Foote-Crouch House
Why it's listed
Built in 1881-82 for Edwin Foote, son of McKinney pioneer and business leader G.A. Foote, this two-story frame house at the corner of North Benge and West Lamar streets is an I house with a central-passage plan. It has weatherboard siding, a gable roof, two-over-two double-hung windows, pedimented window and door surrounds, and an L-shaped porch with chamfered posts. Three steeply pitched gables on the facade, the central one steeper than the others, show a minor Gothic Revival influence. In 1896 it was sold to L.W. Couch, a coffin and furniture maker. Rear additions, one- and two-story ells and a porch extension, mostly date back more than fifty years and echo the original detailing. One newer one-story wing on the north end is hidden by vegetation. It was recognized as one of the oldest surviving dwellings in McKinney and a noteworthy local example of the I house form, retaining its historic character to a remarkable degree.
Significance in brief: The house is considered architecturally significant as one of the oldest surviving dwellings in McKinney and a noteworthy local example of an I house with minor Gothic Revival influence. The steeply pitched gables and dormers show that stylistic influence. Later additions, many over 50 years old, were judged not to damage its historic character.
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 87001708, listed June 27, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 N. Benge, McKinney |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | June 27, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87001708 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | I house with minor Gothic Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition with minor alterations; used as a residence. Rear additions exist, mostly historic, plus one non-historic one-story wing on the north end. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.19456, -96.61782 (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 87001708.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000778
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.