Chance, James O., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 for James O. Chance, a landowner who held substantial property in the Brazos Bottom, this 2 1/2-story frame house at 102 S. Parker in Bryan sits at the west edge of the downtown commercial district. It has weatherboard siding, a hip roof, wood double-hung windows and two exterior brick chimneys with corbeled caps. Its most striking feature is a full-height entry portico with paired, fluted Composite columns and a classical entablature. A single-story porch with a balustraded second level runs across the full facade, and a gabled dormer is centered above. The entrance has leaded glass in the sidelights and transom. The nomination describes the house as an outstanding expression of the Classical Revival style and little altered from its original appearance, which is the basis for its architectural significance. Chance died in the early 1920s, and his widow lived in the house for many years afterward. The house remains in residential use as a fraternity house and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the house an outstanding expression of the Classical Revival style that is little altered from its original appearance. It is listed under the area of Architecture. It is also tied to James O. Chance, who owned substantial property in the Brazos Bottom.
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 87001612, listed September 25, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 102 S. Parker, Bryan |
|---|---|
| County | Brazos County |
| Listed | September 25, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001612 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival (with Neoclassical Revival details) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is residential (fraternity house), the same as its original residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Bryan Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.67374, -96.37541 (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 87001612.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000745
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.