Estes House
Why it's listed
Built in 1897, this 1 1/2-story frame house at 903 N. College in McKinney, Texas, is a modified L-plan dwelling with weatherboard siding, an asymmetrical form, combined gable and hipped roofs, and a nine-bay porch wrapping the south and east sides. Turned wood posts, jigsawn brackets, etched entry glass, and imbricated gable shingles give it a Queen Anne character. A compatible rear wing was added later. Ben T. Estes, a Civil War veteran who opened a dry goods business on the McKinney square around 1867, built the house with his second wife, Alice Gumm Estes. The family lived there for over a quarter century, and Estes worked as a merchant until his death in 1920. In 1923 the property was sold to Linus Smith, whose family stayed for 47 years. The house reflects the homes of affluent citizens during McKinney's agricultural and railroad-driven growth. It retains a high level of integrity and has been a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 1984.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Ben T. Estes, a founding citizen, Civil War veteran and early McKinney merchant (Criterion B, Social History). It is also a very fine example of a modified L-plan Queen Anne-influenced house (Criterion C, Architecture). It contributes to its turn-of-the-century neighborhood and to McKinney's earlier multiple property listing, and it retains a high level of integrity.
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 95001365, listed November 29, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 903 N. College St., McKinney |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | November 29, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001365 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897-1937 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling, as it was historically; designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.20472, -96.62119 (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 95001365.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001759
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.