Allen family, who were connected with the founding and leadership of Allen Academy. The reviewer called it an outstanding local example of early 20th-century eclecticism.
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 87001605, listed September 25, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1120 Ursuline, Bryan |
|---|---|
| County | Brazos County |
| Listed | September 25, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001605 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good, and the present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 8.3 |
| Coordinates | 30.67650, -96.36051 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 87001605.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001732
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.